Dictionary, thesaurus and glossary skills
Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)
Rec·ord (REK-urd) noun 1. a written or printed account kept as evidence: school records. 2. the best result so far in a contest: a swimming record. 3. a flat disk that stores sound. rec·ord (rih-KORD) verb 1. to set down in writing or another lasting form. 2. to store sound or images on a device. [from Latin recordari, 'to remember']
Ari reads: “The skater set a new record at Saturday's meet.” Which line of the entry gives the meaning of record here?
- noun, sense 2: the best result so far in a contest
- verb, sense 2: to store sound or images on a device
- noun, sense 3: a flat disk that stores sound
- noun, sense 1: a written account kept as evidence
Bo reads aloud: “Esme will record the choir on Friday.” Which respelling fits record in this sentence?
- (REE-kord)
- (rih-KORD)
- (REK-urd)
- (rek-URD)
Esme reads four sentences. In which one is record a verb, pronounced (rih-KORD)?
- The museum keeps a record of the visitors who come each day.
- The winner received a record of the concert.
- Noah beat the school record in the long jump.
- Luz will record the whale song with the new microphone.
Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)
Con·tent (KON-tent) noun 1. the things held inside something: the contents of a box. 2. the ideas in a book, speech or program: the content of an essay. con·tent (kun-TENT) adjective satisfied with what one has: content with a small room. verb to make satisfied: to content oneself with a snack. [from Latin contentus, 'held in, satisfied']
Jun reads: “The editor praised the content of Pia's report.” Which line of the entry gives the meaning of content here?
- noun, sense 2: the ideas in a book, speech or program
- verb: to make satisfied
- adjective: satisfied with what one has
- noun, sense 1: the things held inside something
Luz reads four sentences. In which one is content an adjective, pronounced (kun-TENT)?
- Noah emptied the contents of the box onto the table.
- The content of the speech surprised the judges.
- Ari seemed content with a sandwich and a quiet corner.
- Bo will content the guests with a short song.
Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)
Ob·ject (OB-jekt) noun 1. a thing that can be seen or touched: a round object. 2. a goal or purpose: the object of a game. 3. in grammar, the word that receives the action of a verb: in 'Ren threw the ball,' ball is the object. ob·ject (ub-JEKT) verb to speak against something: to object to a rule. [from Latin obicere, 'to throw in the way of']
Milo reads: “The object of the game is to collect the most stars.” Which line of the entry gives the meaning of object here?
- noun, sense 3: the word that receives the action of a verb
- noun, sense 1: a thing that can be seen or touched
- verb: to speak against something
- noun, sense 2: a goal or purpose
Noah reads aloud: “Tala will object if the schedule changes again.” Which respelling fits object in this sentence?
- (UB-jekt)
- (ob-JEKT)
- (OB-jekt)
- (ub-JEKT)
Pia reads four sentences. In which one is object a verb, pronounced (ub-JEKT)?
- Several neighbors object to the new parking rule.
- Noah found a strange object on the beach.
- In “Zee kicked the ball,” ball is the object.
- The object of Pia's essay was to persuade readers.
Dictionary entry (written by PencilGo)
Des·ert (DEZ-urt) noun 1. a dry region with little rain, often covered with sand or rock. 2. any empty, lifeless place: a desert of parked cars. de·sert (dih-ZURT) verb to leave a person or post and not return: soldiers who desert. de·serts (dih-ZURTS) plural noun what a person deserves, usually in the phrase 'just deserts.' [the noun from Latin desertus, 'abandoned']
Ren reads: “After the storm, the beach was a desert of broken shells.” Which line of the entry gives the meaning of desert here?
- plural noun: what a person deserves
- verb: to leave a person or post and not return
- noun, sense 1: a dry region with little rain
- noun, sense 2: any empty, lifeless place
Zee reads four sentences. In which one does deserts mean what a person deserves, pronounced (dih-ZURTS)?
- The camel crossed two deserts in a week.
- Dry deserts cover much of the continent.
- The guard deserts the gate at midnight.
- The thief received his just deserts.