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Vocabulary Investigation Worksheet

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Vocabulary Investigation Worksheet

Read the short story, then investigate how the bold vocabulary works in context. Use clues in the story and your knowledge of words to complete the activities. When you write your own examples, make the meaning clear.

The creek after the rain

For weeks, the creek beside Hamish’s town had been low. The dry spell left the paddock barren: the grass was brown, and the trees stood with bare branches. The farmers worried that the drought would continue. Then, one afternoon, dark clouds rolled in. Rain hammered the roofs and filled the creek. The next morning, Hamish and her brother Tahnee checked the footbridge. A branch had wedged against it, so they had to reverse their steps and find another path. Tahnee was sulky about the muddy detour. Hamish pointed to a tiny green shoot pushing through the damp soil. “Look,” she said. “The rain has given the paddock a chance to grow again.” Tahnee smiled and helped her clear leaves from the path.

Investigate the words

Use the story to answer Questions 1–5.

1.In the story, the paddock is described as barren. Which meaning best fits the clues about brown grass and bare trees?

Full of healthy plants
Too dry or empty to support much growth
Covered in deep water
Difficult to travel across

2.In the sentence “Tahnee was sulky about the muddy detour,” what part of speech is sulky? Explain what it describes.

3.Match each vocabulary word to its meaning.

reverse
drought
bare
sulky

to go or move backwards
bad-tempered or resentful
a long period with very little or no rain
having no covering; uncovered

4.Which detail in the story helps you understand the meaning of drought? Write the clue and explain what it suggests.

5.Complete the sentence with one story word: “The hikers had to when they reached the blocked track.”

Use and explore vocabulary

Now show how well you can use the words beyond the story.

6.Write one synonym for sulky and one antonym. Make sure each word has the right meaning.

7.Decide whether this statement is true or false, then correct it if needed: “In the story, Hamish and Tahnee reverse their steps because the footbridge is blocked.”

TrueFalse

8.Write an original sentence using bare to mean uncovered or without a covering. Your sentence must give enough detail to show the meaning.

9.The story says the paddock was barren. Explain why barren gives a stronger description than simply saying the paddock was “empty”.

10.Write two connected sentences about a place changing after rain. Use drought and barren correctly, and make it clear how the ideas relate.

3 printable pages

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Page 2
Page 3

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More English Worksheets

Year 5

Vocabulary Investigation Worksheet

Vocabulary Investigation Worksheet

The creek after the rain

Investigate the words

Use and explore vocabulary

3 printable pages

About This Worksheet

Free in Kuraplan

Print-Ready

AI-Generated

For Teachers & Parents

Need a custom version of this worksheet?

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