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WorksheetYear 10Level 2 · Standard

Free Year 10 Connotation, Euphemism and Loaded Language Worksheet

Students explore how word choice shapes a reader's attitude. They distinguish denotation from connotation, rank words by how positive or negative they feel, decode euphemisms used to soften unpleasant facts, and spot loaded language in news reports and advertisements. They finish by rewriting a neutral news paragraph twice, once to win support and once to stir opposition, and explaining their choices.

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Year
Year 10
Subject
English
Topic
Vocabulary
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
30 minutes
Curriculum
Australian Curriculum
Questions
11
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practise

  • distinguishing denotation and connotation
  • ranking synonyms by the strength and direction of their connotation
  • identifying and decoding euphemisms
  • identifying loaded language and its effect on readers
  • using connotation deliberately to position a reader

Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Connotation, Euphemism and Loaded Language

  1. 1Analysing a Poem: Night Shift — Text Analysis
  2. 2Building Suspense and Tension in Narrative Writing
  3. 3Persuasive Openings and Closings: Hooks, Contentions and Calls to Action
Harder: Level 3 · Challenge →

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

Year 10 students (typically ages 15–16) working on vocabulary. It is pitched at level 2 · standard; a harder version is linked above.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 30 minutes for 11 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Analysing a Poem: Night Shift — Text Analysis.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 10 · English · Vocabulary

Connotation, Euphemism and Loaded Language

Name

Date

Score /

When you read, ask: what does this word make me feel, and is that feeling based on facts?

Part A: Denotation and connotation

Words with similar meanings can carry very different feelings. Circle the best answer.

1.Denotation means:
  1. Athe dictionary meaning of a word
  2. Bthe feelings a word suggests
  3. Ca word's origin
  4. Da word's spelling
2.Which word has the most positive connotation for someone who saves money carefully?
  1. Astingy
  2. Bcheap
  3. Cthrifty
  4. Dtight-fisted
3.Which word has the most negative connotation for a group of people gathered in a street?
  1. Acrowd
  2. Bgathering
  3. Cmob
  4. Daudience
4.A news report says protesters stormed the building. Compared with entered, the word stormed suggests:
  1. Acalm and order
  2. Baggression and force
  3. Cpermission was given
  4. Da small number of people

Part B: Shades of meaning

Rank the words in each set and be ready to justify your order.

5.Rank from most positive to most negative: curious, nosy, inquisitive, prying (answer space)
6.Rank from most positive to most negative: confident, arrogant, self-assured, smug (answer space)

Part C: Euphemism

A euphemism is a mild or indirect word used in place of one that sounds harsh or unpleasant. It can be kind, but it can also hide the truth.

7.Match each euphemism to its plain meaning.
  • passed away
  • let go
  • pre-owned
  • between jobs
  • economical with the truth
  • collateral damage
  • second-hand
  • lying
  • unemployed
  • died
  • unintended deaths or destruction in war
  • fired from a job
8.Why might a company describe job cuts as restructuring? What is the effect on the reader?[2 marks] (answer space)
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Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.