Confusable Words

1 Using a dictionary can you identify the differences between the following pairs
of words:

beside - besides
carpet - rug
childish - childlike
deny - refuse
former - late
mistake - fault
notable - noticeable
priceless - worthless
scarcely - rarely
sensitive - sensible

2 Complete the following sentences by underlining the correct word:

a) Is there anything else you want from the shop (beside/besides) milk?

b) They have fitted (carpets/rugs) in every room in the house.

c) You should learn to grow up. You're so (childish/childlike).

d) The President didn't (deny/refuse) that he was thinking of resigning.

e) In his will the (late/former) Mr Mathews left all his property to his daughter.

f) I sent the machine back to the factory as it had a (fault/mistake).

g) There has been a (notable/noticeable) improvement in her work this year.

h) Please don't break that ornament. It's very rare and (priceless/worthless).

i) I could (scarcely/rarely) believe my eyes when she walked in the door.

j) He's a very (sensitive/sensible) child and can be trusted to do as he is told.

1
beside - besides
'beside' means 'next to'
'besides' means 'in addition to'
carpet - rug
a 'carpet' is usually wall to wall and is fixed, whereas a 'rug' sits in the middle of a room
and can be moved around.
childish - childlike
'childish' has a negative connotation meaning 'immature'. 'childlike' means to have the
qualities of a child.
deny - refuse
'deny' means to say something is not true. 'refuse' means to not allow something to
happen.
former - late
'former' when descibing a person means 'previous' such as 'the former Prime Minister',
 whereas 'late' refers to someone who has died.
mistake - fault
'mistake' means to do the wrong thing, while 'fault' refers to a malfunction.
notable - noticeable
'notable' means 'important' or 'remarkable'. 'noticeable' means easily heard or seen.
priceless - worthless
'priceless' means to be worth an enormous amount of money, whereas worthless means
to have no value at all.
scarcely - rarely
'scarcely' means 'only just' while 'rarely' means not often.
sensitive - sensible
'sensitive' means 'easily upset'. 'sensible' means to be able to make wise decisons or
behave in an intelligent manner.

a) Is there anything else you want from the shop besides milk?

b) They have fitted carpets in every room in the house.

c) You should learn to grow up. You're so childish.

d) The President didn't deny that he was thinking of resigning.

e) In his will the late Mr Mathews left all his property to his daughter.

f) I sent the machine back to the factory as it had a fault.

g) There has been a noticeable improvement in her work this year.

h) Please don't break that ornament. It's very rare and priceless.

i) I could scarcely believe my eyes when she walked in the door.

j) He's a very sensible child and can be trusted to do as he is told.

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