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Shades of Meaning

Synonyms and other groups of words used to describe similar ideas often have small but important differences in meaning, often referred to as shades of meaning. These worksheets help students determine the most accurate words to use to make their writing as clear and descriptive as possible.

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Worksheets

Your students will have a strong grasp on shades of meaning in no time with this worksheet. They'll read a scenario, and then complete the sentence using the best word based on the information.
5th through 8th Grades
aComplete the Sentence
Common Core
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Multiple Versions Available
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Choose the word that is more intense to complete each sentence. This worksheet includes a description and examples for students to refer to.
5th through 8th Grades
aIntensity: Complete the Sentence
Identify the word in each sentence that is either too intense or too weak for the context. Then write a better word on the line.
5th through 8th Grades
aFinding a Better Word
Students will read pairs of ideas that are similar but use words with different shades of meaning. On the lines, they will explain how the words change the meaning of the ideas.
5th through 8th Grades
aExplain the Difference

Worksheets

Order each set of three words from least intense to most intense. Each of the words in a set are closely related (such as terrible, bad, and dreadful), so students will have to think carefully about the strength of each word.
5th through 8th Grades
aOrdering Shades of Meaning Words
Rank the given words from least intense to most intense. Then give a written explanation for your answers.
5th through 8th Grades
aShades of Meaning: Rank and Explain

See Also:

Synonyms & Antonyms

Check out our collection of resources on synonyms and antonyms for related ELA worksheets.

Positive and Negative Connotations

Connotations and denotations are closely related to shades of meaning. Visit this page for printouts on positive and negative connotation.

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Common Core Alignment
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