Word Association (Double Meaning)
Word association (double meaning) questions give two dictionary definitions and ask for the ONE word that fits both of them. It tests how many different meanings and word classes a pupil recognises for common English words, since many words can be a noun in one sense and a verb or adjective in another. This question type appears in GL Assessment-style 11+ verbal reasoning papers under words and meanings.
Before you start
No specific prerequisites - this is a good place to start.
Method
- Read both definitions slowly and note what type of word each one describes, such as a thing, an action or a description.
- List two or three words that could match the first definition on their own.
- Check each of those words against the second definition to see if it also fits.
- Look out for classic double-meaning patterns, such as an object that is also an action, or a body part that shares its name with something else.
- Rule out any option that only matches one of the two meanings, even if it looks like an obvious answer to that meaning alone.
- Say your final word in a full sentence for both meanings to check it sounds natural each time.
Worked example
Which ONE word means both 'a piece of furniture used for sleeping' and 'a flower bed dug and prepared for planting'? A) COT B) BUNK C) BED D) SOFA E) PLOT
- Meaning 1 needs a piece of sleeping furniture: COT, BUNK, BED and SOFA are all possible.
- Meaning 2 needs a prepared area for planting flowers: BED and PLOT both fit this on their own.
- BED is the only word that appears on both lists, so test it fully: 'a bed to sleep in' and 'a flower bed' are both standard English phrases.
- COT and BUNK only describe sleeping furniture, and PLOT describes land in general rather than a planted flower bed specifically, so they are ruled out.
- Final answer: C) BED.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Which ONE word means both 'a portion of something larger' and 'to divide something into separate pieces'? A) PART B) PIECE C) SPLIT D) SHARE E) BREAK
Which ONE word means both 'a large bird with a long neck and long legs that wades in shallow water' and 'a tall machine used to lift heavy loads on a building site'? A) CRANE B) HERON C) STORK D) HOIST E) DERRICK
Which ONE word means both 'a game played on a cloth-covered table using a cue and coloured balls' and 'a shared amount of money or resources that a group of people can draw on'? Explain why one of the incorrect options does not work. A) POOL B) SNOOKER C) FUND D) BILLIARDS E) STAKE
Free printable worksheet
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