CBSE Class 8 English Easily Confused Words Worksheet

Some words are often confused because they sound similar, even though they have different spellings and meanings.

desert, dessert When the accent is on the first syllable, desert means “a dry, barren region.” When the accent is on the second syllable, desert means “to abandon.”

Dessert is a sweet course served at the end of a meal.

lessen, lesson Lessen means “to shrink in size or degree.” Lesson means “something to learn.”

passed, past Passed means “to have moved on or ahead.” Past means “time gone by” or “existed earlier.”

quiet, quite Quiet means “little or no sound.” Quite means “wholly, completely.”

weather, whether Weather means “the daily conditions of temperature, moisture, wind, and so on.” Whether is a conjunction often used in indirect quotations.

Exercise 1 Underline the word that best completes each sentence.

The doctor advised Mr. Wilson to (lessen, lesson) his intake of fat.

1. Jim’s cousins offered to show him (their, there) secret clubhouse.

2. Tina finished reading that story in one (hour, our).

3. Mom likes to drink English breakfast (tea, tee).

4. Louis cannot decide (weather, whether) to practice baseball or soccer.

5. Kim’s kite sailed (higher, hire) into the air than Bill’s kite.

6. Once the assembly began, everyone grew (quiet, quite).

7. Uncle Simon took pictures of his trip through the (desert, dessert).

8. Ling said the movie was so dull that he couldn’t (bare, bear) to watch it.

9. This book is about a poor girl who becomes (air, heir) to a fortune.

10. Calid (passed, past) Mr. Sokol on his way home from school.

11. Dad refused to let Tommy (peak, peek) at his birthday gifts before the party.

12. Mrs. Jenkins and her husband cooked (stake, steak) for the winners of the spelling bee.

13. Sara will (right, write) a letter to her friend after dinner.

14. Jean was (holy, wholly) surprised when she won the contest.

15. Dividing fractions was today’s math (lessen, lesson).

16. Poloma ate the last (peace, piece) of blueberry pie.

17. Don’t forget to bring (your, you’re) camera.

18. My cat might (brake, break) that vase if I leave it on the windowsill.

19. Ramon (blew, blue) the trumpet, but no sound came out.

20. Jermaine saw several (dear, deer) in the park yesterday.

21. Grandmother (cent, sent) each of us a beautiful sweater.

22. Anne (wood, would) like to learn how to dance.

23. Larry bought a new computer game because it was on (sail, sale).

24. The bright sun cast (it’s, its) rays across the meadow.

25. The Watsons are planning a vacation by the (sea, see).

26. What kind of ice cream do you want for (desert, dessert)?

27. The speaker began by stating her (main, mane) purpose.

28. Kendra borrowed (for, four) videotapes from Roger.

29. David went to the store to buy (meat, meet) and potatoes.

30. Belinda likes to (read, reed) historical novels.

31. Of all the people who live on our street, Ms. Romanoff receives the most (mail, male).

32. The gemstones we discovered in the treasure chest were (real, reel).

33. That comedian is very entertaining; he could never be a (boar, bore).

34. Kyle was extremely (soar, sore) after the hockey game.

35. Aunt Rita is in the kitchen making (moor, more) popcorn.