Compound Words: Practice Set 2
Compound Words (Practice Set 2) continues the same 11+ verbal reasoning question type as the first set: a word is missing from between two given words, for example RAIN ( ) FALL, and pupils must find the one word that completes the first word and begins the second, making two genuine compound words. This second set uses entirely fresh word pairs, testing the same vocabulary skill without repeating any answer from the first set. It remains a common multiple-choice and short-answer format on GL Assessment and CEM-style papers.
Method
- Read the two given words and picture a joining word that could plug into the gap between them.
- Test your idea twice: once added onto the end of the first word, and once added onto the front of the second word.
- Reject any word that only makes a real compound word one way round; both directions must work for it to be correct.
- If more than one word seems to work on one side, check each candidate on the other side too, since only one candidate will work both ways.
- Say the two new words in your head; a genuine compound word should sound natural and familiar, not invented.
- Move on once you are confident in your answer; do not spend more than about 20 seconds checking a single question.
Worked example
FIRE ( ) PLACE. Choose the missing word from: A) Fly B) Storm C) Work D) Side E) Wood.
- Try each option after FIRE: firefly, firestorm, firework, fireside, firewood. Several of these are real words, so check the other side too.
- Check each option before PLACE: flyplace, stormplace, workplace, sideplace, woodplace. Only WORKPLACE is a real word.
- No other option makes a genuine word both after FIRE and before PLACE.
- Final answer: C) Work, since FIREWORK and WORKPLACE are both real words.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1GRASS ( ) SLIDE - which word completes GRASS and begins SLIDE?Show answer
Answer: Land (GRASSLAND and LANDSLIDE)
Q2PIN ( ) CHAIR - which word completes PIN and begins CHAIR?Show answer
Answer: Wheel (PINWHEEL and WHEELCHAIR)
Q3GREEN ( ) HOLD - which word completes GREEN and begins HOLD?Show answer
Answer: House (GREENHOUSE and HOUSEHOLD)
Q4SNOW ( ) WALK - which word completes SNOW and begins WALK?Show answer
Answer: Board (SNOWBOARD and BOARDWALK)
Q5CAT ( ) BOWL - which word completes CAT and begins BOWL?Show answer
Answer: Fish (CATFISH and FISHBOWL)
Q6LIME ( ) WALL - which word completes LIME and begins WALL?Show answer
Answer: Stone (LIMESTONE and STONEWALL)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Each part gives two words with a gap between them. Choose the one word from the options that completes the first word and begins the second, making two real compound words. a) RAIN ( ) FALL - A) Water B) Storm C) Bow D) Coat E) Drop. b) HONEY ( ) WALK - A) Moon B) Comb C) Bee D) Dew E) Suckle. c) HORSE ( ) PACK - A) Back B) Shoe C) Play D) Fly E) Man.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Each part gives two words with a gap between them. Choose the one word from the options that completes the first word and begins the second. a) BIRTH ( ) LIGHT - A) Day B) Mark C) Place D) Right E) Stone. b) MID ( ) MARE - A) Night B) Day C) Term D) Field E) Way. c) BED ( ) TABLE - A) Time B) Room C) Rock D) Stead E) Spread. d) WILD ( ) STYLE - A) Life B) Cat C) Fire D) Flower E) West.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Each part gives two words with a gap between them. Choose the one word from the options that completes the first word and begins the second. i) SECOND ( ) SHAKE - A) Hand B) Ary C) Best D) Rate E) Class. ii) BARE ( ) PATH - A) Foot B) Ly C) Back D) Hand E) Ing.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the compound words: practice set 2 worksheet pack - 8 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 20 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on compound words: practice set 2, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.