Connotation and Denotation Worksheet

Connotation and Denotation

Read each question carefully and follow the instructions. This worksheet will help you understand the difference between connotation (the feelings or ideas associated with a word) and denotation (the dictionary definition of a word).

Understanding Connotation and Denotation

Every word has a denotation, which is its literal, dictionary definition. But many words also have a connotation, which refers to the feelings or ideas that a word suggests, in addition to its literal meaning. Connotations can be positive, negative, or neutral. For example, the words 'scent,' 'odor,' and 'fragrance' all have the same denotation (a smell), but their connotations are very different. 'Fragrance' has a positive connotation, 'scent' is neutral, and 'odor' has a negative connotation.

1. Which word has a positive connotation?

2. Which word has a negative connotation?

Read each sentence. Choose the word from the word bank that best fits the sentence, considering its connotation.

3. The ballet dancer had a graceful,   figure.

4. After being lost in the wilderness for days, the hiker looked   and weak.

5. Explain the difference in connotation between the words 'childish' and 'childlike.'

6. Read the following sentence: "The old house stood on a desolate hill." Identify a word with a negative connotation and explain why it creates that feeling.

Match each word in Column A with the word in Column B that has a similar denotation but a different connotation.

10. Write two sentences describing the same situation, but use words with positive connotations in the first sentence and words with negative connotations in the second sentence. Underline the words that create the different connotations.