Shades of Meaning Worksheets

Students order sets of related verbs and adjectives, such as toss, throw and hurl or small, tiny and microscopic, from weakest to strongest. Then they pick the word that best fits each sentence.

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Shades of Meaning

Name: ______________________Date: __________

Some words mean almost the same thing, but one is stronger. Put each set of words in order from weakest to strongest.

freezing • cool • cold

→→

boiling • warm • hot

→→

look • peek • stare

→→

throw • toss • hurl

→→

angry • upset • furious

→→

eat • nibble • gobble

→→

Circle the word that fits the sentence best.

I took a quick peeklookstare through the crack in the door.
Please whispertalkyell in the library so others can read.
The water is warmhotboiling, with big bubbles popping on top.
It did not just rain. It began to drizzlerainpour, and the streets flooded.

Shades of Meaning: Answer Key

Some words mean almost the same thing, but one is stronger. Put each set of words in order from weakest to strongest.

freezing • cool • cold

cool→cold→freezing

boiling • warm • hot

warm→hot→boiling

look • peek • stare

peek→look→stare

throw • toss • hurl

toss→throw→hurl

angry • upset • furious

upset→angry→furious

eat • nibble • gobble

nibble→eat→gobble

Circle the word that fits the sentence best.

I took a quick peeklookstare through the crack in the door.
Please whispertalkyell in the library so others can read.
The water is warmhotboiling, with big bubbles popping on top.
It did not just rain. It began to drizzlerainpour, and the streets flooded.

Teaching tips

Common Core L.1.5.d covers shades of meaning among verbs (look, peek, glance, stare) and adjectives (large, gigantic).
Common Core L.2.5.b covers closely related verbs (toss, throw, hurl) and adjectives (thin, slender, skinny, scrawny).
Use paint-chip strips: write one word on each shade.