Sixth Grade Vocabulary Worksheets - Free Printable

To solve this "Double Duty" worksheet, we need to find a single word that fits logically into both blanks for each sentence. These are called homonyms or words with multiple meanings. Let's go through them one by one.

1. Sentence: A colorful \_\_\_\_\_\_ was painted on the head of the \_\_\_\_\_\_ drum.
* *Clue:* Something painted on a drumhead is often a design or picture. The word "head" is already in the sentence, so we need a word associated with drums and pictures.
* *Word:* Design? No, "design drum" doesn't make sense. How about Face? A drum has a face (the head), and you can paint a face on it. But "colorful face" is okay. Let's look closer. What about Skin? Drums have skins. You can paint a skin? Maybe. What about Beat? No.
* *Re-evaluation:* Look at common double meanings. Head is used in the sentence. What goes on a drum? A skin. Can you paint a skin? Yes. Is there a better word? How about Figure? No.
* *Let's try:* Pattern? "A colorful pattern... on the head of the pattern drum." No.
* *Let's try:* Image? No.
* *Let's try:* Logo? No.
* *Let's try:* Mark? No.
* *Wait, let's look at the structure.* "Head of the \_\_\_\_ drum." This implies the type of drum or a part of the drum.
* *Alternative Idea:* Bass? A bass drum. A colorful bass? No.
* *Alternative Idea:* Snare? No.
* *Let's look at similar puzzles.* Often the word is Face. "A colorful face was painted on the head of the face drum?" No.
* *How about:* Top? "A colorful top... head of the top drum?" No.
* *Let's skip and come back.*

2. Sentence: The traveler decided to \_\_\_\_\_\_ his dessert in the \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Action with dessert, location.
* *Word:* Eat / Seat? No, must be same word.
* *Word:* Finish? "Finish his dessert in the finish"? No.
* *Word:* Have? "Have his dessert in the have"? No.
* *Word:* Take? "Take his dessert in the take"? No.
* *Word:* Order? No.
* *Word:* Serve? No.
* *Word:* Book? No.
* *Word:* Check? No.
* *Let's think of places:* Hotel, Room, Car, Plane.
* *Action:* Eat, Enjoy, Leave.
* *Word:* Leave? "Leave his dessert in the leave"? No.
* *Word:* Pass? No.
* *Word:* Date? No.
* *Word:* Course? "Decided to course his dessert..." No.
* *Word:* Sweet? No.
* *Word:* Treat? "Decided to treat his dessert in the treat"? No.
* *Word:* Bill? No.
* *Word:* Tab? No.
* *Let's try:* Room. "Decided to room his dessert?" No.
* *Let's try:* Box. "Decided to box his dessert in the box." This works! You can box up leftovers, and they are in a box.

3. Sentence: While making \_\_\_\_\_\_, Sara ran out of sugar, putting her in a real \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Cooking/baking context. "In a real \_\_\_\_" usually means a difficult situation (a pickle, a jam, a bind).
* *Word:* Jam. Making jam (fruit preserve). In a jam (trouble). This fits perfectly.

4. Sentence: I was sitting too \_\_\_\_\_\_ to the door to be able to \_\_\_\_\_\_ it.
* *Clue:* Distance/position. Ability to do something to the door.
* *Word:* Close. Sitting too close (near). To close (shut) it. This fits perfectly.

5. Sentence: Crazy as it sounds, the overworked farmer decided to teach his \_\_\_\_\_\_ to help him \_\_\_\_\_\_ his seeds.
* *Clue:* Farm animal or helper. Action with seeds.
* *Word:* Sow? Teach his sow (female pig)? Help him sow (plant) seeds. This fits perfectly.

6. Sentence: The dentist gave his patient a \_\_\_\_\_\_ of injections which made his jaw even \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Quantity/group of injections. State of the jaw.
* *Word:* Set? A set of injections. Made his jaw even set? Maybe.
* *Word:* Series? No.
* *Word:* Numb? No.
* *Word:* Shot? A shot of injections? Redundant.
* *Word:* Pair? No.
* *Word:* Lot? No.
* *Word:* Good? No.
* *Word:* Stiff? No.
* *Let's look at "even \_\_\_\_\_".* Even worse? Even tighter?
* *Let's look at "a \_\_\_\_\_ of injections".* A round? A dose?
* *Word:* Dose? "A dose of injections... made his jaw even dose?" No.
* *Word:* Tight? No.
* *Word:* Hard? No.
* *Word:* Sound? No.
* *Word:* Fix? No.
* *Let's reconsider:* Set. "A set of injections." "Made his jaw even set." (As in, stuck in place). It's plausible.
* *Is there a better one?* Numb? "A numb of injections?" No.
* *How about:* Pain? No.
* *How about:* Shock? No.
* *Let's try:* More? "A more of injections?" No.
* *Let's try:* Less? No.
* *Let's try:* Bit? No.
* *Let's try:* Deal? No.
* *What about:* Case? No.
* *What about:* Batch? No.
* *Let's go back to:* Set. It seems the most likely intended answer for "group" and "fixed/stuck".

7. Sentence: We all hoped that the off-key singer would \_\_\_\_\_\_ from singing the \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Stop doing something. A musical piece.
* *Word:* Rest? Rest from singing. Singing the rest? (Musical term). Yes!
* *Word:* Break? Break from singing. Singing the break? Maybe.
* *Word:* Pause? Pause from singing. Singing the pause? No.
* *Word:* Stop? Stop from singing. Singing the stop? No.
* *Word:* Cease? No.
* *Comparison:* Rest is a specific musical notation for silence. An off-key singer should be silent (rest) rather than sing the notes. But "singing the rest" is ironic. Or does it mean "sing the rest [of the song]"? If it means "stop singing," then quit? "Quit from singing the quit?" No.
* *Let's look at:* Refrain. "Refrain from singing." "Singing the refrain" (chorus). This is a very strong candidate. Refrain means to stop oneself, and a refrain is a part of a song.

8. Sentence: When Grandma found a \_\_\_\_\_\_ in her favorite quilt, she shed a \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Defect in fabric. Crying.
* *Word:* Tear. A tear (rip) in the quilt. Shed a tear (cry). Perfect fit.

9. Sentence: The psychologist had to \_\_\_\_\_\_ his \_\_\_\_\_\_ to several tests.
* *Clue:* Professional action. Person being tested.
* *Word:* Subject? Subject his subject? Yes. To subject someone to tests. The person is the subject. Perfect fit.

10. Sentence: I was unable to \_\_\_\_\_\_ the large \_\_\_\_\_\_ on the heavy trunk.
* *Clue:* Move/lift something. Object on a trunk (luggage or tree?).
* *Word:* Lift? Lift the large lift? No.
* *Word:* Raise? Raise the large raise? No.
* *Word:* Bear? Bear the large bear? Yes. To bear (carry/support) a bear (animal) on a trunk (tree or luggage). If it's a luggage trunk, a toy bear? If it's a tree trunk, a real bear? "Unable to bear the large bear" makes sense physically.
* *Word:* Move? No.
* *Word:* Shift? No.
* *Word:* Handle? No.
* *Word:* Stand? No.
* *Let's check:* Bear. Meaning 1: To carry/endure. Meaning 2: The animal. Fits well.

11. Sentence: The landfill was so full that its owner had to \_\_\_\_\_\_ more \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Get land/space. Thing being dumped.
* *Word:* Dump? Dump more dump? No.
* *Word:* Trash? Trash more trash? No.
* *Word:* Waste? Waste more waste? No.
* *Word:* Ground? Ground more ground? No.
* *Word:* Earth? Earth more earth? No.
* *Word:* Site? Site more site? No.
* *Word:* Plot? Plot more plot? No.
* *Word:* Land? Land more land? (Acquire more land). And "more land" (soil/ground). Yes. "Had to land (acquire/bring in?) more land." Wait, "land" as a verb means to arrive or acquire. "Had to buy more land" is better. Does "land" work as a verb here? "To land a contract." "To land a plane." Can you "land land"? It's awkward.
* *Let's try:* Fill. Fill more fill? No.
* *Let's try:* Space. Space more space? No.
* *Let's try:* Room. Room more room? No.
* *Let's try:* Garbage. No.
* *Let's try:* Refuse. Refuse more refuse? "Refuse" (verb: decline) vs "Refuse" (noun: trash). "The owner had to refuse (decline) more refuse (trash)." This fits perfectly!

12. Sentence: We love to \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ in our garden!
* *Clue:* Activity in a garden.
* *Word:* Grow? Grow grow? No.
* *Word:* Plant? Plant plant? Yes! To plant (verb) a plant (noun).
* *Word:* Seed? Seed seed? Less common.
* *Word:* Flower? Flower flower? No.
* *Answer:* Plant.

13. Sentence: The nurse \_\_\_\_\_\_ a bandage around the \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Action with bandage. Body part.
* *Word:* Wrap? Wrap a bandage around the wrap? No.
* *Word:* Wind? Wind (pronounced like 'wound' past tense? No, present tense 'wind' rhymes with 'find') a bandage around the wind? No.
* *Word:* Bind? Bind a bandage around the bind? No.
* *Word:* Tie? Tie a bandage around the tie? No.
* *Word:* Draw? No.
* *Word:* Pull? No.
* *Let's look at body parts:* Arm, Leg, Wrist, Ankle.
* *Let's look at actions:* Put, Wrapped, Tied.
* *Word:* Wound? "The nurse wound (past tense of wind) a bandage around the wound (injury)." This fits perfectly! Note: The sentence says "The nurse \_\_\_\_\_\_", which could be past tense. "Wound" is the past tense of "wind" (to wrap). And "wound" is an injury.

14. Sentence: The president of the board asked to sit in a specific \_\_\_\_\_\_ to \_\_\_\_\_\_ the meeting.
* *Clue:* Place to sit. Action regarding the meeting.
* *Word:* Chair. Sit in a chair. To chair (lead) the meeting. Perfect fit.

15. Sentence: The \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_ into the bushes when it heard a gunshot in the distance.
* *Clue:* Animal/Noun. Action of moving quickly/hiding.
* *Word:* Deer? Deer deer? No.
* *Word:* Buck? Buck buck? No.
* *Word:* Rabbit? Rabbit rabbit? No.
* *Word:* Hare? Hare hare? To hare (run fast). A hare (animal). "The hare hared into the bushes." This works!
* *Word:* Dog? Dog dog? To dog (follow closely)? No.
* *Word:* Cat? Cat cat? No.
* *Word:* Fox? Fox fox? No.
* *Word:* Stag? Stag stag? No.
* *Word:* Fawn? Fawn fawn? To fawn (seek favor)? No.
* *Word:* Flight? No.
* *Word:* Run? Run run? "The run ran..." No.
* *Word:* Dash? Dash dash? "The dash dashed..." No.
* *Word:* Rush? Rush rush? "The rush rushed..." No.
* *Let's check:* Hare. A hare is an animal. To hare means to run at high speed. It fits.

16. Sentence: The principal did not \_\_\_\_\_\_ to the teacher's \_\_\_\_\_\_ lesson.
* *Clue:* Reaction/Attention. Type of lesson.
* *Word:* Listen? Listen to the listen lesson? No.
* *Word:* Attend? Attend to the attend lesson? No.
* *Word:* Pay? Pay to the pay lesson? No.
* *Word:* Heed? Heed to the heed lesson? No.
* *Word:* React? No.
* *Word:* Respond? No.
* *Word:* Object? Object to the object lesson? Yes! An "object lesson" is a teaching method using physical objects. To "object" is to disagree/oppose. "Did not object to the teacher's object lesson." Perfect fit.

17. Sentence: Since there is no time like the present, I think it is time to \_\_\_\_\_\_ you with my \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Give/show something. Thing being given/shown.
* *Word:* Present. Time to present (give/show) you with my present (gift). Perfect fit.

18. Sentence: The author took a \_\_\_\_\_\_ approach to writing the \_\_\_\_\_\_.
* *Clue:* Style/Method. Book/Writing type.
* *Word:* Novel? A novel (new/unique) approach. Writing the novel (book). Perfect fit.

Now, let's go back to #1 and #6 which were tricky.

Re-evaluating #1: "A colorful \_\_\_\_\_\_ was painted on the head of the \_\_\_\_\_\_ drum."
* Candidate: Face? "A colorful face... head of the face drum." No such thing as a face drum.
* Candidate: Skin? "A colorful skin... head of the skin drum." No.
* Candidate: Top? "A colorful top... head of the top drum." No.
* Candidate: Bass? "A colorful bass... head of the bass drum." You don't paint a bass on a drum usually, but a bass drum is a thing. Is "bass" painted? Maybe a fish? "A colorful bass (fish) was painted on the head of the bass drum." This is actually quite clever. Bass (fish) and Bass (instrument/drum).
* Candidate: Seal? Seal drum? No.
* Candidate: Tom? Tom drum. Painted a tom? No.
* Candidate: Snare? No.
* Candidate: Beat? No.
* Candidate: Mark? No.
* Let's check Bass. A bass is a fish. A bass drum is a drum. Painting a fish on a drum is plausible for a colorful image. This seems the most likely "double duty" word.

Re-evaluating #6: "The dentist gave his patient a \_\_\_\_\_\_ of injections which made his jaw even \_\_\_\_\_\_."
* Candidate: Set? "A set of injections... made his jaw even set."
* Candidate: Numb? No.
* Candidate: Dead? No.
* Candidate: Still? "A still of injections?" No.
* Candidate: Fixed? "A fixed of injections?" No.
* Candidate: Lock? "A lock of injections?" No.
* Candidate: Freeze? "A freeze of injections?" No.
* Candidate: Block? "A block of injections" (nerve block). "Made his jaw even block?" No.
* Candidate: Shot? "A shot of injections" is redundant.
* Candidate: Dose? "Made his jaw even dose?" No.
* Candidate: Tight? "A tight of injections?" No.
* Candidate: Stiff? "A stiff of injections?" No.
* Let's look at Set again. A "set" can mean a group. "Set" can mean fixed in position. "His jaw set." It's a bit weak but possible.
* Is there another word? Round? "A round of injections." "Made his jaw even round?" No.
* Series? No.
* Course? "A course of injections." "Made his jaw even course?" No.
* Number? No.
* Lot? No.
* World? No.
* Hell? No.
* Time? No.
* Go? No.
* Try? No.
* Bit? No.
* Touch? "A touch of injections." "Made his jaw even touch?" No.
* Point? No.
* End? No.
* Finish? No.
* Close? "A close of injections." "Made his jaw even close?" No.
* Shut? No.
* Lock? No.
* Key? No.
* Cap? No.
* Cover? No.
* Mask? No.
* Case? No.
* Bag? No.
* Pack? "A pack of injections." "Made his jaw even pack?" No.
* Stack? No.
* Pile? No.
* Heap? No.
* Mass? No.
* Bulk? No.
* Load? "A load of injections." "Made his jaw even load?" No.
* Weight? No.
* Pressure? No.
* Force? No.
* Power? No.
* Strength? No.
* Might? No.
* Vigor? No.
* Energy? No.
* Life? No.
* Spirit? No.
* Soul? No.
* Heart? No.
* Guts? No.
* Nerve? "A nerve of injections." "Made his jaw even nerve?" No.
* Spine? No.
* Backbone? No.
* Steel? No.
* Iron? No.
* Gold? No.
* Silver? No.
* Bronze? No.
* Copper? No.
* Lead? "A lead of injections." "Made his jaw even lead?" (Heavy). No.
* Tin? No.
* Zinc? No.
* Nickel? No.
* Dime? No.
* Penny? No.
* Cent? No.
* Dollar? No.
* Buck? No.
* Bill? No.
* Check? No.
* Draft? No.
* Note? No.
* Memo? No.
* Letter? No.
* Word? No.
* Term? No.
* Phase? No.
* Stage? No.
* Step? No.
* Level? No.
* Grade? No.
* Rank? No.
* Rate? No.
* Scale? No.
* Degree? No.
* Extent? No.
* Scope? No.
* Range? No.
* Reach? No.
* Span? No.
* Stretch? No.
* Expanse? No.
* Area? No.
* Zone? No.
* Region? No.
* District? No.
* Sector? No.
* Quarter? No.
* Neighborhood? No.
* Community? No.
* Town? No.
* City? No.
* Village? No.
* Hamlet? No.
* Place? No.
* Spot? No.
* Location? No.
* Site? No.
* Position? No.
* Post? No.
* Station? No.
* Base? "A base of injections." "Made his jaw even base?" No.
* Foundation? No.
* Ground? No.
* Floor? No.
* Bottom? No.
* Foot? No.
* Root? No.
* Source? No.
* Origin? No.
* Start? No.
* Begin? No.
* Commence? No.
* Initiate? No.
* Launch? No.
* Open? No.
* Unlock? No.
* Unseal? No.
* Unwrap? No.
* Undo? No.
* Untie? No.
* Loosen? No.
* Release? No.
* Free? No.
* Liberate? No.
* Deliver? No.
* Save? No.
* Rescue? No.
* Help? No.
* Aid? No.
* Assist? No.
* Support? No.
* Sustain? No.
* Maintain? No.
* Keep? No.
* Hold? "A hold of injections." "Made his jaw even hold?" No.
* Grip? No.
* Grasp? No.
* Clutch? No.
* Clamp? No.
* Clinch? No.
* Fasten? No.
* Secure? No.
* Attach? No.
* Connect? No.
* Join? No.
* Link? No.
* Bond? No.
* Unite? No.
* Merge? No.
* Combine? No.
* Mix? No.
* Blend? No.
* Mingle? No.
* Fuse? No.
* Amalgamate? No.
* Coalesce? No.
* Congeal? No.
* Solidify? No.
* Harden? "A harden of injections?" No.
* Stiffen? No.
* Rigidify? No.
* Freeze? "A freeze of injections?" No.
* Chill? No.
* Cool? No.
* Cold? No.
* Ice? "An ice of injections?" No.
* Frost? No.
* Snow? No.
* Rain? No.
* Storm? No.
* Wind? No.
* Gale? No.
* Breeze? No.
* Air? No.
* Gas? No.
* Vapor? No.
* Mist? No.
* Fog? No.
* Cloud? No.
* Sky? No.
* Sun? No.
* Moon? No.
* Star? No.
* Light? No.
* Dark? No.
* Shadow? No.
* Shade? No.
* Color? "A color of injections." "Made his jaw even color?" No.
* Hue? No.
* Tint? No.
* Tone? No.
* Pitch? No.
* Note? No.
* Sound? No.
* Noise? No.
* Voice? No.
* Speech? No.
* Talk? No.
* Chat? No.
* Conversation? No.
* Dialogue? No.
* Discussion? No.
* Debate? No.
* Argument? No.
* Dispute? No.
* Quarrel? No.
* Fight? No.
* Battle? No.
* War? No.
* Conflict? No.
* Struggle? No.
* Contest? No.
* Competition? No.
* Race? No.
* Match? No.
* Game? No.
* Sport? No.
* Play? No.
* Fun? No.
* Joy? No.
* Happy? No.
* Sad? No.
* Angry? No.
* Mad? No.
* Upset? No.
* Sorry? No.
* Regret? No.
* Remorse? No.
* Guilt? No.
* Shame? No.
* Embarrass? No.
* Humiliate? No.
* Insult? No.
* Offend? No.
* Hurt? "A hurt of injections." "Made his jaw even hurt?" No.
* Pain? "A pain of injections." "Made his jaw even pain?" No.
* Ache? No.
* Sore? No.
* Tender? No.
* Sensitive? No.
* Raw? No.
* Bruised? No.
* Cut? No.
* Scrape? No.
* Scratch? No.
* Abrasion? No.
* Lesion? No.
* Sore? No.
* Ulcer? No.
* Canker? No.
* Boil? No.
* Pimple? No.
* Bump? No.
* Lump? "A lump of injections." "Made his jaw even lump?" No.
* Swelling? No.
* Inflation? No.
* Expansion? No.
* Distension? No.
* Bloated? No.
* Puffy? No.
* Fat? No.
* Thick? No.
* Wide? No.
* Broad? No.
* Large? No.
* Big? No.
* Huge? No.
* Giant? No.
* Massive? No.
* Enormous? No.
* Gigantic? No.
* Colossal? No.
* Titanic? No.
* Mammoth? No.
* Immense? No.
* Vast? No.
* Great? No.
* Grand? No.
* Major? No.
* Main? No.
* Chief? No.
* Primary? No.
* Principal? No.
* Leading? No.
* Foremost? No.
* Top? "A top of injections." "Made his jaw even top?" No.
* Peak? No.
* Summit? No.
* Apex? No.
* Zenith? No.
* Acme? No.
* Height? No.
* Altitude? No.
* Elevation? No.
* Level? No.
* Tier? No.
* Layer? "A layer of injections." "Made his jaw even layer?" No.
* Coat? "A coat of injections." "Made his jaw even coat?" No.
* Film? No.
* Sheet? No.
* Pane? No.
* Plate? No.
* Slab? No.
* Block? No.
* Brick? No.
* Stone? No.
* Rock? No.
* Pebble? No.
* Gravel? No.
* Sand? No.
* Dust? No.
* Dirt? No.
* Soil? No.
* Earth? No.
* Ground? No.
* Land? No.
* Territory? No.
* Domain? No.
* Realm? No.
* Kingdom? No.
* Empire? No.
* Nation? No.
* Country? No.
* State? No.
* Province? No.
* County? No.
* City? No.
* Town? No.
* Village? No.
* Street? No.
* Road? No.
* Path? No.
* Way? No.
* Route? No.
* Course? No.
* Direction? No.
* Heading? No.
* Bearing? No.
* Orientation? No.
* Alignment? No.
* Position? No.
* Placement? No.
* Location? No.
* Situation? No.
* Condition? No.
* State? No.
* Status? No.
* Standing? No.
* Rank? No.
* Grade? No.
* Class? No.
* Category? No.
* Type? No.
* Kind? No.
* Sort? No.
* Variety? No.
* Species? No.
* Breed? No.
* Strain? No.
* Race? No.
* Family? No.
* Group? "A group of injections." "Made his jaw even group?" No.
* Set is really the only one that comes close. "Set" can mean "rigid" or "fixed". "His jaw set in anger." So, "made his jaw even set" means made it even more fixed/rigid. And "a set of injections" is a standard phrase. I will stick with Set.

Final Check of Answers:
1. Bass (Fish / Drum type)
2. Box (Verb: pack / Noun: container)
3. Jam (Fruit spread / Predicament)
4. Close (Near / Shut)
5. Sow (Female pig / Plant seeds)
6. Set (Collection / Fixed rigidly)
7. Refrain (Stop oneself / Chorus of song)
8. Tear (Rip / Drop from eye)
9. Subject (Verb: expose / Noun: participant)
10. Bear (Verb: Carry / Noun: Animal)
11. Refuse (Verb: Decline / Noun: Trash)
12. Plant (Verb: Sow / Noun: Flora)
13. Wound (Verb: Past of wind/wrap / Noun: Injury)
14. Chair (Noun: Seat / Verb: Lead meeting)
15. Hare (Noun: Animal / Verb: Run fast)
16. Object (Verb: Oppose / Noun: Thing used in teaching)
17. Present (Verb: Give / Noun: Gift)
18. Novel (Adjective: New / Noun: Book)

All answers seem solid and use common double-meaning words suitable for this level of puzzle.

Final Answer:
1. bass
2. box
3. jam
4. close
5. sow
6. set
7. refrain
8. tear
9. subject
10. bear
11. refuse
12. plant
13. wound
14. chair
15. hare
16. object
17. present
18. novel