Missing Three-Letter Word
A missing three-letter word question gives two groups of letters with a gap between them, and asks for the three-letter word that completes the first group into one real word and starts the second group as another real word. It tests spelling and the ability to spot word boundaries hidden inside longer letter strings. This question type appears in GL Assessment-style 11+ verbal reasoning papers.
Before you start
No specific prerequisites - this is a good place to start.
Method
- Try each option in the gap and check whether it makes a real word when joined onto the end of the letters on the left.
- Then check whether the same three letters make a real word when joined onto the front of the letters on the right.
- Only keep an option if it passes BOTH checks - many wrong options will work on one side but fail on the other.
- Say each combined word in your head to check it is a genuine English word, not just a plausible-looking string of letters.
- If more than one option seems to work on the left, use the right-hand check to narrow down which one is correct.
- Write your final answer as the three-letter word itself, not the two longer words it creates.
Worked example
H ( ? ? ? ) ET. Find the three-letter word which completes the word on the left and starts the word on the right. A) ICE B) OWL C) ARE D) ILL E) OAT
- Try OWL on the left: H + OWL = HOWL, a real word meaning the long cry made by a wolf.
- Try OWL on the right: OWL + ET = OWLET, a real word for a young owl.
- Both checks pass, so OWL is correct. ICE, ARE, ILL and OAT do not make real words in both positions.
- Final answer: B) OWL.
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.
M ( ? ? ? ) GANO. Find the three-letter word that completes the word on the left and starts the word on the right, and explain your working. A) ORE B) OWL C) ARE D) ICE E) ELF
S ( ? ? ? ) ISH. Find the three-letter word that completes the word on the left and starts the word on the right, and explain your working fully. A) ELF B) ARE C) ICE D) OWL E) OAT
SH ( ? ? ? ) PT. Find the three-letter word that completes the word on the left and starts the word on the right, explain your working, and state why one wrong-looking option fails. A) INE B) ONE C) ARE D) ICE E) OWL
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the missing three-letter word worksheet pack - 9 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. No sign-up, no email wall - just the PDF, free for personal and classroom use.
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