Phonics Worksheets Grade 2

2nd grade phonics worksheets: press Print worksheet for eight sentences, each with three look-alike words to choose from.

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NameDateMade at homeroomtools.comRead each sentence. Circle the word that fits.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.Read each word, then chooseThe cows sleep in the.bornbarnburnAunt Rosa mailed me a get-well.curdcordcardThe rock was tooto break.hardherdhadMom put the food in the shopping.coatcartcatI twirled noodles on my.folkforkfogWait for youron the slide.turntontornThe puppy rolled in the.dirtdartdotAhas sharp teeth and a fin.shackshockshark
NameDateMade at homeroomtools.comRead each sentence. Circle the word that fits.1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.Read each word, then chooseAnswer keyThe cows sleep in the.bornbarnburnAunt Rosa mailed me a get-well.curdcordcardThe rock was tooto break.hardherdhadMom put the food in the shopping.coatcartcatI twirled noodles on my.folkforkfogWait for youron the slide.turntontornThe puppy rolled in the.dirtdartdotAhas sharp teeth and a fin.shackshocksharkbarncardhardcartforkturndirtshark
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Next step Next: spell the same sound patternsSort words by vowel team

All 120 sentences

Words with r 24

  • The ___ works at the hospital. nurse: ur is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • A ___ has sharp teeth and a fin. shark: ar is one sound, as in car.
  • A ___ sang outside my window. bird: ir is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • Aunt Rosa mailed me a get-well ___. card: ar is one sound, as in car.
  • The cows sleep in the ___. barn: ar is one sound, as in car.
  • Dad grilled ___ on the cob. corn: or is one sound, as in for.
  • The farmer brushed the mane of her ___. horse: or is one sound, as in for.
  • His ___ has six buttons. shirt: ir is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • I got a ___ from the hot pan. burn: ur is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • I twirled noodles on my ___. fork: or is one sound, as in for.
  • Lightning flashed above the lake in the ___. storm: or is one sound, as in for.
  • Mia drew a gold ___ on her spelling test. star: ar is one sound, as in car.
  • Mom put the food in the shopping ___. cart: ar is one sound, as in car.
Show all 120 sentences (107 more)

Words with r, continued

  • Pigs and hens live on a ___. farm: ar is one sound, as in car.
  • The puppy rolled in the ___. dirt: ir is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • The rabbit's ___ felt like velvet. fur: ur is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • The rock was too ___ to break. hard: ar is one sound, as in car.
  • The rose has a sharp ___. thorn: or is one sound, as in for.
  • She keeps her coins in a ___. purse: ur is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • Ten plus twenty is ___. thirty: ir is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • The truck driver had to ___ behind the bakery. park: ar is one sound, as in car.
  • Wait for your ___ on the slide. turn: ur is one sound, the same as er in her.
  • We sat on the front ___. porch: or is one sound, as in for.
  • Wrap a ___ around your neck when it is cold. scarf: ar is one sound, as in car.

Vowel teams 24

  • The ___ rolled slowly into the station. train: ai spells long a.
  • The ___ sat on a velvet throne. queen: ee spells long e.
  • A ___ has thick wool. sheep: ee spells long e.
  • A ___ hopped into the pond. toad: oa spells long o.
  • A billy ___ butted the barn door. goat: oa spells long o.
  • A caterpillar munched a hole in the ___. leaf: ea spells long e.
  • A slow ___ carries a shell on its back. snail: ai spells long a.
  • The baker sliced a warm ___ for us. loaf: oa spells long o.
  • Bubbles of ___ slid down the sink. soap: oa spells long o.
  • Butter melted on my warm ___. toast: oa spells long o.
  • The car drove down the ___. road: oa spells long o.
  • The coach gave our ___ new jerseys. team: ea spells long e.
  • The dog is on a long ___. chain: ai spells long a.
  • Heavy ___ drummed on the tin roof. rain: ai spells long a.
  • I bit into a ripe, fuzzy ___. peach: ea spells long e.
  • I planted one ___ in a cup of soil. seed: ee spells long e.
  • The kite has a long ribbon for a ___. tail: ai spells long a.
  • Mom kissed me on the ___. cheek: ee spells long e.
  • My socks keep my ___ warm. feet: ee spells long e.
  • Please ___ here until the bus stops. wait: ai spells long a.
  • Waves rolled onto the sandy ___. beach: ea spells long e.
  • We sail in a ___. boat: oa spells long o.
  • We will ___ the old birdhouse yellow. paint: ai spells long a.
  • Zip up your ___ before you go out. coat: oa spells long o.

ou, ow, oi, oy, au and aw 24

  • The ___ flew over the field looking for mice. hawk: aw says the sound in saw.
  • The ___ had a red nose and big shoes. clown: ow says the sound in now.
  • The ___ said moo. cow: ow says the sound in now.
  • A ___ in a red cap pedaled past. boy: oy says the sound in toy.
  • A big ___ means I need a nap. yawn: aw says the sound in saw.
  • A gray ___ moved in front of the sun. cloud: ou says the sound in out.
  • A tiny ___ ate the cheese crumb. mouse: ou says the sound in out.
  • An ___ hooted from the old oak tree. owl: ow says the sound in now.
  • The arrow on the sign has a ___ at one end. point: oi says the sound in boil.
  • The carpenter sharpened her ___ before cutting the plank. saw: aw says the sound in paw.
  • The dog hurt its ___ on a thorn. paw: aw says the sound in saw.
  • The drum was too ___ for my ears. loud: ou says the sound in out.
  • Flip a ___ to see who goes first. coin: oi says the sound in boil.
  • The gift filled her with ___. joy: oy says the sound in boy.
  • The hippo opened its huge ___. mouth: ou says the sound in out.
  • The king's ___ was made of gold. crown: ow says the sound in now.
  • My aunt lives in a brick ___. house: ou says the sound in out.
  • My little cousin dropped his squeaky ___. toy: oy says the sound in boy.
  • Sip the lemonade through a paper ___. straw: aw says the sound in saw.
  • Stir the tomato ___ for the pasta. sauce: au says the sound in saw.
  • Wait for the water to ___. boil: oi says the sound in coin.
  • We drove into ___ to shop. town: ow says the sound in now.
  • We dug in the ___ to plant beans. soil: oi says the sound in boil.
  • Will you ___ our game? join: oi says the sound in boil.

Silent letters, soft c and g 24

  • The ___ wore armor and rode a horse. knight: the k is silent, so the word starts with the n sound; gh is silent too.
  • A red ___ shines on her ring. gem: g before e says j.
  • A wooden ___ on the gate says Welcome. sign: the g is silent: the word ends with the n sound.
  • The clown painted a smile on his ___. face: c before e says s.
  • Dad sliced the apple with a ___. knife: the k is silent, so the word starts with the n sound.
  • The eraser on my ___ is worn flat. pencil: c before i says s.
  • Help me ___ the gift in paper. wrap: the w is silent, so the word starts with the r sound.
  • Her watch is on her left ___. wrist: the w is silent, so the word starts with the r sound.
  • I ___ my hair each morning. comb: the b is silent, so the word ends with the m sound.
  • I tripped on the step and scraped my ___. knee: the k is silent, so the word starts with the n sound.
  • In the fairy tale a ___ stomped down the beanstalk. giant: g before i says j.
  • The mitten has one part for your ___. thumb: the b is silent, so the word ends with the m sound.
  • The parrot swung on a perch inside its ___. cage: g before e says j.
  • Put ___ in the glass to cool the drink. ice: c before e says s.
  • The sailor tied a ___ in the rope. knot: the k is silent, so the word starts with the n sound.
  • The singers walked onto the ___. stage: g before e says j.
  • Six runners lined up for the relay ___. race: c before e says s.
  • Tall buildings fill the busy ___. city: c before i says s.
  • That answer is ___, so try again. wrong: the w is silent, so the word starts with the r sound.
  • Turn the ___ of your book. page: g before e says j.
  • Two ___ nibbled the cheese. mice: c before e says s.
  • Use a pen to ___ the address on the envelope. write: the w is silent, so the word starts with the r sound.
  • We will ___ the tall hill. climb: the b is silent, so the word ends with the m sound.
  • The woolly ___ wobbled on its new legs. lamb: the b is silent, so the word ends with the m sound.

Two-syllable words 24

  • The ___ beeped and rolled across the floor. robot: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • The ___ flew the plane over the lake. pilot: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • The ___ purred and curled up on my lap. kitten: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • The ___ smiled in her crib. baby: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • A ___ grows from a bulb in spring. tulip: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • A ___ is a big cat with black stripes. tiger: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • A ___ spun a web in the corner. spider: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • A ___ with green wings breathed fire. dragon: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • A fluffy ___ nibbled the lettuce in our garden. rabbit: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • A tall ___ glowed on the dinner table. candle: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • At the zoo a striped ___ drank from the pond. zebra: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • The band played loud ___ at the parade. music: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • The eggs are in a woven ___. basket: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • I drew a map on a sheet of ___. paper: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • I pulled my little brother in a red ___. wagon: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • I rest my head on a soft ___. pillow: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • Mom baked a blueberry ___ for me. muffin: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • My coat is missing a ___. button: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • Our new ___ whined at the door all night. puppy: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • Put four plates on the kitchen ___. table: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • Raindrops ran down the kitchen ___. window: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • She tied a ___ in her hair. ribbon: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • Squeeze half a ___ into the iced tea. lemon: a word of two beats: clap once for each.
  • Wipe your mouth with a ___. napkin: a word of two beats: clap once for each.

How this list was compiled: Sentences written for this site on 2026-10-02: 120 sentences in five sets, each with one blank and three real words that look alike and differ in one sound pattern (barn, burn and born; boat, beat and bait). Each sentence was read with all three words, and only one makes sense. The sound named in each hint was checked for every answer word in the Carnegie Mellon University Pronouncing Dictionary, a record of General American pronunciation (https://github.com/cmusphinx/cmudict), in every pronunciation it lists, and each answer word has a pronunciation line in its entry at https://en.wiktionary.org/ (license CC BY-SA 4.0), looked up the same day. The grade is our suggestion, not a school's list. No published word list or reading program was copied. Licence: own work

How it works

Each sentence has a blank and three look-alike words: horse, house and hose. Only one makes sense, so the child has to read every word and cannot guess from the first letter.

Read the full guide

Five sound sets

Set keeps the sheet to one pattern. Words with r, where the page opens: barn, burn or born. Vowel teams: boat, beat or bait. Ou, ow, oi, oy, au and aw: cloud, coin, straw. Silent letters, soft c and g: knee, race, gem. Two-syllable words: rabbit, robot or ribbon.

The hints under the tool

The hints under the tool name the pattern in every answer word: in thumb the b is silent. The grade is our suggestion, not a school's list.

  • Under Set, All of them mixes the five patterns on one sheet.

Questions and answers

What phonics patterns are on these grade 2 worksheets?

Five: vowels followed by r (ar, or, ir, ur), the vowel teams ai, ee, ea and oa, the pairs ou, ow, oi, oy, au and aw, silent letters with soft c and g, and two-syllable words.

Why are the three words so alike?

So that the first letter is not enough. Barn, burn and born differ only in the vowel before r, and the sentence decides: the cows sleep in the barn. The child has to read each word to its end.

Do the phonics worksheets have an answer key?

Yes. It is the last page and shows the right word of every row circled. When you want the sentences alone, uncheck Add an answer key as the last page under More options.

Can I add my own sentences?

Yes. Type one to a line, with ___ for the blank, an equals sign, the right word, then a slash before each wrong one: We sat on the ___. = porch / pouch / poach. Your lines replace ours.

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