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Worksheets

Connotation and Denotation

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 36mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Connotation and Denotation are two ways to describe the meanings of ________________

a)

planets

b)

birds

c)

words

d)

sentences

2.

Connotation and Denotation are two ways to describe the meanings of ________________

a)

planets

b)

birds

c)

words

d)

sentences

3.

Connotations refers to a meaning that is implied by a word. Connotations are often decided by cultural and emotional meanings. If someone called you childish, would it be considered a negative or positive connotation?

a)

positive

b)

negative

4.

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Hint: Determine the connotation (positive or negative) through context clues.


My friend is very careful about spending money. I admire that, so I call him ______________.

a)

thrifty

b)

stingy

c)

miserly

d)

selfish

5.

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Hint: Determine the connotation (positive or negative) through context clues.


I admire the man who jumped on the subway tracks to rescue a stranger. He was certainly ________________.

a)

foolhearty

b)

courageous

c)

rash

d)

reckless

6.

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Hint: Determine the connotation (positive or negative) through context clues.


Although the problem was difficult to resolve, Sandra and John were ________________ in searching for an answer. Their teacher was quite proud.

a)

persistent

b)

stubborn

c)

bullheaded

d)

headstrong

7.

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Hint: Determine the connotation (positive or negative) through context clues.


She was disappointed that the dress she wanted to buy her daughter was ________________ as she ran her fingers across the fabric.

a)

expensive

b)

overpriced

c)

unafordable

d)

pricey

8.

Which phrase has negative connotation?

a)

a box filled with documents

b)

a box crammed with documents

9.

Which word has a negative connotation?

a)

stench

b)

smell

10.

A denotation is a literal or specific dictionary meaning. Many use context clues to decide on the meaning of a word that they may not be familiar with. True or False

a)

True

b)

False

11.
Denotation is a word's ____________.
a)
Literal, dictionary definition
b)
Emotional meaning
c)
synonym
d)
antonym
12.
Connotation is a word's ___________.
a)
synonym
b)
emotional meaning
c)
antonym
d)
Literal, dictionary definition.
13.
Referring to someone's house as a "shack" would have a __________ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
14.
Kevin's interest in model cars has turned into a hobby. If you change the word hobby to obsession, the word now has a _____ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
15.
Kevin's interest in model cars has turned into a hobby. If you change the word hobby to obsession, the word now has a _____ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
16.
The teacher was mildly intimated by Merdine's bossy behavior. If you change the word bossy to assertive, the word now has a ____ connotation.
a)
positive
b)
negative
17.
Which is the dictionary definition of a word?
a)
positive connotation
b)
denotation
c)
negative connotation
18.
Which word has the most Negative connotation?
a)
leave
b)
abandon
c)
depart
19.
Which has the most Negative Connotation?
a)
dirty
b)
filthy
c)
soiled
20.

All words have a connotation and a denotation. If you look up the word 'snake' in the dictionary, it would define a reptile. If you called someone 'snake', it would be an example of a

a)

positive connotation

b)

denotation

c)

negative connotation

21.

What is the denotation of the word late?

a)

tardy

b)

prompt

c)

missing

22.

What is the denotation of the word rare?

a)

frequent

b)

common

c)

scarce

23.

What is the denotation of the word slender?

a)

hefty

b)

slim

c)

thick

24.

What is the denotation of the word nervous?

a)

anxious

b)

composed

c)

fealess

25.

Maria was courageous as she gave her speech.

Maria was confident as she gave her speech.

Maria was conceited as she gave her speech.

Which of these has the most negative connotation?

a)

courageous

b)

confident

c)

conceited

26.

ecstatic

excited

happy

Which of these is the most intense?

a)

ecstatic

b)

excited

c)

happy

27.
Which of the following has the most positive connotation?
a)
carefree
b)
lazily
c)
hastily
28.

Which phrase has a more positive connotation?

a)

a peculiar object

b)

a unique object

c)

a strange object

29.

Which word has a negative connotation?

a)

child

b)

youngster

c)

brat

30.

Which word could best replace the underlined word?


Gia helped Mrs. Jones, her aged neighbor, bring in his packages.

a)

ancient

b)

elderly

c)

young

31.
Which of the following has a negative connotation?
a)
gaze
b)
look steadily
c)
stare
32.

Which word has a more positive connotation?

a)

Brilliant

b)

Pushy

c)

Domineering

d)

Aggressive

33.

Insert the word with the most negative connotation to complete the sentence.


It was hard to ignore the baby’s ______________ screams.

a)

loud

b)

piercing

c)

shrill

34.

Insert the word with the most negative connotation to complete the sentence.


Jackie wore a/an ________________ dress to the party.

a)

ancient

b)

vintage

c)

classic

35.

"One of them is that happy moment at the soda fountain...with a tinkling glass of ice-cold Coca-Cola."


The writer of this advertisement probably used the word ice-cold rather than freezing because ice-

cold has

a)

the opposite meaning

b)

a more negative connotation

c)

a more positive connotation

d)

the same denotation

36.

What are types of connotations words can have?

a)

grammar, usage, mechanics

b)

similes and metaphors

c)

Positive, Neutral or Negative

d)

I don't know

37.

Which word has a more positive connotation?

a)

youthful

b)

immature

c)

childish

38.

Which word has a more positive connotation?

a)

valuable

b)

expensive

c)

costly

39.

Which word has the most welcoming connotation?

a)

home

b)

house

c)

dwelling

d)

residence

40.

Identify the sentence that uses connotation to suggest someone is not very intelligent without saying it directly.

a)

He's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

b)

He has a lot to learn.

c)

He's incredibly knowledgeable.

d)

He's a genius in his own right.