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Determining the Meaning of Unknown Words

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

I walked down a different street because I wanted to avoid the barking dog.

Based on the context, what does avoid mean?

a)

train

b)

say hello to

c)

find a home for

d)

stay away from

2.

Read the sentence. Think about the meaning of the prefix re-

You cannot reenter the theater without your ticket.

What does reenter mean?

a)

not enter

b)

enter again

c)

enter incorrectly

d)

the opposite of enter

3.

Which word means "not able to be read"?

a)

readable

b)

rereading

c)

preread

d)

unreadable

4.

Read the word. Think about the meaning of the base word and the prefix.

Dishonest

What does dishonest mean?

a)

not acting bravely

b)

not being kind

c)

not telling the truth

d)

not showing respect

5.

In the story, "Nature's Firefighters," it says: "Strong winds whip flames into firestorms that rip through the combustible plants, threatening lives and costing billions of dollars in damage."


What does the word combustible mean?

a)

eaten by goats

b)

from the Pacific coast

c)

healthy and green

d)

easily burned

6.

If we use the red napkins, my mom will be happy but my dad will be discontent.


What does discontent mean?

a)

from another continent

b)

not happy

c)

from a different country

d)

not from the same country

7.

What does palatial mean?

a)

ugly

b)

tiny

c)

for dogs

d)

like a palace

8.

The conspicuous man wore a purple wig and large sunglasses.

a)

easily noticed/spotted

b)

beautiful

c)

sleeping

d)

sneaky

9.

The parking lot was so congested, it took half an hour to get out.

a)

empty

b)

hot

c)

crowded

d)

loud

10.

The thought of eating a rat is abhorrent to most people.

a)

fun

b)

horrible

c)

delicious

d)

exciting

11.

When Wei Yei got a tiny cut on her pinky finger, she became melodramatic, and sobbed and demanded to see a doctor.


What does melodramatic mean?

a)

quiet

b)

overly emotional

c)

angry

d)

not angry enough

12.

An_______is an unknown word. 

a)

unfamiliar word 

b)

context clue 

c)

multiple meaning word 

13.

The video game was supposed to be a diversion. I was just going to play for a few minutes. You know, waste a little time. Instead, I played for hours. When I say "hours," I’m not just exaggerating the amount of time I spent playing. I spent so much time playing it that, over my Thanksgiving break, I slept only four hours and missed Thanksgiving dinner. I did, however, beat the game. When it was over, my accomplishment had earned me little more than a headache and a bad case of insomnia. I felt foolish, so I immediately started playing another game. Read the following sentence from the passage. The video game was supposed to be a diversion. What does the word diversion mean?

a)

lifestyle

b)

disguise

c)

distraction

d)

contest

14.

An experienced and trusted adviser.

a)

Mentor

b)

Conclusive

c)

Counterpart

d)

Principal

15.

Read the word. Think about the meaning of the suffix -less.

hopeless

What does hopeless mean?

a)

full of hope

b)

to hope again

c)

without hope

d)

hoped in the past

16.

Read the word. Think about the meaning of the prefix im-

impolite

What does impolite mean?

a)

not polite

b)

very polite

c)

done in a polite way

d)

characterized by being polite

17.

The words port and portable have the same root. Portable means "able to be carried." Based on the meaning of the root, what do you think porter means?

a)

one who is carefree

b)

one who is near a port city

c)

one who carries things

d)

one who is not able to carry things

18.

Read the sentence. Think about the meaning of the suffix.

My grandmother takes childlike delight in her birthdays.

What does childlike mean?

a)

including a child or children

b)

capable of being a child

c)

the opposite of being a child

d)

having the qualities of a child

19.

Read the sentence and the dictionary entry. Choose the definition of produce that applies to the sentence. At the market, we bought some produce, some homemade soap, and dozen fresh eggs. pro-duce ('pro-dus) noun 1. fresh fruit and vegetables; (pru-'dus) verb 2. to create

a)

fresh fruits and vegetables

b)

to create

20.

Read the sentence.

Isabella had an easy time reading the book, but Maddie thought the complicated and confusing story was demanding.

a)

simple

b)

hard

c)

short

d)

boring

21.

The delightful aroma of food cooking in the kitchen made my mouth water.

a)

smell

b)

color

c)

wealth

d)

sound

22.

In the sentence, 'The detective had to decipher the cryptic message left at the crime scene,' what does the word 'cryptic' mean?

a)

A) clear

b)

B) mysterious

c)

C) lengthy

d)

D) humorous

23.

Read the sentence: 'The teacher asked the students to infer the meaning of the word from the context.' What does 'infer' mean in this context?

a)

A) to guess without evidence

b)

B) to conclude based on evidence

c)

C) to ignore

d)

D) to memorize

24.

Which word means 'able to be understood'?

a)

A) incomprehensible

b)

B) comprehensible

c)

C) illegible

d)

D) unreadable

25.

In the passage, 'The ancient manuscript was filled with archaic language that puzzled the scholars,' what does 'archaic' mean?

a)

A) modern

b)

B) outdated

c)

C) simple

d)

D) humorous