"Finding Synonyms and Word Search Puzzles" is a worksheet that combines reading comprehension strategies with fun puzzles by asking students to identify the word or phrase with a meaning that's closest to the given word. Each word is listed with at least two options to choose from, but the number of options listed with each word increases based on the grade level. For example, a word like "acrimony" would list two options that include "bitterness" and "disaster" on one worksheet. Another worksheet might have a word like "kinetic" with four words for students to choose from.

After they choose the synonyms for each word, they do the word search at the bottom of the page. Not only do they find each word, but they must also find each synonym. If they can't find the answer, they might be wrong, and they should go back and see if there's another synonym that would work better.

Recognizing synonyms is an important reading comprehension strategy that enables students to better understand what they're reading. It also supports complex writing, encouraging students to choose more interesting words when they write.

Synonym activities can include looking words up in a thesaurus, which can help students learn how to use reference materials. They could write the synonyms for words in a spelling list, or they could replace underlined words in a story they wrote with a synonym from the thesaurus.

Puzzles and brainteasers can be a fun way to help students learn synonyms. For example, students could choose the synonym from a list for each word on a worksheet. Then, students could find that word and its synonym in a word search. Crosswords and custom tarsia puzzles can also be handy ways for students to learn synonyms.