Home / English / Printables / Grade 3 / Words Chosen for Effect 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 students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
One paper per student
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Words Chosen for Effect L.3.3
Name Date
Circle the right answer.
1. 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 2. Which sentence tells the reader most about the weather?
A. Icy rain stung our faces. B. It was not nice out. C. The weather was bad. 3. Why might a writer choose "whispered" instead of "said"?
A. It is easier to spell B. It tells the reader how the words were spoken C. It is a shorter word 4. Which verb tells a reader most?
A. Anansi did away B. Anansi trotted away C. Anansi went away 5. Why might a writer choose "stretched thin as thread" over "got thin"?
A. It gives the reader a picture B. It is shorter C. It is easier to spell 6. When should a writer choose the plainest word?
A. Only in stories B. Never — longer words are always better C. When being understood exactly matters most 7. Which word best shows that the girl was very hungry?
8. Which word shows the mouse moved without a sound?
LessonPrint · L.3.3 · Set 6 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Words Chosen for Effect Set 6. Prints on its own sheet.
1. It shows the feeling through the body rather than naming it 2. Icy rain stung our faces. 3. It tells the reader how the words were spoken 4. Anansi trotted away 5. It gives the reader a picture 6. When being understood exactly matters most 7. gobbled 8. crept More practice for L.3.3 Choose words for effect, and recognize 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.