Name: ______________________________________________ Date: __________________________

Confusing Words
DIRECTIONS: Confusing words are words that are very similar and commonly confused. Choose the correct word to complete the question. Each question has only one correct answer. 1. I hope our services ______ your expectations. a. accede b. exceed 2. All the children are coming _____ John. a. accept b. except 3. The professor was given ______ to materials in the research library. a. access b. excess 4. Some people feel that his _____ to the President was unnecessary. a. allusion b. illusion 5. Are we _____ to leave on vacation? a. all ready b. already 6. There is _____ too much violence on TV today. a. all together b. altogether 7. Is there _____ we can put off the meeting until tomorrow? a. any way b. anyway 8. The outcome of the project was entirely _____. He planned every step! a. casual b. causal 9. The police threatened to _____ the faulty goods. a. cease b. seize 10. Jack felt _____ the outcome would be in his favor. a. confidant b. confident 11. They created a ______ design for a Halloween mask. a. costume b. custom 12. I ordered ______ even though I was already full. a. desert b. dessert 13. The lawyer would like to ______ a response from his client. a. elicit b. illicit 14. Congratulations! You are ______ for the grand prize. a. eligible b. illegible

15. He is an ______ expert in his field. a. eminent b. imminent 16. I'd like to _______ from France, but I don't know where to move. a. emigrate b. immigrate 17. They _____ his motives are less than pure. a. expect b. suspect 18. I didn't _____ the solution. I just guessed! a. infer b. imply 19. Did they win or _____ the game last week? a. loose b. lose 20. His voice made an amazing _____ impression. a. oral b. aural 21. The ______ department is looking for three new employees. a. personal b. personnel 22. Should we _____ with the project or wait until July? a. precede b. proceed 23. Children tend to be rather _____ and need something to keep them occupied. a. restless b. restive 24. This attachment is a ______ that allows you to clean your curtains. a. complement b. compliment 25. The _____ of Washington State is Olympia. a. Capitol b. Capital 26. He stated that his decision to let 20,000 go was entirely _____. It was simply an economic necessity. a. amoral b. immoral 27. I went to John to seek _____ on my current situation. a. council b. counsel 28. The Uncertainty _____ was posited by Heisenberg. a. Principal b. Principle 29. The _____ scene was completely unexpected. a. climactic b. climatic 30. He strove to _____ an invention to eradicate the need for monthly upkeep. a. device b. devise

Name: ______________________________________________ Date: __________________________

Confusing Words
Answer Key DIRECTIONS: Confusing words are words that are very similar and commonly confused. Choose the correct word to complete the question. Each question has only one correct answer. 1. I hope our services ______ your expectations. a. accede b. exceed 2. All the children are coming _____ John. a. accept b. except 3. The professor was given ______ to materials in the research library. a. access b. excess 4. Some people feel that his _____ to the President was unnecessary. a. allusion b. illusion 5. Are we _____ to leave on vacation? a. all ready b. already 6. There is _____ too much violence on TV today. a. all together b. altogether 7. Is there _____ we can put off the meeting until tomorrow? a. any way b. anyway 8. The outcome of the project was entirely _____. He planned every step! a. casual b. causal 9. The police threatened to _____ the faulty goods. a. cease b. seize 10. Jack felt _____ the outcome would be in his favor. a. confidant b. confident 11. They created a ______ design for a Halloween mask. a. costume b. custom 12. I ordered ______ even though I was already full. a. desert b. dessert 13. The lawyer would like to ______ a response from his client. a. elicit b. illicit 14. Congratulations! You are ______ for the grand prize. a. eligible b. illegible

15. He is an ______ expert in his field. a. eminent b. imminent 16. I'd like to _______ from France, but I don't know where to move. a. emigrate b. immigrate 17. They _____ his motives are less than pure. a. expect b. suspect 18. I didn't _____ the solution. I just guessed! a. infer b. imply 19. Did they win or _____ the game last week? a. loose b. lose 20. His voice made an amazing _____ impression. a. oral b. aural 21. The ______ department is looking for three new employees. a. personal b. personnel 22. Should we _____ with the project or wait until July? a. precede b. proceed 23. Children tend to be rather _____ and need something to keep them occupied. a. restless b. restive 24. This attachment is a ______ that allows you to clean your curtains. a. complement b. compliment 25. The _____ of Washington State is Olympia. a. Capitol b. Capital 26. He stated that his decision to let 20,000 go was entirely _____. It was simply an economic necessity. a. amoral b. immoral 27. I went to John to seek _____ on my current situation. a. council b. counsel 28. The Uncertainty _____ was posited by Heisenberg. a. Principal b. Principle 29. The _____ scene was completely unexpected. a. climactic b. climatic 30. He strove to _____ an invention to eradicate the need for monthly upkeep. a. device b. devise