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Can you spot the missing word in the following ten questions?

Writing - Guess the Missing Word

Read the sentence, spot the gap and choose the missing word. Use the picture and meaning to decide which word sounds best.

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Fascinating Fact:

Listening to the sentence can guide you, because “I brush my ___” fits teeth, not toaster.

In KS1 English, children learn to use the whole sentence to guess a missing word. They think about what makes sense, look at any picture clues, and choose a word that matches the situation.

Key Terms

Sentence: A group of words that makes sense and starts with a capital letter.
Missing word: A word that has been taken out of a sentence and needs to be filled in.
Context clue: A helpful hint in the sentence or picture that shows which word belongs in the gap.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is a missing word activity in KS1?

A missing word activity shows a sentence with a gap and asks children to choose a word that makes the sentence sound correct and sensible.

How can children work out the missing word in a sentence?

Children can read the whole sentence aloud, use the picture, think about what usually happens in real life, and then pick the word that fits best in the gap.

How can I support missing word practice at home?

You can support this by making simple gap sentences, offering two or three word choices, and asking your child which one sounds right and why.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

Butterflies come in a variety of colours.

Butterflies start off as caterpillars.

Butterflies are insects.

Butterflies delicate creatures.

It should say, 'Butterflies are delicate creatures.' Butterflies are very delicate and if you're lucky enough to have one land on you, then you need to be careful and try not to touch its wings.

2 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

I've lost my teddy bear.

My teddy bear is best friend.

I have fifteen teddy bears.

I love teddy bears, especially brown ones.

We are missing the word 'my'. It should say, 'My teddy bear is my best friend.' Some teddy bears can cost millions of pounds but luckily the ones we see in our local shops are much cheaper.

3 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

It illegal to sell or damage coral.

Coral takes a very long time to grow.

Coral is very brittle.

Coral reefs have been around for millions of years.

It should say, 'It is illegal to sell or damage coral.' The reason it is illegal is because it is so precious and many animals and organisms need it to survive.

4 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

Please turn the radio on.

I love listening to music.

I keep a radio in my bedroom.

The speakers on my radio broken.

Here we are missing the word 'are'. It should say, 'The speakers on my radio are broken.' Often, it's the small words we forget.

5 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

I love playing basketball.

I am the best basketball in the school.

I love bouncing the ball.

I enjoy watching basketball.

It should say, 'I am the best basketball player in the school.' In America, all professional basketball teams belong to the NBA (National Basketball Association).

6 .

'We went the zoo.' Which word is missing?

the

went

The sentence should read, 'We went to the zoo.' The most common words that are forgotten are 'to' and 'the'.

7 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

My television used to be black and white but now it's in colour.

My television used to be black and white but now in colour.

My television used to be really heavy but now it's flat screen.

My television is my favourite object in my living room.

The word we are missing is 'it's'. The first answer is the correct sentence. Televisions first went on sale in the late 1920s.

8 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

I went to the circus and it fun.

The circus came to town.

I went to the circus and it was fun.

I bought a ticket for the circus.

It should say 'I went to the circus and it was fun.' If you join a circus, never whistle backstage as that's considered to be bad luck.

9 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

Octopuses have eight legs.

Octopuses have legs.

Octopuses squirt poisonous.

Octopuses squirt poisonous ink.

Did you spot that the last answer was correct whereas the third answer was missing the word 'ink'? Octopuses normally squirt ink if they think they are in danger; they use it to defend themselves.

10 .

Which sentence is missing a word?

The volcano erupted.

The lava poured down the side of the volcano.

The island was full volcanic rock.

The lava was very hot.

The word that is missing is 'of'. The sentence should say, 'The island was full of volcanic rock.' Before the lava comes out of the volcano it is called magma.

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Checking your writing makes sense

Author: Finola Waller (MEd, Primary School Teacher & KS1 English Quiz Writer)