Shades of Word Meanings Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: L.3.5.C

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

There are many words in the English language that at their core level mean the same exact thing, but just to a slightly different extreme. If your friend asked how dinner was and you replied with the word "bad". Your friend probably would avoid that dinner. If you used the term "horrible", your friend might go a bit out their way to stress to other people that this dinner should be avoided at all costs. These subtle, but highly effective shifts in the use of adjectives can completely change how something is viewed or valued. A minor shade in a word can change how a message is received and understood. These worksheets will help students through with these subtle differences and work towards understanding the way that words roll off of the tongue.

Shades of Words Worksheets To Print:

Winning Word Meanings - Find the two sentences that mean the same thing. You will have to choose between two.

"Shades" of Meaning - The following words are out of order. Get those words in order! Write the list of words from mildest to strongest on the lines below each list.

Scaredy Cat Word Meaning - We are looking for negatives in sentences here. Color the picture by the sentence that has a more negative meaning.

Going Camping - Remember that this is not a worksheet drawn to scale. Circle the picture by the correct answer.

Mix Match Synonym Jeans - This is a fun jeans and shirt matching activity. Cut and paste the jeans to the matching shirt that contains its synonym.

Juggling Shades of Word Meaning - Help Clappy the Clown juggle. Color the word with the strongest meaning red "ecstatic". Color the medium word blue "overjoyed". Color the mildest word green "happy".

Sporty Synonyms - Find the synonym for the bold-faced word in the 2nd sentence and circle it.

Funny Bunny - Color the carrot by the sentence that has the same meaning as the first sentence.

Topping Pies with Positive Meaning - Top the pie with the scope of ice cream that contains a word that has a more positive meaning than the word on the pie.

Climbing Shades of Word Meanings - Put the words in order from strongest to mildest by numbering the words from 1-4.

Dining with Synonyms - View the first word and unscramble its synonym. Write the unscrambled word on the line provided.

Caveman Words - Circle the strongest word in each group to complete the sentences.

Proud Peacock Synonyms - Mark all the words that are synonyms of the bold-faced word.

Raining Synonyms - Cut and paste the raindrop that contains the synonym for the word in the umbrella.

Doggy Differences - Mark the bone that correctly answers the question. You will have to gauge the word that is the best or worst from a set.

What are Shades of Word Meanings?


English writing has multiple sets of rules and categories which should be followed by all writers. Thorough understanding of different aspects of linguistics makes the writing smooth. Shades of meaning is one such area of linguistics that everyone should understand. Shades of meaning determine minor differences between two words of the same nature. For example, look and watch. Both words have the same meaning, but they have differences in their usage. Look and watch cannot be used in the same scenario. Look is used to explain that someone is visually focusing on something that is still. On the other hand, the word watch is used to tell that someone has their eyes set on something in motion. Examples below further explain this rule.


I can't stop looking at the sky today. It's so beautiful.
Look at her paintings. Don't they look amazing?
You should look at the car closely before buying it.
Note that in the examples above sky, paintings and car are not moving objects.
We should watch a movie tonight.
Did you watch the match between England and South Africa?
My dad does not watch TV after 11 p.m.


Using look instead of watch in the sentences above wouldn't be correct. Movie, match and TV shows are in motion, therefore, we use watch here.

The same rule applies when we express ours or someone else's feelings. For example, angry and outraged cannot be used to describe a similar situation. Although their meanings are the same there is a difference in their intensity. Angry is used when the situation is relatively mild. Outraged is an advanced level of anger, therefore, it is used in extremely offensive situations. For example:


I am really angry at my friend for not coming to my birthday party.
My teacher was angry because I did not submit my work on time.
My brother is angry at me for not letting him sleep till late.


The situations in the sentences above are not offensive enough to use strong words like outraged. Doing so would have exaggerated the situation.


People were outraged when the authorities demolished heritage sites.
She was outraged because of her class fellow's humiliating behavior.
He was outraged by the way the hospital staff treated him.


A deep understanding of shades of meaning helps students to express their feelings in an accurate manner. Moreover, it also helps them with learning the right usage of different words with a similar nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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