Word Association (Double Meaning): Practice Set 2
Word Association (Double Meaning): Practice Set 2 is a second practice round for the same question type as Word Association (Double Meaning), giving two dictionary definitions and asking for the one word that fits both, using a fresh set of words not used in the first set. It continues to test how many different meanings a pupil recognises for common English words, since many words are a noun in one sense and a completely different noun, verb or action in another.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read both definitions slowly and note what type of word each one describes, such as a thing, an animal, an action or a place.
- 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 animal that shares its name with an object, or a sport that shares its name with a legal or everyday setting.
- 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 business that keeps money safe and lends it to customers' and 'the raised ground along the edge of a river'? A) SHORE B) BANK C) COAST D) VAULT E) LOAN
- Meaning 1 needs a business dealing with money: BANK and VAULT are both linked to money, though a VAULT is only the storage room, not the business itself.
- Meaning 2 needs the raised ground beside a river: BANK, SHORE and COAST could all describe an edge of water, but SHORE and COAST usually describe the edge of a sea or lake, not specifically a river.
- BANK is the only word that appears fully on both lists: 'to put money in the bank' and 'the river bank' are both standard English phrases.
- SHORE, COAST, VAULT and LOAN are each ruled out because they only fit one of the two meanings.
- Final answer: B) BANK.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Which ONE word means both 'a piece of clothing worn knotted around the neck with a shirt' and 'an equal score at the end of a match'? A) SCARF B) DRAW C) TIE D) KNOT E) SCOREShow answer
Answer: C) TIE - a tie is the item of clothing, and a match can also end in a tie
Q2Which ONE word means both 'a flying mammal that is active at night' and 'the equipment used to hit the ball in cricket or rounders'? A) BIRD B) BAT C) RACQUET D) MOUSE E) CLUBShow answer
Answer: B) BAT - a bat is the night-flying mammal, and a bat is also used to hit the ball
Q3Which ONE word means both 'a flat strip marked with units for measuring length or drawing straight lines' and 'a person who governs a country, such as a king or queen'? A) KING B) MEASURE C) RULER D) LEADER E) MONARCHShow answer
Answer: C) RULER - a ruler is the measuring tool, and a ruler is also someone who governs
Q4Which ONE word means both 'a sea mammal with flippers that lives partly on land and partly in water' and 'to close something firmly so that nothing can get in or out'? A) WALRUS B) SEAL C) OTTER D) SHUT E) LOCKShow answer
Answer: B) SEAL - a seal is the sea mammal, and to seal something is to close it firmly
Q5Which ONE word means both 'a bright point of light seen in the night sky' and 'a famous and highly admired performer or athlete'? A) PLANET B) CELEBRITY C) STAR D) COMET E) CHAMPIONShow answer
Answer: C) STAR - a star is the point of light in the sky, and a star is also a famous performer
Q6Which ONE word means both 'an organised contest between two teams or players' and 'a short thin stick used to light a fire'? A) GAME B) FLAME C) MATCH D) CONTEST E) SPARKShow answer
Answer: C) MATCH - a football match is the contest, and a match is also the small stick used to light a fire
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Which ONE word means both 'a marked-out area for playing games such as tennis or basketball' and 'a place where legal cases are heard and decided by a judge'? A) COURT B) PITCH C) STADIUM D) TRIAL E) JUDGE
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Which ONE word means both 'the season of the year between winter and summer' and 'a coiled piece of metal that stretches and pushes back'? A) SEASON B) COIL C) SPRING D) SUMMER E) WIRE
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Which ONE word means both 'the flat inner surface of the hand' and 'a tall tropical tree with long feathered or fan-shaped leaves'? Explain why one of the incorrect options does not work. A) PALM B) HAND C) TREE D) FINGER E) TRUNK
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the word association (double meaning): practice set 2 worksheet pack - 10 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 9 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 3, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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