Expand Your Vocabulary With Our Synonyms Game

At some point, you’ve heard the saying, “The Eskimo people have 50 words for snow.” 

But there are other cultures whose synonyms for “snow” number in the hundreds, like the indigenous peoples of Northern Europe, for example. 

Even in English, you can swap “snow” with words like powder, frost, blizzard, freeze, flurries, slush, sleet, and snowflakes, to name a few. 

That’s the beauty of language—if you know what you mean to say, chances are there’s the perfect word (or 50 of them) to get your point across. 

How To Play Synonym Dominoes

Students will take turns matching each side of the dominoes to pair up similar words. 

For example, if a player were to lay down the “join | mistake” domino, the next player would lay down the “connect” domino on the left, or the “error” on the right, and say the synonyms as they lay their piece down. Gameplay continues in this manner until all of the dominoes are gone. 

Scaffolding + Extension Tips 

Support students who need help understanding the concepts by providing visuals like an anchor chart or posters with common words and their synonyms. 

Challenge fast finishers who understand the concepts to write the synonyms on a piece of paper and think of as many other words as they can. 

Get our 10 Best Scaffolding Strategies here! 

Plus 3 More Ways to Use This Synonyms Game 

We created this resource for your reading center as an independent practice activity. We also suggest using it to reinforce your small group and full-class lessons in the following ways: 

🧠 Synonyms Brain Buster

As a small group or full class, say each word out loud, one at a time, and talk about the definition. Then, give the students 30 seconds (you keep time) to think of as many synonyms for that word as they can. When the time is up, you can call on students to give you some examples of words they came up with, and even let them compare their answers to see if there are any matching words amongst classmates.

👯‍♀️ Odd Man Out

Place three cards at each station, making sure two cards are synonyms and the 3rd card doesn’t belong. Student pairs will rotate through each station and identify the matching words, writing their answers on a separate sheet of paper.  

🃏 Upcycle Into Playing Cards

When students no longer want to play dominoes, turn this game into a deck of cards! Break out your scissors and cut the dominoes in half. Students can play games like Match It, Go Fish, or Snap, to name a few. 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

Before You Download

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. An answer key is also included with this download.

This resource was created by Lindsey Phillips, a teacher in Michigan and Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Fill your reading center with even more synonym games and activities to choose from: 

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Synonyms Tarsia Puzzle

Have fun building vocabulary skills with a printable synonyms tarsia puzzle activity.

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Word Power Vocabulary Worksheet

A comic book themed worksheet to use in the classroom when building vocabulary.

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Building Sundaes - Synonym Activity Center

Practice identifying and using synonyms with this deliciously fun word game.