What does heap mean?
Word: Heap
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Heap means a large, untidy pile of things lying on top of one another.
Synonyms: pile, mound, stack
How do you spell heap?
Syllables: heap
Tricky part: Heap spells its long ee sound with ea. Children often write ee, which looks right but is wrong here.
Watch out for: hepe, heape
Memory tip: Take the c off cheap and you have heap.
Idioms and Phrases
- heaps of: a lot of (an everyday way of speaking) Example: "Do not rush; there is heaps of time before the train leaves."
Heap in a sentence
Example 1: There is a heap of dirty clothes on my bed.
Example 2: The farmer left a heap of watermelons by the road.
Example 3: The workers left a heap of bricks by the gate.
Fun Fact
A heap of compost can feel warm inside, because the tiny living things breaking it down give off heat.
Practise the CREST Way
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with heap?
a) jeep
b) sheep
c) leapt
d) keep
Show answer
c) leapt. Leapt is said with a short e, like slept; sheep, jeep and keep rhyme with heap.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
Mum swept the dust into a small ______ near the door.
a) hoop
b) heap
c) help
d) hip
Show answer
b) heap. Swept dust forms a small pile.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
pahe
a) a sudden loud bang
b) a messy mound of things
c) a long wooden pole
d) a small round hole
Show answer
b) a messy mound of things. P, a, h and e rearranged spell heap.
Spell Spies
Choose the pair which has a spelling error:
a) bench : benches
b) tooth : tooths
c) glass : glasses
d) heap : heaps
Show answer
b) tooth : tooths. Tooth has a special plural, teeth.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. After cleaning the loft, Grandma found a heap of old newspapers. How were they lying?
a) piled up anyhow
b) pinned on a board
c) sorted by date
d) folded in a file
Show answer
a) piled up anyhow
2. If you have heaps of homework, you have ...
a) just one page
b) none at all
c) only a little
d) plenty of it
Show answer
d) plenty of it
