wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Denotation and Connotation

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the meaning of connotation?

a)

Emotional meaning of a word

b)

An emotional outburst

c)

Official meaning of a word

d)

Refers to emotional atmosphere produced by an author’s use of language

2.

What is the meaning of denotation?

a)

It represents something else (emble, token, etc.)

b)

The emotion of a word

c)

The art of lasagna baking

d)

The official meaning of a word

3.

What is an example of denotation?

a)

Childish being negative while youthful is positive

b)

Dreamer- a person who is dreaming or has dreams

c)

Candy apples are very delicious.

d)

How have you been?

4.

Is this an example of a positive connotation?

“She has a very energetic mindset!”

a)

Yes!

b)

No!

c)

Maybe!

5.

Is this an example of denotation?

Chicken - a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one.

a)

Yes.

b)

Not really...

c)

Maybeeee!

6.

I recognized the familiar smell of my roommate's cooking. If you change the word smell to stench, the word now has a ____________ connotation.

a)

positive

b)

negative

7.
Which of the following has the most positive connotation?
a)
carefree
b)
lazily
c)
hastily
8.

Consider the following sentences. I hear my brother talking on the phone with his girlfriend. I hear my brother chatting on the phone with his girlfriend. How does the connotation of the word chatting in the second sentence convey the author’s purpose?

a)

It implies the conversation is not serious.

b)

It implies that the conversation is funny.

c)

It implies anger or resentment in the conversations.

d)

It implies the conversation is very serious.

9.

Read the sentences and answer the question. I gave the most difficult task to Yandy because she is the most stubborn person I know. I gave the most difficult task to Yandy because she is the most persistent person I know. How does the connotation of the word persistent in the second sentence convey the author’s purpose?

a)

It implies a positive characteristic.

b)

It implies an increasingly negative characteristic.

c)

It implies a careless characteristic.

d)

It implies a playfully irresponsible characteristic.

10.
Which word has a neutral connotation?
a)
Mansion
b)
Residence
c)
Shack
11.
What is connotation?
a)
Connotation implies or suggests a meaning of a word.
b)
Dictionary meaning of a word.
c)
I don't know!
d)
Unknown meaning
12.
What is denotation?
a)
Direct meaning of a word or dictionary meaning.
b)
It means down.
c)
Let me ask my friend
d)
It means to note the word.
13.
Which connotation is MORE negative?
I didn't like the ______ on the jester's face.
a)
grin
b)
smirk
14.
Which connotation is MORE negative?
I ate a ________ sandwich.
a)
moist
b)
soggy
15.
Which connotation is MORE positive?
Some of the monkeys made ______ faces.
a)
amusing
b)
hilarious
16.
Which connotation is MORE negative?
It made me feel _______.
a)
uneasy
b)
frightened
17.
Which connotation is MORE negative?
Mike _______ us to go to the funny house.
a)
nagged
b)
reminded
18.
Which connotation is MORE negative?
We bought _____ souvenirs at the amusement park.
a)
cheap
b)
inexpensive
19.
Which connotation is MORE positive?
Everyone had a _____ on his or her face on the way home.
a)
smile
b)
smirk
20.
Which connotation is MORE positive?
We saw ______ animals in the animal house.
a)
fascinating
b)
weird
21.
Referring to someone's house as a "shack" would have a __________ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
22.
The word scrawny, as in "Jason appeared scrawny," has a _________ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
23.
Choose the word with the positive connotation.
gossip--chat
a)
gossip
b)
chat
24.
Which word has a positive connotation?
a)
brainwash
b)
persuade
25.
Which of the following has a negative connotation?
a)
A pushy leader
b)
A charismatic leader
26.
Which word has the more positive connotation?
a)
laid-back
b)
lazy 
27.
Which word has the more positive connotation?
a)
Bean-pole
b)
Slender 
28.

Which phrase has negative connotation?

a)

a box filled with documents

b)

a box crammed with documents

29.

Which phrase has a more positive connotation?

a)

a peculiar object

b)

a unique object

c)

a strange object

30.

Which phrase has a more negative connotation?

a)

frown at someone

b)

scowl at someone

31.
What is the best word to use for this sentence to make it negative?
He is very ______.
a)
Truthful
b)
Honest
c)
Blunt
32.

smart

a)

positive meaning (+)

b)

negative meaning (-)

c)

neutral meaning (=)

33.

struggle

a)

positive meaning (+)

b)

negative meaning (-)

c)

neutral meaning (=)

34.

abundant

a)

positive meaning (+)

b)

negative meaning (-)

c)

neutral meaning (=)

35.

Referring to someone's house as a "shack" would have a __________ connotation.

a)

positive

b)

negative