Spell tricky look-alike words

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   [1] The mayor opened the town meeting by thanking everyone who had helped with the flood cleanup. [2] She explained that the storm had a lasting affect on the old library. [3] Water had damaged the wiring, the carpets and many of the oldest books. [4] Board members agreed that the guiding principle of the repair plan should be honesty about costs. [5] The head of the elementary school, the principle, offered to host a fund drive.

2. 1.

   Ari proofreads a paragraph about a flood cleanup with two slips. Which pair of fixes is right?

   • Sentence 2: “affect” to “effect”; sentence 4: “principle” to “principal”.
   • Sentence 3: “wiring” to “wearing”; sentence 5: “principle” to “principal”.
   • Sentence 3: “wiring” to “wearing”; sentence 4: “principle” to “principal”.
   • Sentence 2: “affect” to “effect”; sentence 5: “principle” to “principal”.

3. Use this

   [1] The architecture club invited an imminent designer to speak about modern libraries. [2] The designer began by praising the club's model, which was a thoughtful compliment to the school's brick buildings. [3] She explained that large windows must be balanced with shade, and that desks should stay stationary so the room feels calm. [4] Students asked how natural light affects reading comfort. [5] The talk ended with an invitation to submit ideas for the new reading room.

4. 2.

   Bo proofreads a paragraph about a designer's talk with two slips. Which pair of fixes is right?

   • Sentence 1: “imminent” to “eminent”; sentence 3: “stationary” to “stationery”.
   • Sentence 1: “imminent” to “eminent”; sentence 2: “compliment” to “complement”.
   • Sentence 2: “compliment” to “complement”; sentence 4: “affects” to “effects”.
   • Sentence 3: “stationary” to “stationery”; sentence 4: “affects” to “effects”.

5. Use this

   [1] The detective asked the clerk to be discrete about the investigation. [2] The shop keeps its records in a locked cabinet near the back office. [3] Its been months since the burglary, and the owner is still anxious. [4] Police believe the thief knew when the store would be empty. [5] Neighbors have promised to watch the street more closely at night. [6] The owner has installed a better lock and a camera over the door.

6. 3.

   Jun proofreads a paragraph about a detective with two slips. Which pair of fixes is right?

   • Sentence 1: “discrete” to “discreet”; sentence 4: “knew” to “new”.
   • Sentence 2: “its” to “it's”; sentence 4: “knew” to “new”.
   • Sentence 2: “its” to “it's”; sentence 3: “Its” to “It's”.
   • Sentence 1: “discrete” to “discreet”; sentence 3: “Its” to “It's”.

7. Use this

   [1] The student counsel met on Tuesday to discuss the new lunch schedule. [2] Members agreed that a presentation from the cafeteria manager should precede the vote. [3] After the presentation, the council will precede with a final discussion. [4] The manager offered helpful advice about portion sizes and costs. [5] The vote is scheduled for the following week. [6] Students may also send written comments to the office before Friday.

8. 4.

   Kira proofreads a paragraph about a lunch vote with two slips. Which pair of fixes is right?

   • Sentence 1: “counsel” to “council”; sentence 3: “precede” to “proceed”.
   • Sentence 1: “counsel” to “council”; sentence 4: “advice” to “advise”.
   • Sentence 2: “precede” to “proceed”; sentence 4: “advice” to “advise”.
   • Sentence 2: “precede” to “proceed”; sentence 3: “precede” to “proceed”.

9. Use this

   [1] The poem's closing line makes an illusion to an old sailors' song. [2] Most readers will infer that the speaker misses the sea. [3] The poet does not state this directly but expects readers to imply it from the images. [4] The final stanza describes a ship that remains stationary in the harbor. [5] Together the images create a feeling of quiet longing. [6] Several readers in the class said the poem reminded them of harbors.

10. 5.

    Luz proofreads a paragraph about a poem with two slips. Which pair of fixes is right?

    • Sentence 2: “infer” to “imply”; sentence 3: “imply” to “infer”.
    • Sentence 2: “infer” to “imply”; sentence 4: “stationary” to “stationery”.
    • Sentence 1: “illusion” to “allusion”; sentence 4: “stationary” to “stationery”.
    • Sentence 1: “illusion” to “allusion”; sentence 3: “imply” to “infer”.
11. 6.

    Noah reads four sentences about a scientist. Which one uses every look-alike word correctly?

    • The eminent scientist warned that a shortage of clean water was eminent.
    • The eminent scientist warned that a shortage of clean water was imminent.
    • The imminent scientist warned that a shortage of clean water was imminent.
    • The imminent scientist warned that a shortage of clean water was eminent.
12. 7.

    Pia reads four sentences about a chef. Which one uses every look-alike word correctly?

    • The chef excepted the compliment graciously, noting that the herbs complement the lemon.
    • The chef accepted the complement graciously, noting that the herbs compliment the lemon.
    • The chef accepted the compliment graciously, noting that the herbs compliment the lemon.
    • The chef accepted the compliment graciously, noting that the herbs complement the lemon.
13. 8.

    Ren reads four sentences about a council. Which one uses every look-alike word correctly?

    • The council sought counsel from a lawyer before it set a new principal for public meetings.
    • The council sought counsel from a lawyer before it set a new principle for public meetings.
    • The counsel sought council from a lawyer before it set a new principle for public meetings.
    • The council sought council from a lawyer before it set a new principle for public meetings.
14. 9.

    Tala reads four sentences about a speaker. Which one uses every look-alike word correctly?

    • Her insight into the problem did not incite the crowd, and the climatic vote came quietly.
    • Her insight into the problem did not incite the crowd, and the climactic vote came quietly.
    • Her incite into the problem did not incite the crowd, and the climactic vote came quietly.
    • Her insight into the problem did not insight the crowd, and the climactic vote came quietly.
15. 10.

    Zee reads four sentences about a coach. Which one uses every look-alike word correctly?

    • Because the coach was conscious of the team's low morale, the coach's conscious would not allow silence.
    • Because the coach was conscious of the team's low moral, the coach's conscience would not allow silence.
    • Because the coach was conscious of the team's low morale, the coach's conscience would not allow silence.
    • Because the coach was conscience of the team's low morale, the coach's conscience would not allow silence.