Words That Look Alike

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Some English words look nearly identical but have completely different meanings. Can you tell these tricky lookalikes apart?

1.
What is the difference between 'desert' (noun, stress on first syllable) and 'dessert'?
A
Desert is a dry area; dessert is a sweet course
B
Both mean the same thing, just different spellings
C
Desert is a sweet; dessert is abandonment
D
There is no difference
2.
Which word means 'to praise highly': 'complement' or 'compliment'?
A
Neither
B
Compliment
C
Both mean the same thing
D
Complement
3.
What does 'principal' mean when used as a noun?
A
The head of a school or a sum of money
B
A major event
C
A theory
D
A rule or belief
4.
'Elicit' and 'illicit' look similar. What does 'illicit' mean?
A
Elegant
B
To draw out a response
C
To make clear
D
Illegal or forbidden
5.
What is the difference between 'emigrate' and 'immigrate'?
A
Emigrate means to leave a country; immigrate means to enter a new one
B
Emigrate is British; immigrate is American
C
Emigrate refers to birds; immigrate refers to people
D
They mean the same thing
6.
Which word means 'to go before': 'precede' or 'proceed'?
A
Neither
B
Both
C
Precede
D
Proceed
7.
'Discreet' and 'discrete' differ by one letter. What does 'discrete' mean?
A
Polite and modest
B
Individually separate and distinct
C
Careful and secretive
D
Hidden from view
8.
What does 'adverse' mean, as opposed to 'averse'?
A
Against one's will
B
Reverse or backward
C
Reluctant or opposed
D
Harmful or unfavorable
9.
Which is correct: 'The building was _____ by the earthquake'?
A
Effected
B
Affected
C
Either is correct
D
Neither is correct
10.
'Stationery' and 'stationary' — which one means writing materials?
A
Stationary
B
Both
C
Stationery
D
Neither
11.
What does 'amoral' mean, as opposed to 'immoral'?
A
Against morals
B
Lacking any moral sense or standards
C
Very moral
D
Slightly immoral
12.
'Prescribe' and 'proscribe' are near-opposites. What does 'proscribe' mean?
A
To describe in advance
B
To write a prescription
C
To recommend medicine
D
To forbid or prohibit
13.
Which word means 'believable': 'credible' or 'credulous'?
A
Neither
B
Credulous
C
Credible
D
Both mean the same thing
14.
What does 'perspicacious' mean, as opposed to 'perspicuous'?
A
Clear and easy to understand
B
Being suspicious
C
Sweating profusely
D
Having keen mental perception and insight
15.
'Ingenious' and 'ingenuous' look similar. What does 'ingenuous' mean?
A
Cleverly inventive
B
Rude and dishonest
C
Innocent and unsuspecting
D
Talented at engineering

Answer Key

Question 1

A. Desert is a dry area; dessert is a sweet course

Question 2

B. Compliment

Question 3

A. The head of a school or a sum of money

Question 4

D. Illegal or forbidden

Question 5

A. Emigrate means to leave a country; immigrate means to enter a new one

Question 6

C. Precede

Question 7

B. Individually separate and distinct

Question 8

D. Harmful or unfavorable

Question 9

B. Affected

Question 10

C. Stationery

Question 11

B. Lacking any moral sense or standards

Question 12

D. To forbid or prohibit

Question 13

C. Credible

Question 14

D. Having keen mental perception and insight

Question 15

C. Innocent and unsuspecting

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