Grade 6 · Reading

6th grade Spell tricky look-alike words worksheet

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Spell tricky look-alike words

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.
The [principle] asked the whole school to [precede] quietly to the gym for the assembly. Esme edits a school notice. Which pair replaces both marked words?
- principal; proceed
- principel; procede
- principle; proceed
- principal; precede
2.
The soft blue paint [compliments] the gray tiles, and the shop teacher gave [farther] directions for the cleanup. Jun edits a classroom note. Which pair replaces both marked words?
- compliments; further
- complements; farther
- complaments; furthur
- complements; further
3.
Check council, proceed, principal and effect in each sentence. Kira proofreads four sentences. Which one uses all of its look-alike words correctly?
- The council voted to precede, and the principal praised the plan's effect on traffic.
- The council voted to proceed, and the principal praised the plan's effect on traffic.
- The council voted to proceed, and the principle praised the plan's effect on traffic.
- The council voted to proceed, and the principal praised the plan's affect on traffic.
4.
The coach's [advise] helped us win the game. Luz explains a fix. Pia changed "The coach's advise helped us win" to "advice." Which choice gives the right spelling and reason?
- advise, because the sentence needs a verb that means to suggest
- advice, because the sentence needs a noun for a suggestion
- advise, because the sentence needs a noun for a suggestion
- advice, because the sentence needs a verb that means to suggest
5.
The [lightening] struck close, so the campers took a deep [breathe] and ran for the shelter. Milo edits a camp story. Which pair replaces both marked words?
- lightning; breath
- lightning; breathe
- lightening; breath
- lightnin; breth
6.
The guard gave a [discrete] nod to signal the group without anyone noticing. Noah explains a fix. Jun changed "a discrete nod" to "a discreet nod." Which choice gives the right spelling and reason?
- discrete, because the nod should be separate from other nods
- discreet, because the nod should be separate from other nods
- discreet, because the nod should be careful and go unnoticed
- discrete, because the nod should be careful and go unnoticed
7.
Check whether, morale and patience in each sentence. Pia proofreads four sentences. Which one uses all of its look-alike words correctly?
- Whether the team keeps its morale up depends on the coach's patience.
- Weather the team keeps its morale up depends on the coach's patience.
- Whether the team keeps its morale up depends on the coach's patients.
- Whether the team keeps its moral up depends on the coach's patience.
8.
Ari's report did not [site] its sources, and the [personal] at the library said it needed more references. Ren edits a report. Which pair replaces both marked words?
- cite; personnel
- cite; personal
- sight; personel
- site; personnel
9.
The hikers followed the [coarse] of the creek until the [whether] grew too hot to go on. Ari edits a trail story. Which pair replaces both marked words?
- course; weather
- cource; wheather
- course; whether
- coarse; weather
10.
The mirror trick created an [allusion] of a second room. Bo explains a fix. Ren changed "The mirror trick created an allusion" to "illusion." Which choice gives the right spelling and reason?
- allusion, because a mirror trick makes a short reference to another work
- illusion, because a mirror trick makes a false picture of a room
- illusion, because a mirror trick makes a short reference to another work
- allusion, because a mirror trick makes a false picture of a room

6th grade Spell tricky look-alike words worksheet – printable — Print: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Spell tricky look-alike words. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

I can tell which of two look-alike words a sentence needs by asking what it must mean and what kind of word it must be.
I can fix a marked word, then reread the whole sentence to check that the swap works.
I can say why a spelling is right, using meaning or grammar, and catch a wrong reason.

Words to know

look-alike (homophone): A word that sounds like another word but means something else

noun / verb: A thing or idea / an action; the sentence's grammar decides which is needed

swap check: Try a replacement, then reread the whole sentence

context: The rest of the sentence or paragraph, which holds the clue

Common mistakes

Your child picked the look-alike partner, a real word with a different meaning. Try asking: what does the sentence need this word to mean?

Your child spelled the word the way it sounds. Try asking: does this spelling match one of the two real words?

Your child picked the right word with the wrong ending. Try asking: does the sentence need one thing or many, now or before?

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with spell tricky look-alike words?

Your child picked the look-alike partner, a real word with a different meaning. Try asking: what does the sentence need this word to mean?

Are these 6th grade reading worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.