What does centipede mean?
Word: Centipede
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Centipede means a small, long creature with many body sections and a pair of legs on each.
How do you spell centipede?
Syllables: cen - ti - pede
Tricky part: The word begins with an s sound, yet its first letter is not s.
Watch out for: sentipede, scentipede
Memory tip: The name means 'hundred feet'. Think of a century in cricket, a hundred runs, and start the word with the c of century.
Centipede in a sentence
Example 1: A centipede hurried across the damp garden path.
Example 2: The children studied a picture of a centipede in their science book.
Example 3: When Ravi lifted the flowerpot, a centipede scuttled away.
Fun Fact
Despite the name, most centipedes have far fewer than 100 legs. Many common garden kinds have only 30.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the option with no spelling errors:
a) centipead, caterpiller, butterfly, grasshopper
b) centipede, catterpillar, buterfly, grasshopper
c) centipead, caterpillar, butterfly, grashoper
d) centipede, caterpillar, butterfly, grasshopper
Show answer
d) centipede, caterpillar, butterfly, grasshopper. All four small creatures are spelt correctly in this list; each of the others has two errors.
Spellacadabra
Choose the option in which the following letters will fit in the given order:
e, i, e, e
a) l_m_n_d_
b) c_nt_p_d_
c) s_t_ll_t_
d) m_d_c_n_
Show answer
b) c_nt_p_d_. These four letters complete only the many-legged creature; the others need different vowels.
Jumble Tumble
Which option has letters that you can rearrange to form the name of a creature with a lot of legs?
a) ptidceene
b) ptidceena
c) ptidceen
d) ptidceeney
Show answer
a) ptidceene. Only this set has the nine letters needed; the others have a letter changed, missing or added.
Sound Check
Which of the following words rhymes with the given word?
centipede
a) spade
b) spied
c) spread
d) speed
Show answer
d) speed. Speed ends with the same long ee sound and d, even though the letters differ.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where in a garden would you be most likely to find a centipede?
a) on top of a hot tin roof
b) on a sunny stone windowsill
c) inside a sealed water tank
d) under a damp flat stone
Show answer
d) under a damp flat stone
2. What would Lucy notice first when she watches a centipede on the path?
a) rows of legs moving along its sides
b) a hard round shell on its back
c) a thick coat of fur on its body
d) two bright wings folded on its back
Show answer
a) rows of legs moving along its sides
