Twist-a-Word
Twist-a-Word is a card game for whole class, small group, or individual practice that encourages flexibility in thinking and using a dictionary and/or thesaurus, as well as reinforcing word definitions. The objective is to determine four different words which share the same letters but have different meanings.
On the front of the card, place the four definitions. On the back, place the four words (given in parentheses next to the definition). Prepare the following cards:
Card 1
- vipers (adders)
- totals again (readds)
- fears (dreads)
- more sorrowful (sadder)
Card 2
- animal's den (lair)
- metal track (rail)
- prevaricator (liar)
- seed covering (aril)
Card 3
- fail to keep (lose)
- part of shoe (sole)
- gin (sloe)
- lions (leos)
Card 4
- took an oath (swore)
- planter (sower)
- debtors (owers)
- more ill (worse)
Card 5
- quarterback (passer)
- scattered (sparse)
- weapons (spears)
- bowling term pl. (spares)
Card 6
- cheese (edam)
- woman (dame)
- honeyed drink (mead)
- manufactured (made)
Card 7
- ornament (tassel)
- grows rancid (stales)
- purloins (steals)
- roofing tiles (slates)
Card 8
- hazard (danger)
- a plot (garden)
- male goose (gander)
- moved with (ranged)
Card 9
- more pliant (softer)
- wooded area (forest)
- care for (foster)
- talents (fortes)
Card 10
- sorrow (lament)
- ledge (mantel)
- cloak (mantle)
- mind (mental)
Options:
- Prepare the cards and place them in a learning center. Individual students can use them at a specified time or as an extra activity when their class work has been completed.
- Prepare the cards and present one a day to the whole class. You may designate a specific time during the day as Twist-a-Word time or allow the students to work on the activity throughout the day until a solution is reached.
- Award a small prize to the student or small group who reaches the solution first.
- Encourage students to create their own Twist-a-Words.
- Use a database and/or label-making program to create professional looking cards.
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Last updated March 1, 1997