Words that mean almost the same

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Coach Reyes wrote the letter of recommendation for Zee. "Zee trained at 6 a.m. every day for a year, and after the team left, Zee still asked for extra drills. Zee is a ____ athlete."

2. 1.

   Ari reads a coach's letter. Which word best praises Zee's persistence?

   • bullheaded
   • obstinate
   • stubborn
   • tenacious

3. Use this

   A reviewer said the textbook chapter was far too long. "The chapter is ____, repeating each point three times before it moves on."

4. 2.

   Bo reads a book review. Which word best criticizes the chapter's length?

   • detailed
   • verbose
   • thorough
   • succinct

5. Use this

   A secondhand shop hung a tag on a coat from the 1960s. "This ____ coat is still in excellent condition and has a wool lining."

6. 3.

   Esme reads a shop tag. Which word best sells this old coat?

   • outdated
   • old-timey
   • vintage
   • obsolete

7. Use this

   A resident wrote to the paper. "The council prepared its budget in ____ meetings and did not tell residents when or where they were held."

8. 4.

   Jun reads a letter to the editor. Which word best shows the writer's complaint?

   • confidential
   • private
   • discreet
   • clandestine

9. Use this

   A fashion blogger described the hat in a post. "The hat was unusual, peculiar, eccentric, or bizarre, depending on who was looking."

10. 5.

    Kira ranks four words about a strange hat. Which word carries the strongest criticism?

    • peculiar
    • bizarre
    • unusual
    • eccentric
11. 6.

    A team captain wrote in the school paper. "After the final point, the players felt content, delighted, ecstatic, or resigned." Luz ranks four words about a win. Which word shows the strongest happiness?

    • delighted
    • resigned
    • ecstatic
    • content
12. 7.

    A camper wrote about the counselor. "The counselor was firm, harsh, cruel, or fair, depending on the day." Milo ranks four words about a camp rule. Which word carries the strongest criticism?

    • cruel
    • harsh
    • firm
    • fair

13. Use this

    A student wrote about the dress code. "Some students dislike it, others resent it, a few despise it, and many tolerate it."

14. 8.

    Noah ranks four words about a rule. Which word shows the strongest dislike?

    • resent
    • despise
    • dislike
    • tolerate

15. Use this

    A writer described a cousin who saves money. Version A: "My cousin is thrifty with money." Version B: "My cousin is stingy with money."

16. 9.

    Pia swaps thrifty for stingy. What changes in the sentence?

    • The facts stay the same, but the word now criticizes instead of admiring.
    • The cousin now spends more money than before.
    • Nothing changes, because both words mean careful with money.
    • The word now praises the cousin even more.

17. Use this

    A neighbor was described. Version A: "The neighbor is curious about everyone's garden." Version B: "The neighbor is nosy about everyone's garden."

18. 10.

    Tala swaps curious for nosy. What changes in the sentence?

    • The interest stays the same, but nosy suggests it is unwelcome.
    • Nothing changes, because both words mean interested.
    • The neighbor now ignores the gardens.
    • Nosy makes the neighbor sound more polite.