put to work vs exploit

put to work is not a noun while exploit is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
put to work	No	No	Yes	No
exploit	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, exploit is a hyponym of put to work; that is, exploit is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than put to work:

Other hyponyms of put to work include exercise, work, work out, computerise, computerize, cybernate, rack, overwork.

put to work (noun)	exploit (noun)
	a notable achievement

put to work (verb)	exploit (verb)
cause to work	use or manipulate to one's advantage
	draw from; make good use of
	work excessively hard