Let’s go step by step to fill in each blank with the correct word that has either a
positive or
negative connotation, based on the context of the sentence.
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Part 1: Positive Connotation Words
We are told to pick words that have a *positive* feeling — like something good, nice, or admirable.
1. “The temperature of the water in Kristina’s swimming pool was __________.”
→ We want a word that means pleasantly warm (not too hot).
→ From options: *tepid, refreshing, boiling*
→ “Refreshing” is positive — it feels good when you swim.
✔ Answer:
refreshing
2. “Adam wore a __________ expression on his face.”
→ Options: *thoughtful, glum, angry*
→ “Thoughtful” can be positive — it shows he’s thinking deeply or kindly.
→ “Glum” and “angry” are negative.
✔ Answer:
thoughtful
3. “The spring rain __________ Mrs. Otto’s garden.”
→ Options: *drenched, nourished, flooded*
→ “Nourished” means gave nutrients/helped grow — very positive for plants.
→ “Drenched” and “flooded” sound too much — could hurt the garden.
✔ Answer:
nourished
4. “Angie __________ laughed as she walked through the corn maze.”
→ Options: *giggled, chuckled, snickered*
→ All are types of laughter, but we need the most *positive* one.
→ “Giggled” = light, happy laugh — often associated with joy.
→ “Chuckled” is also okay, but “giggled” sounds more cheerful.
→ “Snickered” can mean laughing at someone — slightly negative.
✔ Best choice:
giggled
5. “When Ann helped Penny solve a tough math problem, she called her a(n) __________.”
→ Options: *know-it-all, genius, smarty-pants*
→ “Genius” is clearly positive — means very smart in a good way.
→ “Know-it-all” and “smarty-pants” are teasing/negative.
✔ Answer:
genius
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Part 2: Negative Connotation Words
Now we pick words that have a *negative* feeling — unpleasant, bad, or disrespectful.
6. “Jessica has a very __________ sense of style.”
→ Options: *unique, peculiar, eccentric*
→ “Peculiar” means strange or odd — usually negative.
→ “Unique” and “eccentric” can be neutral or even positive.
✔ Answer:
peculiar
7. “I wouldn’t eat that because it was __________.”
→ Options: *aromatic, fragrant, malodorous*
→ “Malodorous” means smells bad — definitely negative.
→ The other two mean nice-smelling.
✔ Answer:
malodorous
8. “The autumn wind __________ through the trees.”
→ Options: *howled, whistled, whispered*
→ “Howled” sounds loud, scary, or harsh — negative connotation.
→ “Whistled” and “whispered” are gentle/pleasant.
✔ Answer:
howled
9. “Shana gave a very __________ excuse for turning in his homework.”
→ Options: *reasonable, lame, plausible*
→ “Lame” means weak or unconvincing — negative.
→ Others suggest the excuse makes sense.
✔ Answer:
lame
10. “Lechane takes a very __________ approach to keeping her room clean.”
→ Options: *tidy, organized, pigsty-ish*
→ “Pigsty-ish” means messy like a pigpen — negative.
→ Others are positive.
✔ Answer:
pigsty-ish
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Final Answer:
1. refreshing
2. thoughtful
3. nourished
4. giggled
5. genius
6. peculiar
7. malodorous
8. howled
9. lame
10. pigsty-ish
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of denotation and connotation worksheet answers.
