Grade 5 English Language Arts — Shades of meaning
Choose between words that mean nearly the same thing but differ in strength or in feeling.
Name: ________________________
1.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
- slim
- careful with money
- big-headed
- skinny
- stingy
- confident
2.One word, please. Which shows more feeling — "liked" or "loved"?
3.One word, please. Which shows more surprise — "surprised" or "astonished"?
4.Match each ordinary word to the stronger word that means the same thing.
- hungry
- tired
- cold
- happy
- angry
- wet
- soaked
- freezing
- starving
- furious
- exhausted
- delighted
5.Which word shows the most fear?
- a) nervous
- b) uneasy
- c) worried
- d) terrified
6.Which word shows the least happiness?
- a) pleased
- b) thrilled
- c) overjoyed
- d) delighted
7.The soup was so ____ that it burned her tongue.
- a) cool
- b) warm
- c) hot
- d) mild
8.Sort each verb by what it is a way of doing.
Groups: A way of walking · A way of looking
- wander
- march
- peep
- stare
- glance
- stroll
Answer key — Grade 5 English Language Arts — Shades of meaning
- 1. 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
- 2. loved
- 3. astonished
- 4. hungry → starving; tired → exhausted; cold → freezing; happy → delighted; angry → furious; wet → soaked
- 5. d) terrified
- 6. a) pleased
- 7. c) hot
- 8. 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