EnglishAges 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Identify words with similar meanings (synonyms) or opposite meanings (antonyms). Review suitability for your learners before teaching.

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Age band:Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12

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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
“expand” · “shrink” · Synonyms & antonyms
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
“rapid” · “quick” · Synonyms & antonyms
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
“scarce” · “abundant” · Synonyms & antonyms
4. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “silent”: “quiet” or “noisy”?
“silent” · “quiet” · Synonyms & antonyms
5. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “transparent”: “opaque” or “clear”?
“transparent” · “opaque” · Synonyms & antonyms
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
“joyful” · “happy” · Synonyms & antonyms
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
“artificial” · “natural” · Synonyms & antonyms
8. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “generous”: “selfish” or “kind”?
“generous” · “selfish” · Synonyms & antonyms
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
“ancient” · “old” · Synonyms & antonyms
10. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
“assist” · “help” · Synonyms & antonyms
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
“enormous” · “huge” · Synonyms & antonyms
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
“victory” · “defeat” · Synonyms & antonyms

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

View the answer key

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
shrink
“Expand” means to get larger; its opposite is “shrink”.
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
quick
“Rapid” and “quick” both mean moving or happening fast.
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
abundant
“Scarce” means in short supply; its opposite is “abundant” (plentiful).
4. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “silent”: “quiet” or “noisy”?
quiet
“Silent” and “quiet” both describe very little or no sound.
5. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “transparent”: “opaque” or “clear”?
opaque
“Transparent” lets light pass through; “opaque” blocks light.
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
happy
“Joyful” and “happy” both express delight and pleasure.
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
natural
“Artificial” means made by humans; its opposite is “natural”.
8. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “generous”: “selfish” or “kind”?
selfish
“Generous” means willing to share; its opposite is “selfish”.
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
old
“Ancient” means belonging to the distant past, similar to “old”.
10. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
help
To “assist” someone means to “help” them.
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
huge
“Enormous” and “huge” both mean very large in size.
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
defeat
“Victory” is winning; its opposite is “defeat”.

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
“expand” · “shrink” · Synonyms & antonyms
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
“rapid” · “quick” · Synonyms & antonyms
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
“scarce” · “abundant” · Synonyms & antonyms
4. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “silent”: “quiet” or “noisy”?
“silent” · “quiet” · Synonyms & antonyms
5. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “transparent”: “opaque” or “clear”?
“transparent” · “opaque” · Synonyms & antonyms
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
“joyful” · “happy” · Synonyms & antonyms
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
“artificial” · “natural” · Synonyms & antonyms
8. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “generous”: “selfish” or “kind”?
“generous” · “selfish” · Synonyms & antonyms
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
“ancient” · “old” · Synonyms & antonyms
10. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
“assist” · “help” · Synonyms & antonyms
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
“enormous” · “huge” · Synonyms & antonyms
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
“victory” · “defeat” · Synonyms & antonyms

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
shrink
“Expand” means to get larger; its opposite is “shrink”.
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
quick
“Rapid” and “quick” both mean moving or happening fast.
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
abundant
“Scarce” means in short supply; its opposite is “abundant” (plentiful).
4. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “silent”: “quiet” or “noisy”?
quiet
“Silent” and “quiet” both describe very little or no sound.
5. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “transparent”: “opaque” or “clear”?
opaque
“Transparent” lets light pass through; “opaque” blocks light.
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
happy
“Joyful” and “happy” both express delight and pleasure.
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
natural
“Artificial” means made by humans; its opposite is “natural”.
8. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “generous”: “selfish” or “kind”?
selfish
“Generous” means willing to share; its opposite is “selfish”.
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
old
“Ancient” means belonging to the distant past, similar to “old”.
10. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
help
To “assist” someone means to “help” them.
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
huge
“Enormous” and “huge” both mean very large in size.
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
defeat
“Victory” is winning; its opposite is “defeat”.

12 questions · Seed 44 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification