Dictionary and thesaurus skills

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Dictionary entry

   Current (KUR-unt)
   noun 1 water or air moving steadily in one direction.
   noun 2 a flow of electric charge.
   adjective 3 happening or in use now.

2. 1.

   Bo reads: 'Read the current weather report before choosing a trail.' Which meaning fits current?

   • water or air moving steadily in one direction
   • a flow of electric charge
   • happening or in use now
   • a report about wind, rain and sunshine

3. Dictionary entry

   Fair (fair)
   adjective 1 just and equal for the people involved.
   adjective 2 light in color.
   noun 3 an outdoor event with rides, games and food.
   adjective 4 neither very good nor very bad.

4. 2.

   Esme reads: 'The referee made a fair call, so both teams accepted it.' Which meaning fits fair?

   • light in color
   • neither very good nor very bad
   • just and equal for the people involved
   • an outdoor event with rides, games and food

5. Dictionary entry

   Harbor (HAR-ber)
   noun 1 a sheltered place where ships can stay safely.
   verb 2 to keep a feeling or idea in the mind for a long time.
   verb 3 to give shelter or hiding to a person or animal.

6. 3.

   Kira reads: 'Milo did not harbor a grudge after the argument ended.' Which meaning fits harbor?

   • a sheltered place where ships can stay safely
   • to hold a feeling in the mind for a long time
   • a talk that took place between two people
   • to give shelter or hiding to a person or animal

7. Dictionary entry

   Figure (FIG-yer)
   noun 1 a number or symbol.
   noun 2 the shape of a body or an object.
   verb 3 to think or decide after considering the facts.

8. 4.

   Luz reads: 'Ren figured that the bus would be late because of the rain.' Which meaning fits figured?

   • a bus that arrives later than its scheduled time
   • to think or decide after considering the facts
   • the outline or shape of a body or an object
   • a number or a symbol used in math

9. Dictionary entry

   Turn (turn)
   verb 1 to move around a point.
   verb 2 to change into something else.
   turn down verb 3 to refuse an offer.
   turn in verb 4 to hand something to a teacher or boss.
   turn out verb 5 to end up in a certain way.

10. 5.

    Milo reads: 'The experiment turned out better than the class had hoped.' Which meaning fits turned out?

    • to hand something to a teacher or boss
    • to move around a point
    • to refuse an offer
    • to end up in a certain way

11. Dictionary entry

    Run (run)
    verb 1 to move fast on foot.
    verb 2 to operate or manage.
    run into verb 3 to meet by chance.
    run out of verb 4 to use up a supply.
    run for verb 5 to try to be elected.

12. 6.

    Noah reads: 'The kitchen ran out of milk before the bake sale ended.' Which meaning fits ran out of?

    • to try to be elected
    • to use up a supply
    • to move fast on foot
    • to meet by chance

13. Dictionary entry

    Put (put)
    verb 1 to place something somewhere.
    put off verb 2 to delay until later.
    put on verb 3 to wear.
    put out verb 4 to make a fire stop burning.
    put up with verb 5 to accept something annoying without complaining.

14. 7.

    Which sentence uses put out the way meaning 4 explains, Pia?

    • The campers put up with the cold wind for hours.
    • The campers put the lantern on the table.
    • The campers put out the fire with a bucket of water.
    • The campers put on warm jackets before the long walk.

15. Dictionary entry

    Circumvent (sur-kum-VENT)
    verb 1 to avoid a rule or problem by finding a way around it.
    Origin: Latin circum 'around' + venire 'to come or go'.

16. 8.

    Ren wants to see how the origin supports the meaning of circumvent. Which explanation fits?

    • Circum means 'around,' so the word means a trip in a complete circle back to the start
    • Circum sounds like circus, so the word is about a noisy show with clowns and music
    • The word is said sur-kum-VENT, with the stress on the last syllable of the word
    • Circum means 'around' and venire means 'to go,' so it fits going around a problem
17. 9.

    Disaster (dih-ZAS-ter) noun 1 an event that causes great damage or suffering. Origin: Italian dis- 'bad' + astro 'star'. What does the origin tell Tala about the word disaster?

    • It shows that stars cause storms, floods and other disasters
    • It shows that the word began as 'bad star,' an old way of explaining bad luck
    • It shows that the word is said dih-ZAS-ter, with the stress on the second syllable
    • It shows that dis- means 'not' and astro means 'ready'
18. 10.

    Gregarious (grih-GAIR-ee-us) adjective 1 enjoying the company of other people. Origin: Latin grex 'flock'. Zee reads: 'Jun is gregarious and invites the whole team to the picnic.' How does the origin connect to the meaning?

    • A flock is a group, so a gregarious person enjoys company the way flock animals do
    • Flocks stay together, so a gregarious person is unhappy when left alone for a day
    • A flock is a group of birds, so a gregarious person loves to watch birds in the park
    • Grex sounds like gracious, so a gregarious person is polite to guests at a party