Closest in Meaning
Closest in meaning questions give one word in capital letters, followed by five possible answers, and ask which single word has nearly the same meaning as the word given, in other words a synonym. It checks the breadth of a pupil's vocabulary and their ability to spot subtle differences between similar-sounding options. This is one of the core word-meaning question types in GL Assessment and CEM-style 11+ papers.
Before you start
No specific prerequisites - this is a good place to start.
Method
- Cover the five options and think of your own synonym for the capitalised word first.
- Read all five options before choosing, because more than one may seem plausible at a glance.
- Rule out any option that means the opposite or something unrelated to the capitalised word.
- Watch for options that are linked to the word's topic but do not share its core meaning, rather than being a true synonym.
- Choose the option that could swap directly into a sentence in place of the capitalised word without changing the meaning.
- If two options seem close, pick the one that matches the exact strength or degree of the original word.
Worked example
Choose the word closest in meaning to ENORMOUS. A) tiny B) average C) huge D) heavy E) tall
- ENORMOUS means extremely large in size.
- TINY is the opposite of ENORMOUS, so rule it out straight away.
- AVERAGE means typical or ordinary, which is not the same as extremely large.
- HEAVY and TALL each describe only one single dimension, weight or height, rather than overall size.
- HUGE means very large, matching ENORMOUS most closely in both meaning and strength.
- Final answer: C) huge.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Choose the word closest in meaning to RELIABLE, and explain your choice in one short phrase. A) unpredictable B) trustworthy C) popular D) friendly E) careful
Choose the word closest in meaning to METHODICAL, then explain why one of the wrong options does not mean the same thing. A) careless B) systematic C) hurried D) creative E) confident
Choose the word closest in meaning to BENEVOLENT, then explain why two of the other options are not correct. A) selfish B) stern C) kind D) careless E) cautious
Free printable worksheet
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