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Words Chosen for Effect is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on choosing the word that does the job you want, aligned to Common Core standard L.3.3. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 11 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Words Chosen for Effect

L.3.3

NameDate

Tick the right answer.

1.Which word is most exact for how the fox left?
  • A.moved
  • B.trotted
  • C.did
2.Which sentence would you say aloud but not write in a report?
  • A.It was, like, really far.
  • B.The journey was six thousand miles.
  • C.The journey was very long.
3.Why might a writer choose "stretched thin as thread" over "got thin"?
  • A.It is easier to spell
  • B.It gives the reader a picture
  • C.It is shorter
4.Where does "rabbit" split into syllables?
  • A.rab / bit
  • B.rabb / it
  • C.ra / bbit
5.Why does "his stomach dropped" work better than "he was scared"?
  • A.It uses fewer letters
  • B.It shows the feeling through the body rather than naming it
  • C.It is more formal
6.When should a writer choose the plainest word?
  • A.Never — longer words are always better
  • B.Only in stories
  • C.When being understood exactly matters most
7.Which shows the difference between spoken and written English?
  • A.Speech can be unfinished; writing usually has to be complete
  • B.Speech uses more full stops
  • C.Writing is always shorter
8.Which title tells a reader most about the text?
  • A.Water
  • B.Some Boats
  • C.How a Canal Lock Works

LessonPrint · L.3.3 · Set 11 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Words Chosen for Effect

Set 11. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.trotted
  2. 2.It was, like, really far.
  3. 3.It gives the reader a picture
  4. 4.rab / bit
  5. 5.It shows the feeling through the body rather than naming it
  6. 6.When being understood exactly matters most
  7. 7.Speech can be unfinished; writing usually has to be complete
  8. 8.How a Canal Lock Works

More practice for L.3.3

Choose words for effect, and recognise the difference between spoken and written English.

Teaching this next? Choosing Words for Effect is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.3.3 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.