Dictionary Skills and Guide Words Worksheets - Free Printable

Let's solve each part of this worksheet step by step and explain the reasoning.

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① Write these words in alphabetical order

Words given:
- simple
- funnel
- principle
- plenty
- choose
- oasis
- office
- pound
- target
- shack
- timber
- corner

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#### Step-by-step sorting:

We will sort the words alphabetically by comparing the first letter, then second, etc., if needed.

1. Start with first letters:
- c: choose
- f: funnel
- o: office, oasis, ounce? Wait — no "ounce", but we have:
- office, oasis, plenty, pound, principle, simple, shack, target, timber, corner

Wait — let's list all the words clearly:

- choose
- corner
- funnel
- office
- oasis
- pound
- principle
- simple
- shack
- target
- timber
- plenty

Now sort them:

Look at the first letter of each word:

- c: choose
- f: funnel
- o: office, oasis
- p: plenty, pound, principle
- s: simple, shack
- t: target, timber

Now group and sort within each group:

1. c: choose
2. f: funnel
3. o: office, oasis → "office" comes before "oasis" because 'f' < 'a'? No! Wait — compare second letters:
- office → o-f-f-i-c-e
- oasis → o-a-s-i-s

So, which comes first? Compare second letter:
- f vs a → 'a' comes before 'f', so oasis comes before office

So:
- oasis
- office

4. p: plenty, pound, principle
- p-l-e-n-t-y
- p-o-u-n-d
- p-r-i-n-c-i-p-l-e

Compare second letters:
- l (plenty)
- o (pound)
- r (principle)

l < o < r → So:
- plenty
- pound
- principle

5. s: simple, shack
- s-i-m-p-l-e
- s-h-a-c-k

Second letter: i vs h → h < i → so shack before simple

6. t: target, timber
- t-a-r-g-e-t
- t-i-m-b-e-r

Second letter: a vs i → a < i → target before timber

Now put it all together:

1. choose
2. funnel
3. oasis
4. office
5. plenty
6. pound
7. principle
8. shack
9. simple
10. target
11. timber
12. corner ← wait! We missed corner!

Oh! I forgot corner earlier.

Check: corner starts with c, so it goes under c.

Now: choose and corner

Compare:
- choose → c-h-o-o-s-e
- corner → c-o-r-n-e-r

First letter: both c → look at second letter:
- h vs o → h < o → so choose comes before corner

So correct order for c-group:
- choose
- corner

Now update full list:

1. choose
2. corner
3. funnel
4. oasis
5. office
6. plenty
7. pound
8. principle
9. shack
10. simple
11. target
12. timber

✔ Final alphabetical order:

| # | Word |
|---|------------|
| 1 | choose |
| 2 | corner |
| 3 | funnel |
| 4 | oasis |
| 5 | office |
| 6 | plenty |
| 7 | pound |
| 8 | principle |
| 9 | shack |
|10 | simple |
|11 | target |
|12 | timber |

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② Watch [woch]

Definitions:
1. verb – To be on the lookout for something
2. verb – To be careful or cautious
3. noun – Something you use to tell time

#### Sentence 1:
"My watch is slow, that is why I’m late."

- Here, watch refers to a device used to tell time.
- So, definition 3 is correct.

✔ Answer: ③

#### Sentence 2:
"On your walk, watch for the neighbor’s lost dog."

- This means "be on the lookout for" → definition 1

✔ Answer: ①

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Clutter [kluht-er]

Definitions:
1. verb – To fill or litter in an unorganized way
2. noun – An unorganized pile

#### Sentence:
"Mom told me to pick up my clutter before I went outside to play."

- "clutter" here refers to a pile of things (like toys, books), not the act of filling.
- So it's being used as a noun → definition 2

✔ Answer: Definition 2

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Lapse [laps]

Definitions:
1. noun – A brief failure
2. noun – The time that passes between two events
3. verb – To come to an end
4. verb – To drop off or fall little by little

#### Sentence 1:
"We returned to school after a lapse of two weeks."

- "a lapse of two weeks" → refers to a period of time passing
- So, definition 2 (time between events)

✔ Answer: Definition 2

#### Sentence 2:
"Tom had a lapse in judgment when he took the candy without permission."

- "lapse in judgment" = a momentary failure in thinking
- This matches definition 1: "A brief failure"

✔ Answer: Definition 1

(Note: The options given are only Definition 2 and Definition 3 — but based on the definitions listed, it should be Definition 1. However, since Definition 1 is not listed in the choices, there might be a typo.)

But looking back:

> Which definition is used in the sentence below?
> Tom had a lapse in judgment when he took the candy without permission.
> □ Definition 2
> □ Definition 3

But Definition 1 is missing from the options — that’s a problem.

Wait — maybe the numbering is wrong?

Let’s check the original:

> Lapse [laps]
> 1. noun – A brief failure
> 2. noun – The time that passes between two events
> 3. verb – To come to an end
> 4. verb – To drop off or fall little by little

Then the question says:
> Which definition is used...
> Tom had a lapse in judgment...
> □ Definition 2
> □ Definition 3

But “lapse in judgment” is not about time (def 2) or ending (def 3). It’s definition 1.

So either:
- There’s a mistake in the worksheet (missing option), or
- The user made a typo.

But assuming the worksheet is correct as printed, and only Definition 2 and 3 are available, neither is correct.

But perhaps the intended answer is Definition 1, and it was accidentally omitted.

Alternatively, maybe the label is wrong.

But based on standard usage, "lapse in judgment" = brief failure → Definition 1

So likely, the worksheet has a typo — the correct choice should be Definition 1, but it's not listed.

However, if we must choose from what's given, none are correct.

But perhaps the teacher expects Definition 1, even though it's not listed.

Wait — let's double-check: Is “lapse in judgment” defined as a brief failure?

Yes — that's standard.

Example: "He had a lapse in judgment."

So Definition 1 is correct.

But since it's not among the choices, we must assume a mistake.

But in the image, the last question shows:

> □ Definition 2
> □ Definition 3

And the sentence is about "lapse in judgment".

So unless there's a misprint, this is problematic.

But perhaps the definition labels were swapped?

No — let's stick to what's written.

So correct answer is Definition 1, but it's not an option.

Possibility: Maybe the student is supposed to recognize that Definition 1 is correct, even if not listed — but that doesn't make sense.

Alternatively, maybe the question meant to include Definition 1.

Given that, I’ll assume it’s a typo, and the intended answer is Definition 1.

But since it's not available, we can’t select it.

But for accuracy:

✔ Correct answer: Definition 1

But since it’s not listed, the worksheet may have an error.

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✔ Final Answers:

#### ① Alphabetical Order:
1. choose
2. corner
3. funnel
4. oasis
5. office
6. plenty
7. pound
8. principle
9. shack
10. simple
11. target
12. timber

#### ② Watch:
- "My watch is slow..." → ③ (noun: time-telling device)
- "Watch for the dog..." → ① (verb: to be on lookout)

#### Clutter:
- "pick up my clutter" → Definition 2 (noun: unorganized pile)

#### Lapse:
- "after a lapse of two weeks" → Definition 2 (time between events)
- "lapse in judgment" → Definition 1 (brief failure) — but not listed; likely a typo

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Summary of Answers:

| Question | Answer |
|--------|--------|
| ① Alphabetical order | See list above |
| ② My watch is slow → | ③ |
| On your walk, watch for dog → | ① |
| Clutter in "pick up my clutter" → | Definition 2 |
| Lapse of two weeks → | Definition 2 |
| Lapse in judgment → | Definition 1 (but not listed — possible error) |

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If you're filling out the worksheet, write:

- For the first section: List the words in order as shown.
- For the multiple-choice parts:
- First watch sentence: ③
- Second watch sentence: ①
- Clutter: Definition 2
- Lapse (time): Definition 2
- Lapse (judgment): Definition 1 — but since it's not an option, possibly the worksheet has an error.

Let me know if you'd like a printable version or formatted answers!