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Primary 3 · English · Vocabulary & Word Meaning

Vocabulary & Word Meaning questions for Primary 3 English

10 questions to work through online. Answer and you get the working straight away, then a score at the end. No sign-up, and you can retake it as often as you like.

  • Shades of meaning
  • Idioms
  • Sound-alike words
  • Synonyms in context
  • Describing people
  • Collective nouns
  • Word parts
  • Using context clues
  • Verbs of speech
0 of 10 answered
Question 1 of 10Shades of meaning
The soup was so ______ that Nadia had to blow on every spoonful before eating it.
Question 2 of 10Idioms
Ravi was ______ when the coach told him he had been picked for the school team.
Question 3 of 10Sound-alike words
The rusty gate ______ loudly as Grandpa pushed it open.
Question 4 of 10Synonyms in context
Which word means the same as "exhausted" in this sentence?After the long hike up the hill, the twins were exhausted.
Question 5 of 10Describing people
Sarah is a ______ monitor — she checks that every window is latched before the class leaves.
Question 6 of 10Collective nouns
A ______ of bees came out of the hive behind the shed.
Question 7 of 10Word parts
What does "careless" mean in this sentence?Ben was careless with his new spectacles and sat on them.
Question 8 of 10Using context clues
The puppy was ______ on its first day, but by the end of the week it followed us everywhere.
Question 9 of 10Verbs of speech
"Please, just one more turn," Halim ______ , tugging at his mother's sleeve.
Question 10 of 10Synonyms in context
Which word can replace "spotted" in this sentence?On the way home, Alan spotted a kite caught in the tree.
Answers and explanations for all 10 questions

Every answer with the reasoning behind it. Worth reading after you have tried the set — or on its own, if you are a parent marking it.

  1. The soup was so ______ that Nadia had to blow on every spoonful before eating it.

    Answer: scalding

    Blowing on food cools it down, so the soup must be very hot. Scalding means hot enough to burn.

  2. Ravi was ______ when the coach told him he had been picked for the school team.

    Answer: over the moon

    Over the moon means delighted, which is how Ravi feels about the good news.

  3. The rusty gate ______ loudly as Grandpa pushed it open.

    Answer: creaked

    A creak is the long, complaining sound old hinges make when they move.

  4. Which word means the same as "exhausted" in this sentence? After the long hike up the hill, the twins were exhausted.

    Answer: worn out

    Exhausted means very tired, and worn out carries the same meaning.

  5. Sarah is a ______ monitor — she checks that every window is latched before the class leaves.

    Answer: responsible

    Someone responsible can be trusted to do what the job needs, which is what checking the windows shows.

  6. A ______ of bees came out of the hive behind the shed.

    Answer: swarm

    The collective noun for bees flying together is a swarm.

  7. What does "careless" mean in this sentence? Ben was careless with his new spectacles and sat on them.

    Answer: not careful

    The ending -less means without, so careless means without care — not careful.

  8. The puppy was ______ on its first day, but by the end of the week it followed us everywhere.

    Answer: timid

    The word but signals a change: the puppy ended up bold, so it started off shy. Timid means shy and easily frightened.

  9. "Please, just one more turn," Halim ______ , tugging at his mother's sleeve.

    Answer: pleaded

    Saying "please" while tugging a sleeve is begging, and to plead is to beg.

  10. Which word can replace "spotted" in this sentence? On the way home, Alan spotted a kite caught in the tree.

    Answer: noticed

    Here spotted means caught sight of, so noticed replaces it without changing the meaning.