About This Worksheet
This Grade 7 Language Arts worksheet helps students choose the dictionary definition that matches how a bold word is used in a sentence. Many English words have more than one meaning, so students must rely on context rather than selecting the first definition they recognize. The examples include words such as address, illuminate, defend, trail, brief, observe, bold, and note. For example, address means to deal with a problem in one sentence, not to write a location on an envelope.
Learning Goals
The main goal is to help students understand how context determines which definition of a multiple-meaning word is correct. Students should already know how to locate clues in the surrounding sentence. This activity moves them toward comparing several dictionary meanings and rejecting choices that do not fit the author’s message. It supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.4, which asks students to determine word meaning by using context and reference materials.
Student Tasks
On this worksheet, students will read eight sentences containing bold vocabulary words. They will compare three possible definitions and select the one that best matches each word’s use. The items cover school, science, sports, art, and everyday situations. Students must pay attention to the full sentence because every answer choice may describe a real meaning of the word.
Common Challenges
Some students may choose the most familiar definition without checking the sentence carefully. Others may notice one nearby clue but ignore the verb, subject, or larger situation. Words such as brief, observe, and note can be especially tricky because their meanings shift often. Encourage students to replace the bold word with each definition and see which version still makes sense.
Teaching Suggestions
A teacher can model one question by reading the sentence with all three definitions inserted one at a time. Students can explain why two choices sound incorrect or change the meaning. At home, a parent can ask the child to use the same word in a second sentence with a different definition. This helps students see that the spelling stays the same even when the meaning changes.
Worksheet Features
The worksheet provides eight multiple-choice vocabulary questions built around common multiple-meaning words. Each item includes three clear definitions that require close comparison. The varied sentence topics keep the practice useful across several school subjects. This page fits dictionary-skills lessons, context-clue review, independent work, or a vocabulary assessment.