It can be tough to throw big words like synonyms, antonyms and homonyms into the mix when children are just learning to build up their vocabulary. Yet there are plenty of basic and fun ways to sprinkle examples of these words into everyday conversations with your kids.
Difference Between Antonyms, Synonyms and Homonyms
Your kids may have already picked up that some words have opposites, and sometimes you can use more than one word to say the same thing. Review these terms and their meanings with your child to give them a better understanding of language and how complex and fun it can be.
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.
Synonyms are words with the same or similar meanings.
Homonyms are words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings.
Antonym Examples
Kids can use antonyms to show a contrast between two things, emphasize a point or explain exactly how they feel.
add - subtract | above - below | after - before |
aware - asleep | bad - good | better - worse |
big - little | clean - dirty | closed - open |
cold - hot | dark - light | day - night |
east - west | even - odd | fail - pass |
false - true | float - sink | gentle - violent |
happy - sad | hard - soft | high - low |
in - out | last - first | less - more |
lie - truth | lost - found | love - hate |
north - south | on - off | over - under |
polite - rude | poor - rich | present - absent |
quick - slow | raise - lower | right - wrong |
rise - sink | rough - smooth | same - different |
sell - buy | short - long | start - stop |
stay - leave | stop - go | strong - weak |
top - bottom | ugly - beautiful | up - down |
white - black | wild - tame | win - lose |
well - sick | wet -dry | young - old |
Synonym Examples
Synonyms provide variety in our speech or writing. It's important to expose kids to various sets of synonyms, so they can learn to avoid repetition.
afraid, scared, frightened | automobile, car, vehicle |
big, large, huge, enormous | blank, empty, hollow |
bunny, rabbit, hare | cap, hat |
center, middle, inside | couch, sofa |
evil, bad, wicked | famous, well-known, prominent |
funny, silly, hilarious | garbage, trash, junk, waste |
gloomy, sad, unhappy, miserable | happy, glad, joyful, cheerful |
hide, cover, conceal | house, home, habitat, abode |
ill, sick, unwell, ailing | idea, thought, notion |
jog, run, trot | listen, hear |
little, small, tiny, mini | look, see, glance, stare |
mad, angry, furious, enraged | mother, mom, mommy, mama |
neat, tidy, clean, spotless | present, gift, reward, award |
quick, fast, swift, rapid | quiet, hushed, silent, swift |
rest, relax, calm | rock, pebble, stone |
rug, carpet, mat | run, sprint, dart, race |
sack, bag, backpack | sniff, smell, inhale |
strange, odd, weird, bizarre | tall, high, big, towering |
true, right, correct | under, below, beneath |
woman, girl, lady, female | yell, shout, scream, cry |
Homonym Examples
Homonyms are words that have the same spelling and sound the same but have different meanings. While this can be a tricky concept to explain, posting a nice list in the classroom may prove beneficial.
address - speaking to someone | address - a place’s location |
bear - a large mammal | bear - to be able to cope with something |
chair - an item of furniture | chair - the head of a department or board |
change - to make different | change - coins; money given back |
cool - chilly in temperature | cool - something trendy or popular |
duck - a type of bird | duck - to lower your head |
even - numbers divisible by two | even - flat and level surface |
fall - to drop down | fall - the season between summer and winter |
fire - to let someone go from a job | fire - flames, something burning |
groom - to make tidy in appearance | groom - man getting married |
jam - stuck | jam - spread made from fruit and sugar |
left - one side of the body | left - what is remaining of something |
line - measure of length | line - verse in a poem or story |
match - competitive sporting event | match - a device used to start a fire |
nail - the end plate of your finger or toe | nail - sharp piece of metal |
park - area used for recreation | park - to leave a vehicle in a space |
seal - a type of mammal | seal - a tight closure |
tire - rubber covering of a wheel | tire - to become weary or bored |
wave - move your hand back and forth | wave - a movement in water |
yard - space of land around a house | yard - measurement of length |
Teach Your Kids About Words
Once you feel like your little ones are starting to get the hang of the English language, use worksheets and activities to help them commit these words to memory. Hopefully, your enthusiasm will spark a lifelong desire for a full and robust vocabulary.