Same Spelling, Different Meaning is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on using the sentence to choose a homograph's meaning, aligned to Common Core standard L.3.4. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1."Please close the door." What does "close" mean here?
A.open wide
B.shut
C.near
2."A tear ran down his cheek." What does "tear" mean here?
A.a hole in a sock
B.to rip
C.a drop of water from the eye
3."The actors bow at the end of the play." What does "bow" mean here?
A.a knot with loops
B.bend forward from the waist
C.a stick for shooting arrows
4."A bat flew out of the cave." What does "bat" mean here?
A.a stick for hitting a ball
B.to blink
C.a small flying animal
5."He will present his project to the class." What does "present" mean here?
A.show and talk about
B.here now
C.a gift
6."Wind the clock before bed." What does "wind" mean here?
A.moving air
B.a long walk
C.turn something round and round
7."She picked a red rose from the bush." What does "rose" mean here?
A.came up
B.went to sleep
C.a flower
8."Do not tear the page." What does "tear" mean here?
A.fold neatly
B.rip
C.a drop of water from the eye
LessonPrint · L.3.4 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Same Spelling, Different Meaning
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.shut
2.a drop of water from the eye
3.bend forward from the waist
4.a small flying animal
5.show and talk about
6.turn something round and round
7.a flower
8.rip
Questions about Same Spelling, Different Meaning
What does the Same Spelling, Different Meaning worksheet cover?
It practices using the sentence to choose a homograph's meaning — 8 questions for Grade 3, all on Common Core L.3.4: Use context, affixes, root words and a dictionary to unlock a word. The instruction to students is “Circle the right meaning”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Same Spelling, Different Meaning practice?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4 — L.3.4, under Language for Grade 3. The published standard reads: “Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Same Spelling, Different Meaning is written for Grade 3, typically ages 8-9. It is one of the sheets on L.3.4, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Same Spelling, Different Meaning come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Same Spelling, Different Meaning can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Same Spelling, Different Meaning free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Same Spelling, Different Meaning, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for L.3.4
Use context, affixes, root words and a dictionary to unlock a word.