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Chefs sometimes use mint in their cooking. Do they ever use ants?

Make a Word 1

Making words from longer words tests vocabulary and creativity. Pupils must spot smaller hidden words, strengthening spelling, problem solving, and exam reasoning skills.

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Fascinating Fact:

Some puzzles ask you to make as many words as possible from a single word, like garden which hides den, red, and rag.

In 11 Plus Verbal Reasoning, make-a-word puzzles encourage pupils to search carefully for hidden combinations of letters. They support vocabulary growth and flexible thinking under exam conditions.

Key Terms

Vocabulary: All the words a person knows and uses in communication.
Sub-word: A smaller word formed from the letters of a longer word.
Reasoning: The process of using logic and thinking skills to reach answers.

Parents may also find our guide on 11 Plus sample questions useful for wider exam preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are make-a-word puzzles in the 11 Plus?

They are puzzles where pupils form smaller words from the letters of a longer word, testing vocabulary, spelling, and reasoning skills.

How can I practise make-a-word puzzles?

Start with simple words, write down every possible combination, and work with lists to build speed and accuracy.

Do make-a-word puzzles appear in all 11 Plus tests?

Not every exam includes them, but they are a common type of Verbal Reasoning puzzle used by several 11 Plus exam boards.

Try These Related Quizzes

Example: Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. rags ( ring ) main
b. line ( ? ) plea

lean
nail
pain
leap

If we give each letter a number, from 1 - 8, the 'g' in rags is 3 and the 'm' in main is 5. The correct answer is lean because ring = 1783. If we use the same numbers on line and plea we get lean.

1 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. quad (quit) bite
b. spun (?) redo

spit

sped

spin

aped

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'u' in quad is 2 and the 'e' in bite is 8. The correct answer is sped because quit = 1267. If we use the same numbers on spun and redo we get sped. Sped is the past tense of the verb 'to speed'

2 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. must (fume) rife
b. silk (?) pore

rise

rite

bite

lime

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 's' in must is 3 and the 'f' in rife is 7. The correct answer is rise because fume = 7218. If we use the same numbers on silk and pore we get rise. Silk is stronger than high tensile steel. If we scale up the thickness to the same thickness as a steel rope, we cannot manufacture anything as strong as silk, which comes from a tiny worm

3 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. toad (dial) limp
b. boat (?) mesh

tame

meat

mate

team

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'a' in toad is 3 and the 'm' in limp is 7. The correct answer is sped because dial = 4635. If we use the same numbers on boat and mesh we get team. Do you know the difference between a frog and a toad? Actually all toads are frogs! There are some differences between the two that make a toad a toad (laying its eggs in long chains, for example) but effectively they are the same creatures

4 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. envy (love) oils
b. tore (?) aide

darn

dose

dart

part

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'v' in envy is 3 and the 'l' in oils is 7. The correct answer is dart because love = 7531. If we use the same numbers on tore and aide we get dart. Darts is a game in the UK and across the world which has its origins in archery. Between 1314 and 1667, football was officially banned in England because it was interfering with archery practice, and therefore England's ability to train its soldiers for war!

5 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. past (slip) boil
b. tech (?) idol

clod

clot

clop

plot

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 's' in past is 3 and the 'o' in boil is 6. The correct answer is clot because slip = 3871. If we use the same numbers on tech and idol we get clot

6 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. tags (oath) hold
b. nowt (?) elms

cone

lone

done

hone

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'g' in tags is 3 and the 'l' in hold is 7. The correct answer is lone because oath = 6215. If we use the same numbers on nowt and elms we get lone. Nowt means 'nothing' and is a north of England pronunciation of 'nought'. It was an insult to describe a person as a nowt

7 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. hire (inch) cans
b. oily (?) tune

into

unto

hero

undo

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'r' in hire is 3 and the 'c' in cans is 5. The correct answer is into because inch = 2751. If we use the same numbers on oily and tune we get into

8 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. euro (omen) mint
b. chef (?) ants

tact

sack

fact

back

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'u' in euro is 2 and the 'm' in mint is 5. The correct answer is fact because omen = 4517. If we use the same numbers on chef and ants we get fact. We have all heard of the herb 'mint' but do you know of any other meanings for the word? Look in the answer to question 10 for one other meaning of the word

9 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. burn (brim) mail
b. pork (?) mean

pram

prop

prep

dram

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'r' in burn is 3 and the 'm' in mail is 5. The correct answer is pram because brim = 1375. If we use the same numbers on pork and mean we get pram

10 .

Find the word that completes group b. in the SAME way as the word in brackets completes group a. Select the correct answer from the four choices available.

a. only (slot) spit
b. post (?) easy

espy

aspy

esps

spy

If we give each letter a number from 1 - 8, the 'n' in only is 2 and the 'p' in spit is 6. The correct answer is espy because slot = 5318. If we use the same numbers on post and easy we get espy. The puzzle in question 8? A mint is a place where coins are made. In the UK, the Royal Mint is located at The Royal Mint, Llantrisant, Pontyclun in Wales

Author: Stephen O'Hara