lesson link WORKSHEET
WORKSHEET
Using the Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary for dealing with easily confused
words
Activity 1: Finding substitute words
Study the ten sentences below (which are all correct) and decide whether the
word(s) in italics can be replaced by one of the items from this box:
answer baggage close effect farthest
high lend loud shadow start
If you decide that the word(s) can be replaced by a synonym, write the synonym
on the dotted line next to the sentence. If not, write NO (or UNSURE).
1 You shouldn’t let personal feelings affect your decision.
____________________
2 It began to rain.
____________________
3 Can I borrow some money? I left my wallet at home.
____________________
4 Who lives furthest away from school?
____________________
5 I can’t shout as loudly as you.
____________________
6 I prefer to travel without too much luggage.
____________________
7 Their house is quite near to a busy main road.
____________________
8 The Prime Minister refused to reply to her question.
____________________
9 We should move into the shade, or we’ll get sunburnt.
____________________
10 Tina is 1.68 metres tall.
____________________
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary has blue WHICH WORD? boxes to help
with each of these possible problem areas. When you have finished Activity 1,
use these boxes to decide whether your answers to Activity 1 were correct.
Using the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary for dealing with easily confused words
PHOTOCOPIABLE
© Oxford University Press 2013
lesson link WORKSHEET
WORKSHEET
Activity 2: Correct the word
Look at the following sentences. They all contain a word that is wrong.
Sometimes the incorrect word is underlined, but sometimes you will have
to find the word by yourself. Correct the sentences by replacing one word.
Use the information in the WHICH WORD? notes to help you.
1 Can you say me how to get to the station? __________________________________________________________
2 The students worked hardly all day. __________________________________________________________
3 Can somebody please reply the door? __________________________________________________________
4 He answered all the questions rightly. __________________________________________________________
5 I like being lonely at the office. __________________________________________________________
6 My neighbours were making a lot of sound last night!
______________________________________________________________
7 The company had to rise their prices. __________________________________________________________
8 I wrote the time of the meeting in my agenda.
______________________________________________________________
9 It lasts me an hour to get home from work. _________________________________________________________
10 How long have you lived at your actual address?
______________________________________________________________
Using the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary for dealing with easily confused words
PHOTOCOPIABLE
© Oxford University Press 2013
lesson link WORKSHEET
WORKSHEET
Activity 3: Making rules and explanations
Use the words in the box to complete these statements. Use the WHICH
WORD? boxes that you looked at during the first two activities to check
your answers.
actual answer borrow current farther
further high lend reply tall
1
___________________
never means ‘___________________’ or ‘present’. It means ‘real’ or ‘exact’.
2 You ___________________ a person, question or letter, but ___________________ to somebody or
something.
3 You ___________________ something from someone else, while they ___________________ it to you.
4 Buildings can be ___________________ or ___________________ .
5
___________________
, but not ___________________ , can mean ‘more’ or ‘additional’.
Activity 4: Make a mistake
Look at the list of WHICH WORD? notes at the back of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s
Dictionary (on page R15). Work in a small group. Choose one of the notes, and use the
information in it to make a sentence that contains the wrong word. When you have
finished, see if the rest of the class can spot the mistake and correct it.
Using the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary for dealing with easily confused words
PHOTOCOPIABLE
© Oxford University Press 2013