What does railing mean?
Word: Railing
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Railing means a row of upright metal or wooden bars that stops people from stepping off an edge.
How do you spell railing?
Syllables: rail - ing
Tricky part: The long a sound in the middle is spelt ai; children often write raling or reiling.
Watch out for: raling, reiling
Memory tip: Picture a and i as two friends holding the rail side by side as they walk down the steps.
Railing in a sentence
Example 1: Dev leaned on the railing to watch the boats on the lake.
Example 2: Our flat has a green railing round the little balcony.
Example 3: Hold the railing when you walk down the school steps.
Fun Fact
Railing comes from rail, the word for a long bar of metal or wood, which is also what trains run on.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Champ
Choose the correct option to make a meaningful word:
rail____
a) inge
b) eng
c) ing
d) ling
Show answer
c) ing. Just add ing to rail; railling, raileng and railinge are not words.
Spell Spies
Choose the option with no spelling errors:
a) gate, fennce, railing, wal
b) gaet, fense, railing, wall
c) gatte, fence, railing, wawl
d) gate, fence, railing, wall
Show answer
d) gate, fence, railing, wall. Fence ends in ce, and gate and wall need no extra letters; only one list has all four right.
Sound Check
Which of the following words has the 'ai' sound as in railing?
a) mail
b) mule
c) mile
d) mill
Show answer
a) mail. Mail has the long a sound of rail; mill, mile and mule do not.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
lgainir
a) a set of steps that you lean against a wall to climb
b) something to hold on to at the edge of a balcony or a bridge
c) a small door at the side of a garden
d) a long seat in a park for several people
Show answer
b) something to hold on to at the edge of a balcony or a bridge. The letters spell the word for the row of bars, not a ladder, a bench or a small door.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where might you hold on to a railing?
a) in a kitchen cupboard
b) beside a staircase
c) under a carpet
d) on a dining table
Show answer
b) beside a staircase
2. What is a railing usually for?
a) lighting a dark room
b) keeping food cold
c) carrying heavy bags
d) keeping people safe
Show answer
d) keeping people safe
