AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 9 · English

Commonly Confused Words

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Write full answers in Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
Which sentence uses the WRONG word?
  1. The tailor will alter the length of my trousers.
  2. Copper is a better conductor than lead.
  3. Do not loose your ticket before the inspector checks it.
  4. She joined a course in computer coding.
2.
Which sentence uses the right word?
  1. This shirt is too loose for me.
  2. A bare was seen near the camp.
  3. The library is a quite place.
  4. Mount Everest is higher then K2.
3.
Which sentence uses the WRONG word?
  1. The red border will complement the white saree.
  2. Please accept this small gift.
  3. Workers arrived at the building site early.
  4. The whether is pleasant today.
4.
Which sentence uses the right word?
  1. The judge gave a fare decision.
  2. Sandpaper has a course surface.
  3. Honesty is a principal he never breaks.
  4. Lack of sleep can affect your memory.
5.
Which sentence uses the WRONG word?
  1. I wonder weather it will rain.
  2. The guide led us through the forest.
  3. The test was quite easy.
  4. The bus was stationary at the red light.
6.
Which sentence uses the right word?
  1. The bus fare went up by two rupees.
  2. Camels can live in the dessert.
  3. The principle announced a holiday.
  4. Pens and paper are sold at the stationary shop.
7.
Which sentence uses the WRONG word?
  1. Doctors advise patients to drink more water.
  2. He paid her a compliment on her singing.
  3. The lawyer will counsel her client.
  4. Fish breath through their gills.
8.
Which sentence uses the right word?
  1. All hospital personal must wear name badges.
  2. We had kheer for desert after dinner.
  3. The town council meets every month.
  4. Everyone came accept Rahul, who was ill.
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) My teacher gave me good ____ about the exam. (advise / advice) (b) You must ____ the source of your facts. (cite / site)
10.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) Finish your work, ____ you can play. (then / than) (b) Flowers were placed on the ____. (alter / altar)
11.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) The trees were ____ in winter. (bear / bare) (b) Take a deep ____ before you dive. (breath / breathe)
12.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) A diary is a ____ book. (personal / personnel) (b) I wonder ____ it will rain. (weather / whether)
13.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) The trees were ____ in winter. (bare / bear) (b) The judge gave a ____ decision. (fare / fair)
14.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) The town ____ meets every month. (counsel / council) (b) The bus ____ went up by two rupees. (fare / fair)
15.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) All hospital ____ must wear name badges. (personal / personnel) (b) The red border will ____ the white saree. (complement / compliment)
16.
Fill in each blank with the right word: (a) She joined a ____ in computer coding. (course / coarse) (b) You must ____ the source of your facts. (site / cite)
Section C — Longer answers4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
Write two sentences of your own to show the difference between “advice” and “advise”.
18.
Write two sentences of your own to show the difference between “council” and “counsel”.
19.
Choose the right word from the brackets for each sentence:
(1) The tailor will ____ the length of my trousers. (altar / alter)
(2) The ____ is pleasant today. (weather / whether)
(3) Camels can live in the ____. (desert / dessert)
20.
Choose the right word from the brackets for each sentence:
(1) We had kheer for ____ after dinner. (desert / dessert)
(2) This shirt is too ____ for me. (loose / lose)
(3) Honesty is a ____ he never breaks. (principal / principle)
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 9 · English

Answer key

Commonly Confused Words · AW-9E-CNF-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(c) Do not loose your ticket before the inspector checks it.It should be “lose”, not “loose”.
2(a) This shirt is too loose for me.“loose” is right here.
3(d) The whether is pleasant today.It should be “weather”, not “whether”.
4(d) Lack of sleep can affect your memory.“affect” is right here.
5(a) I wonder weather it will rain.It should be “whether”, not “weather”.
6(a) The bus fare went up by two rupees.“fare” is right here.
7(d) Fish breath through their gills.It should be “breathe”, not “breath”.
8(c) The town council meets every month.“council” is right here.
9(a) advice (b) cite—
10(a) then (b) altar—
11(a) bare (b) breath—
12(a) personal (b) whether—
13(a) bare (b) fair—
14(a) council (b) fare—
15(a) personnel (b) complement—
16(a) course (b) cite—
17Sample: My teacher gave me good advice about the exam. Doctors advise patients to drink more water.Any two sentences that use each word correctly.
18Sample: The town council meets every month. The lawyer will counsel her client.Any two sentences that use each word correctly.
19(1) alter (2) weather (3) desert—
20(1) dessert (2) loose (3) principle—