Alphabetical Order
Directions: Arrange the following words and abbreviations in alphabetical order.
deep 1. ____________________________
depend 2. ____________________________
dance 3. ____________________________
direct 4. ____________________________
distant 5. ____________________________
dream 6. ____________________________
deport 7. ____________________________
defense 8. ____________________________
doughnut 9. ____________________________
dear 10. ___________________________
dip 11. ___________________________
Dr. 12. ___________________________
drove 13. ___________________________
dept. 14. ___________________________
dent 15. ___________________________
drift 16. ___________________________
danger 17. ___________________________
dye 18. ___________________________
die 19. ___________________________
donut 20. ___________________________
Guide Words: Exercise 1
Directions: Look at the guide words listed at the left and decide if the word in the middle column will be on the dictionary page, before the dictionary page, or after the dictionary page indicated by those guide words.
1. famous / foster football _____________________________
2. bead / beautiful baker _____________________________
3. tooth / top touch _____________________________
4. amble / animal armor _____________________________
5. caught / cedar cease _____________________________
6. deflate / degree delay _____________________________
7. mitt / mole mistake _____________________________
8. correct / corsage correspond _____________________________
9. rat / rattler rash _____________________________
10. explore / express extinct _____________________________
11. shadow / shallow shanty _____________________________
12. dive / division diversion _____________________________
13. scribble / scrub scuba _____________________________
14. aspire / assume aspic _____________________________
15. teepee / tennis terminal _____________________________
16. graduation / grammar grandmother _____________________________
17. lame / language laminate _____________________________
18. round / rubbery rouge _____________________________
19. midriff / milkman millennium _____________________________
20. horsefly / hound hostess _____________________________
Guide Words: Exercise 2
Directions: Look at the guide words listed at the left and decide if the word in the middle column will be on the dictionary page, before the dictionary page, or after the dictionary page indicated by those guide words.
1. deceit / decipher decision _____________________________
2. oral / order orange _____________________________
3. enforce / English enhance _____________________________
4. underground / understand undercut _____________________________
5. park / parted parole _____________________________
6. granulate / grating gravity _____________________________
7. radio / ragweed radon _____________________________
8. multiply / muscle municipal _____________________________
9. fund / fuselage fur _____________________________
10. hind / hippo himself _____________________________
11. vase / veil velocity _____________________________
12. inactive / incense impure _____________________________
13. necktie / neglect neither _____________________________
14. jail / January janitor _____________________________
15. zap / zero zest _____________________________
16. safeguard / salesman sailboat _____________________________
17. conquer / consist connive _____________________________
18. anchovy / anger anemia _____________________________
19. waist / wallet waitress _____________________________
20. jiggle / joggle jostle _____________________________
Meaning: Exercise 1
Directions: In each of the following sentences, decide which of the two meanings best fits the boldfaced word as it is used in the sentence. Write the letter on the blank space.
______ 1. Due to a snowstorm, school was dismissed early.
a. discharged from office or employment b. to direct or allow to leave.
______ 2. We tested the bark to see how old the tree was.
a. the sound made by a dog b. the outer covering of a tree
______ 3. Jane was feeling blue because she got a poor grade on her test.
a. a color b. gloomy or depressed
______ 4. The wind is coming out of the east this morning.
a. to wrap something around an object b. moving air
______ 5. Does your mother play the organ at school?
a. a musical instrument b. part of a human
______ 6. I have the lead in the play this year.
a. to show the way b. the principal role
______ 7. Our town is on the bank of the Mississippi River.
a. the shore of a river b. a place where money is kept
______ 8. Carol knew she would like to have a pickle on her sandwich.
a. a small preserved cucumber b. an embarrassing or difficult situation
______ 9. It is your right to choose which book you will read.
a. that which is due by law or tradition b. opposite of left
______ 10. I can’t bear the wait until my birthday comes.
a. a large mammal b. to endure
Meaning: Exercise 2
Directions: Using a dictionary, look up the boldfaced word and write the definition that best fits the meaning of the sentence.
1. My dad is going to panel the family room walls.
2. Our car trip will cover 2,000 miles this summer.
3. John tried with all his might to lift the box of books, but it was too heavy.
4. I played a tennis match with Susan last Saturday.
5. Mrs. Mason had a grave look on her face as she told us our test scores.
6. Would you please pass the pickle relish?
7. Have you ever had a headache near your temple?
8. Jennifer got the part of the old woman in the school play.
9. The tall buildings in the city block the sun.
10. Free lemonade will draw a crowd for the puppet show.
Meaning: Exercise 3
Directions: Using a dictionary, look up the boldfaced word and write the definition that best fits the meaning of the sentence.
1. My sister and I are going abroad next summer.
2. Michael leafed through the magazine while he waited for the doctor.
3. Karen’s grade in class hinges on how well she does on the next test.
4. What method shall we use when we do the science experiment?
5. You are not allowed to fish in a game preserve.
6. My mom and dad decided to raise my allowance this year.
7. A spark from an electrical cord started the fire in my neighbor’s house.
8. There was a blanket of snow on the ground when we looked out the window.
9. You need to stir the batter for three minutes before pouring it into the cake pan.
10. Could I trouble you for some help with my homework?
8
Syllables
Directions: Say each word to yourself. On the blank beside each word, write its number of syllables.
8
1. unusual ________________
2. special ________________
3. distant ________________
4. elephant ________________
5. definition ________________
6. classroom ________________
7. clothing ________________
8. brought ________________
9. dismiss ________________
10. phrase ________________
11. unfamiliar ________________
12. wheat ________________
13. example ________________
14. look ________________
15. packet ________________
16. assurance ________________
17. predicament ________________
18. supernatural ________________
19. collapse ________________
20. spiraling ________________
21. factors ______________
22. condition ______________
23. evaluate ______________
24. distance ______________
25. speculation ______________
26. disgruntled ______________
27. inarticulate ______________
28. situations ______________
29. instigate ______________
30. report ______________
8
Prefixes and Suffixes
8
Directions: For each of the following words, decide if the word has a prefix, a suffix, or both. Underline the prefix and/or circle the suffix and write the base word on the line.
1. variable ____________________________
2. following ____________________________
3. disinterested ____________________________
4. sensible ____________________________
5. unhappily ____________________________
6. convertible ____________________________
7. disjointed ____________________________
8. reordered ____________________________
9. nonfiction ____________________________
10. happiness ____________________________
11. prearranged ____________________________
12. unspeakable ____________________________
13. nonpoisonous ____________________________
14. misinformed ____________________________
15. reconstruction ____________________________
16. rightful ____________________________
17. monotone ____________________________
18. hydrotherapy ____________________________
19. entanglement ____________________________
20. uncomplicated ____________________________
8
8
Spelling (Plurals)
Directions: Look up each of these words in a dictionary and write the plural form of the word.
8
1. deer __________________
2. index __________________
3. mouse __________________
4. fish __________________
5. chief __________________
6. bass __________________
7. trout __________________
8. thief __________________
9. shelf __________________
10. country__________________
11. Saturday__________________
12. hero _________________
13. moose __________________
14. roof __________________
15. potato __________________
16. wolf __________________
17. relish __________________
18. house __________________
19. sundae __________________
20. fantasy __________________
21. life __________________
22. quiz __________________
23. crush __________________
24. radio __________________
25. prefix __________________
26. watch __________________
27. strawberry__________________
28. eyelash __________________
29. victory __________________
30. tomato __________________
31. tooth __________________
32. elf __________________
33. studio __________________
34. leaf __________________
35. peach __________________
36. woman __________________
37. child __________________
38. acorn __________________
39. mystery__________________
40. spice __________________
8
8