KS2 English Quiz: Uncover the Magic of Compound Words

English Quiz - Compound Words (Questions)

Let's explore compound words in this fun KS2 English quiz! Compound words are like word buddies – two words joined to create something new. Take 'ladybird' for example; it's not a lady or a bird, but a special insect!

If you're unsure, check how many words are hiding inside the main word. If there are two complete words in there, you've found a compound word! Watch out for prefixes – they might try to trick you. Have a go at this quiz and become a compound word detective!

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Find the compound word in the following sentence.
My auntie looked in her handbag for a tissue.

[ ]	auntie
[ ]	looked
[ ]	handbag
[ ]	tissue

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
On our science trip, we saw butterflies, wasps, ants and mosquitoes.

[ ]	science
[ ]	butterflies
[ ]	wasps
[ ]	mosquitoes

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
The waves crashed against the base of the ancient lighthouse.

[ ]	waves
[ ]	crashed
[ ]	ancient
[ ]	lighthouse

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
My mum enjoys reading the newspaper every evening.

[ ]	enjoys
[ ]	reading
[ ]	newspaper
[ ]	evening

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
They were unable to build a snowman because there wasn't enough snow.

[ ]	unable
[ ]	build
[ ]	snowman
[ ]	enough

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
The headteacher raised her eyebrow when we tried to explain our practical joke.

[ ]	headteacher, eyebrow
[ ]	raised, eyebrow
[ ]	tried, practical
[ ]	explain, joke

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
Billy couldn't find room in the suitcase for his football.

[ ]	couldn't, room
[ ]	couldn't, suitcase
[ ]	room, football
[ ]	suitcase, football

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
She gave a gentle stir with the teaspoon and then replaced the lid on the teapot.

[ ]	gentle, teaspoon
[ ]	teaspoon, replaced
[ ]	teaspoon, teapot
[ ]	replaced, teapot

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
In the afternoon, the grass was so warm and dry that the children decided to go barefoot.

[ ]	afternoon, grass
[ ]	afternoon, barefoot
[ ]	children, decided
[ ]	decided, barefoot

10.

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
I always thought it was a mistake to try to grow strawberries inside the fridge.

[ ]	mistake, strawberries
[ ]	mistake, fridge
[ ]	strawberries, inside
[ ]	inside, fridge

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Compound words

English Quiz - Compound Words (Answers)

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
My auntie looked in her handbag for a tissue.

[ ]	auntie
[ ]	looked
[x]	handbag
[ ]	tissue

Handbag = hand + bag.

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
On our science trip, we saw butterflies, wasps, ants and mosquitoes.

[ ]	science
[x]	butterflies
[ ]	wasps
[ ]	mosquitoes

Butterfly = butter + fly.

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
The waves crashed against the base of the ancient lighthouse.

[ ]	waves
[ ]	crashed
[ ]	ancient
[x]	lighthouse

Lighthouse = light + house.

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
My mum enjoys reading the newspaper every evening.

[ ]	enjoys
[ ]	reading
[x]	newspaper
[ ]	evening

Newspaper = news + paper.

Find the compound word in the following sentence.
They were unable to build a snowman because there wasn't enough snow.

[ ]	unable
[ ]	build
[x]	snowman
[ ]	enough

Snowman = snow + man.

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
The headteacher raised her eyebrow when we tried to explain our practical joke.

[x]	headteacher, eyebrow
[ ]	raised, eyebrow
[ ]	tried, practical
[ ]	explain, joke

Headteacher = head + teacher / eyebrow = eye + brow.

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
Billy couldn't find room in the suitcase for his football.

[ ]	couldn't, room
[ ]	couldn't, suitcase
[ ]	room, football
[x]	suitcase, football

Suitcase = suit + case / football = foot + ball.

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
She gave a gentle stir with the teaspoon and then replaced the lid on the teapot.

[ ]	gentle, teaspoon
[ ]	teaspoon, replaced
[x]	teaspoon, teapot
[ ]	replaced, teapot

Teaspoon = tea + spoon / teapot = tea + pot.

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
In the afternoon, the grass was so warm and dry that the children decided to go barefoot.

[ ]	afternoon, grass
[x]	afternoon, barefoot
[ ]	children, decided
[ ]	decided, barefoot

Afternoon = after + noon / barefoot = bare + foot.

10.

Find the compound words in the following sentence.
I always thought it was a mistake to try to grow strawberries inside the fridge.

[ ]	mistake, strawberries
[ ]	mistake, fridge
[x]	strawberries, inside
[ ]	inside, fridge

Strawberries = straw + berries / inside = in + side ('in-' can also be a prefix, as in 'inconsiderate', but here it has the meaning of the whole word 'in').