Year 6 SPaG worksheet on words that change word class: 8 SATs-style questions with answers. Free printable PDF.

3-page A4 PDF from the Tiger Shark Education question bank (Word classes): two pages of questions (tick one, tick-box grids) and an answer page. Example questions: Tick one box in each row to show the job the underlined word is doing. / In which sentence is “record” a noun? Tick one.

What does ‘one word, different jobs’ mean? Many English words can belong to more than one word class depending on how they are used in a sentence. Play can be a noun (We watched a play) or a verb (We play outside). Fast can be an adjective (a fast car) or an adverb (She ran fast). Round can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb or preposition. The SATs regularly check that children identify the word class from context.

Common mistakes and tips: Children often memorise a single word class for each word and apply it regardless of the sentence. Teach them to look at the job the word is doing: does it name something, show an action, describe a noun or tell us how? Swapping the word for a known example of each word class (a definite noun, a clear verb) is a good test.

In the KS2 SATs, grammar and punctuation are tested in a separate paper of around 50 short questions, and this topic regularly appears. The questions on this sheet use the same styles as the test (circle, tick, underline, insert), so children practise the format as well as the knowledge.

Teaching ideas: model the first two questions together and talk through the reasoning, then let children complete the rest independently. Use the answers to group pupils for a follow-up session. For extra challenge, ask children to explain their answers in a full sentence using the correct grammatical terms.

Supporting all learners: for children who find grammar difficult, read the questions aloud and work through the first few together before they continue alone. Colour-coding word classes or clauses on mini whiteboards makes abstract ideas more concrete, and sorting word cards or building sentences from strips helps too. More confident pupils can write their own test-style questions for a partner, with the answers and a short explanation. Once each topic is secure, mix it with others, because the real test does not group questions by topic and pupils need to recognise what each question is asking them to do.