Year 5 English — Shades of meaning
Choose between words that mean nearly the same thing but differ in strength or in feeling.
Name: ________________________
1.Sort each verb by what it is a way of doing.
Groups: A way of walking · A way of looking
- march
- wander
- peep
- glance
- stroll
- stare
2.Put these words in order, from the coolest to the hottest.
- boiling
- cool
- hot
- warm
3.Put these words in order, from the smallest to the biggest.
- small
- large
- tiny
- enormous
4.Which word shows the most fear?
- a) worried
- b) nervous
- c) uneasy
- d) terrified
5.One word, please. Which shows more surprise — "surprised" or "astonished"?
6.All of these describe the same thing. Sort them by how they make the person sound.
Groups: A kind way to say it · An unkind way to say it
- skinny
- careful with money
- stingy
- confident
- big-headed
- slim
7.Which word names a smile that is not really friendly?
- a) grin
- b) smirk
- c) beam
- d) chuckle
8.Which word shows the least happiness?
- a) delighted
- b) thrilled
- c) pleased
- d) overjoyed
Answer key — Year 5 English — Shades of meaning
- 1. stroll → A way of walking; stare → A way of looking; march → A way of walking; glance → A way of looking; wander → A way of walking; peep → A way of looking
- 2. 1. cool 2. warm 3. hot 4. boiling
- 3. 1. tiny 2. small 3. large 4. enormous
- 4. d) terrified
- 5. astonished
- 6. slim → A kind way to say it; skinny → An unkind way to say it; careful with money → A kind way to say it; stingy → An unkind way to say it; confident → A kind way to say it; big-headed → An unkind way to say it
- 7. b) smirk
- 8. c) pleased