Verbal Reasoning · Words

Hidden words 11+ practice

Find continuous hidden words, including those crossing spaces and punctuation.

Start the questions Check my learning gaps

The key idea

Understand the rule first

Ignore spaces, keep the letters in their original order and slide a fixed-length window across the text. A hidden word may begin at the end of one word and finish in the next.

Worked example

Find HEAT in ‘the atlas’.

Remove the space: THEATLAS.
Scan four letters at a time.
T[HEAT]LAS contains HEAT across the boundary.

tHE ATlas

Watch for this

A common misconception

Searching only inside individual words or rearranging letters as though solving an anagram.

Reusable method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.

Question 1 of 8
Verbal Reasoningcore
Which phrase hides the word HEAT in consecutive letters?
- Ahigh east
- Bthe artist
- Cthe atlas
- Dheavy stone
Need a hint?
Remove each space and scan four letters.
Show worked answer
Answer C: the atlas
T HE AT LAS contains HEAT across the words ‘the atlas’.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.
Question 2 of 8
Verbal Reasoningcore
Which phrase hides the word LAMB in consecutive letters?
- Alate morning
- Bblue amber
- Clong branch
- Dsmall amber
Need a hint?
Look across the boundary between the two words.
Show worked answer
Answer D: small amber
The final L of small followed by AMB in amber spells LAMB.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.
Question 3 of 8
Verbal Reasoningcore
Which four-letter word is hidden across the words ‘chair once’?
- AIRON
- BHERO
- CROPE
- DONCE
Need a hint?
Use the final letters of chair and the first of once.
Show worked answer
Answer A: IRON
Cha[IR ON]ce contains IRON.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.
Question 4 of 8
Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which five-letter word is hidden across ‘silent rain’?
- ASTAIN
- BTRAIN
- CTRAIL
- DENTRY
Need a hint?
Join the last letter of silent to the next word.
Show worked answer
Answer B: TRAIN
Silen[T RAIN] contains TRAIN.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.
Question 5 of 8
Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which four-letter word is hidden across ‘map early’?
- APARK
- BPEEL
- CPEAR
- DYEAR
Need a hint?
Join the end of map to the start of early.
Show worked answer
Answer C: PEAR
Ma[P EAR]ly contains PEAR.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.
Question 6 of 8
Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which phrase hides CHAIR across the space between two words?
- Acheer loudly
- Bair travel
- Cteach airport
- Dcheap ticket
Need a hint?
Join the end of the first word to the start of the second.
Show worked answer
Answer C: teach airport
Tea[CH AIR]port contains CHAIR across the boundary.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.
Question 7 of 8
Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which phrase hides SAND across a word boundary?
- Asafe landing
- Bsoft angle
- Csilk dress
- Dglass and metal
Need a hint?
Use the last letter of the first word plus the second word.
Show worked answer
Answer D: glass and metal
Glas[S AND] metal contains SAND.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.
Question 8 of 8
Verbal Reasoningexam-style
Which four-letter word is hidden across ‘map lane’?
- APLAN
- BPALE
- CLAMP
- DLANE
Need a hint?
Join the end of map to the start of lane.
Show worked answer
Answer A: PLAN
Ma[P LAN]e contains PLAN.
Quick method: Slide a fixed-length window across the letters.

Understand the rule first

Find HEAT in ‘the atlas’.

A common misconception

Which phrase hides the word HEAT in consecutive letters?

Which phrase hides the word LAMB in consecutive letters?

Which four-letter word is hidden across the words ‘chair once’?

Which five-letter word is hidden across ‘silent rain’?

Which four-letter word is hidden across ‘map early’?

Which phrase hides CHAIR across the space between two words?

Which phrase hides SAND across a word boundary?

Which four-letter word is hidden across ‘map lane’?

Related Verbal Reasoning lessons