Year 6 SATs SPaG worksheet on synonyms and antonyms: 20 questions in the style of the SATs, with answers. Free PDF.

3-page A4 PDF from the Tiger Shark Education question bank (Vocabulary and Standard English): two pages of questions (tick one) and an answer page. Example questions: Which word is a synonym of “gleaming”? Tick one. (hollow, distant, shining, dull) / Which word is a synonym of “vast”? Tick one. (damp, narrow, huge, tiny)

What are synonyms and antonyms? Synonyms are words with the same or similar meanings (big, large, enormous). Antonyms are words with opposite meanings (hot, cold; ancient, modern). Using synonyms helps children avoid repetition and choose precise vocabulary, while knowing antonyms supports reading comprehension and the use of prefixes.

Common mistakes and tips: Children often choose a synonym that doesn’t fit the context or tone (using ‘gargantuan’ in a formal letter about a sandwich). Others pick a related word rather than a true opposite as an antonym. Encourage pupils to test the synonym by swapping it into the original sentence and checking that the meaning stays the same.

Quick example to try: give pupils the sentence ‘The old man walked slowly down the road’ and ask them to replace walked with three synonyms, such as shuffled, strolled and trudged. Discuss how each one changes the picture in the reader’s mind.

Questions on this topic appear often in the SATs. The skill also counts in teacher assessment of writing at the end of Year 6, so children benefit from both practice in test style and from using it in their own writing.

Ways to use this worksheet: as a lesson starter or plenary, as a quick assessment before teaching a topic, for intervention groups, or as SATs revision homework. The answer page lets children self-mark. After marking, ask pupils to write two of their own sentences using the skill, so they apply it rather than just recognise it.

Using the correct terminology: the SATs use the terms in the National Curriculum glossary, and children need to recognise them quickly. Display the key term for this topic with a clear definition and an example, and use it consistently in lessons and feedback. When children explain their answers, encourage them to use the term in a full sentence. Short, regular retrieval practice, such as a two-minute quiz on terms from previous weeks, keeps knowledge fresh across the year. Because grammar topics build on one another, gaps from earlier years cause difficulties later, so this sheet is also useful for checking that Year 6 pupils have secure foundations from Years 3 to 5.