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 a synonym (similar meaning) of “brief”: “short” or “endless”?
“brief” · “short” · Synonyms & antonyms
2. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
“victory” · “defeat” · Synonyms & antonyms
3. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
“courageous” · “brave” · 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 “shallow”: “deep” or “narrow”?
“shallow” · “deep” · Synonyms & antonyms
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
“enormous” · “huge” · Synonyms & antonyms
7. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “commence”: “begin” or “finish”?
“commence” · “begin” · 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 “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
“vacant” · “empty” · Synonyms & antonyms
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “ascend”: “descend” or “climb”?
“ascend” · “descend” · Synonyms & antonyms
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
“ancient” · “old” · Synonyms & antonyms
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
“scarce” · “abundant” · Synonyms & antonyms

12 questions · Seed 48 · 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 a synonym (similar meaning) of “brief”: “short” or “endless”?
short
“Brief” and “short” both mean lasting a small amount of time.
2. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
defeat
“Victory” is winning; its opposite is “defeat”.
3. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
brave
“Courageous” and “brave” both mean showing courage.
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 “shallow”: “deep” or “narrow”?
deep
“Shallow” means of little depth; its opposite is “deep”.
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
huge
“Enormous” and “huge” both mean very large in size.
7. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “commence”: “begin” or “finish”?
begin
“Commence” and “begin” both mean to start.
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 “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
empty
“Vacant” and “empty” both mean not occupied.
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “ascend”: “descend” or “climb”?
descend
“Ascend” means to go up; “descend” means to go down.
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
old
“Ancient” means belonging to the distant past, similar to “old”.
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
abundant
“Scarce” means in short supply; its opposite is “abundant” (plentiful).

12 questions · Seed 48 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Take your time. Show your thinking.

1. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “brief”: “short” or “endless”?
“brief” · “short” · Synonyms & antonyms
2. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
“victory” · “defeat” · Synonyms & antonyms
3. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
“courageous” · “brave” · 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 “shallow”: “deep” or “narrow”?
“shallow” · “deep” · Synonyms & antonyms
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
“enormous” · “huge” · Synonyms & antonyms
7. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “commence”: “begin” or “finish”?
“commence” · “begin” · 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 “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
“vacant” · “empty” · Synonyms & antonyms
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “ascend”: “descend” or “climb”?
“ascend” · “descend” · Synonyms & antonyms
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
“ancient” · “old” · Synonyms & antonyms
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
“scarce” · “abundant” · Synonyms & antonyms

12 questions · Seed 48 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification

Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12

Synonyms & antonyms

Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.

1. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “brief”: “short” or “endless”?
short
“Brief” and “short” both mean lasting a small amount of time.
2. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “victory”: “defeat” or “triumph”?
defeat
“Victory” is winning; its opposite is “defeat”.
3. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “courageous”: “brave” or “timid”?
brave
“Courageous” and “brave” both mean showing courage.
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 “shallow”: “deep” or “narrow”?
deep
“Shallow” means of little depth; its opposite is “deep”.
6. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “enormous”: “huge” or “tiny”?
huge
“Enormous” and “huge” both mean very large in size.
7. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “commence”: “begin” or “finish”?
begin
“Commence” and “begin” both mean to start.
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 “vacant”: “empty” or “crowded”?
empty
“Vacant” and “empty” both mean not occupied.
10. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “ascend”: “descend” or “climb”?
descend
“Ascend” means to go up; “descend” means to go down.
11. Which word is a synonym (similar meaning) of “ancient”: “old” or “modern”?
old
“Ancient” means belonging to the distant past, similar to “old”.
12. Which word is an antonym (opposite meaning) of “scarce”: “abundant” or “rare”?
abundant
“Scarce” means in short supply; its opposite is “abundant” (plentiful).

12 questions · Seed 48 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification