EnglishAges 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

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

New variation Try interactive challenge Browse templates

Age band:Ages 7-9 Ages 10-12

Choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy. Use your browser’s paper setting for A4 or Letter.

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “ancient”: “modern” or “historical”?
“ancient” · “modern” · Synonyms & antonyms
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “accurate”: “correct” or “careless”?
“accurate” · “correct” · Synonyms & antonyms
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
“victory” · “defeat” · Synonyms & antonyms
4. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
“artificial” · “natural” · Synonyms & antonyms
5. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
“courageous” · “brave” · Synonyms & antonyms
6. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “frequent”: “rare” or “common”?
“frequent” · “rare” · Synonyms & antonyms
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
“expand” · “shrink” · Synonyms & antonyms
8. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
“rapid” · “quick” · Synonyms & antonyms
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
“vacant” · “empty” · Synonyms & antonyms
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
“scarce” · “abundant” · Synonyms & antonyms
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
“assist” · “help” · Synonyms & antonyms
12. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
“joyful” · “happy” · Synonyms & antonyms

12 questions · Seed 46 · 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 “ancient”: “modern” or “historical”?
modern
The opposite of “ancient” (very old) is “modern”.
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “accurate”: “correct” or “careless”?
correct
“Accurate” and “correct” both mean free from error.
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
defeat
“Victory” is winning; its opposite is “defeat”.
4. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
natural
“Artificial” means made by humans; its opposite is “natural”.
5. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
brave
“Courageous” and “brave” both mean showing courage.
6. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “frequent”: “rare” or “common”?
rare
“Frequent” means happening often; its opposite is “rare”.
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
shrink
“Expand” means to get larger; its opposite is “shrink”.
8. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
quick
“Rapid” and “quick” both mean moving or happening fast.
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
empty
“Vacant” and “empty” both mean not occupied.
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
abundant
“Scarce” means in short supply; its opposite is “abundant” (plentiful).
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
help
To “assist” someone means to “help” them.
12. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
happy
“Joyful” and “happy” both express delight and pleasure.

12 questions · Seed 46 · 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 “ancient”: “modern” or “historical”?
“ancient” · “modern” · Synonyms & antonyms
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “accurate”: “correct” or “careless”?
“accurate” · “correct” · Synonyms & antonyms
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
“victory” · “defeat” · Synonyms & antonyms
4. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
“artificial” · “natural” · Synonyms & antonyms
5. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
“courageous” · “brave” · Synonyms & antonyms
6. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “frequent”: “rare” or “common”?
“frequent” · “rare” · Synonyms & antonyms
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
“expand” · “shrink” · Synonyms & antonyms
8. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
“rapid” · “quick” · Synonyms & antonyms
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
“vacant” · “empty” · Synonyms & antonyms
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
“scarce” · “abundant” · Synonyms & antonyms
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
“assist” · “help” · Synonyms & antonyms
12. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
“joyful” · “happy” · Synonyms & antonyms

12 questions · Seed 46 · 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 “ancient”: “modern” or “historical”?
modern
The opposite of “ancient” (very old) is “modern”.
2. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “accurate”: “correct” or “careless”?
correct
“Accurate” and “correct” both mean free from error.
3. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
defeat
“Victory” is winning; its opposite is “defeat”.
4. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “artificial”: “natural” or “synthetic”?
natural
“Artificial” means made by humans; its opposite is “natural”.
5. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
brave
“Courageous” and “brave” both mean showing courage.
6. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “frequent”: “rare” or “common”?
rare
“Frequent” means happening often; its opposite is “rare”.
7. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “expand”: “shrink” or “grow”?
shrink
“Expand” means to get larger; its opposite is “shrink”.
8. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “rapid”: “quick” or “slow”?
quick
“Rapid” and “quick” both mean moving or happening fast.
9. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
empty
“Vacant” and “empty” both mean not occupied.
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
abundant
“Scarce” means in short supply; its opposite is “abundant” (plentiful).
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “assist”: “help” or “hinder”?
help
To “assist” someone means to “help” them.
12. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “joyful”: “happy” or “gloomy”?
happy
“Joyful” and “happy” both express delight and pleasure.

12 questions · Seed 46 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification