3rd Grade Synonyms Worksheets
Third graders trade common words for richer synonyms (brave and courageous, gather and collect) and learn the "almost" in almost the same: shades of meaning matter, and gigantic outgrows big. Choosing the true synonym over a related-but-different word is the skill.
Free printable PDF. One skill per page, answer key on page two.
Every sheet is one of a kind and prints with a version code, so you can reprint the exact same one later. New version every click.
The kind of sentences you'll get
Circle the letter of the word that means almost the same.
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The enormous pumpkin at the fair was truly ______ .
orange · tiny · gigantic
Answer: gigantic
- Another word for rush is ______ . wait · hurry · paint
- Another word for respond is ______ . stumble · ignore · reply
Every print draws a fresh mix of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Choose the word. Circle the letter of the word that means almost the same. 10 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Push one notch of richness at a time: happy to cheerful before happy to elated. When a foil is related but not synonymous (cold for winter), ask "same meaning, or just same topic?" That distinction is where 3rd grade synonym work actually lives.
Watch for: Synonyms mean almost the same, not exactly the same. Big and gigantic are both large, but gigantic is bigger. A word about the same topic isn't a synonym: orange isn't a synonym for pumpkin just because pumpkins are orange.
Common questions about synonyms
- How is a synonym different from a related word?
- Synonyms share meaning; related words just share a topic. Chilly is a synonym of cold, but snow is only a neighbor. The swap test exposes the difference: "a snow morning" doesn't say what "a chilly morning" says.
- What makes a good synonym question hard?
- Tempting foils. Our items pair the right answer with words that are related, opposite, or simply familiar, so students must check meaning instead of picking the word they've seen most. That checking habit is the real outcome.
Related worksheets
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Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.