• 32 words

Ost Word Family

Most, post, host and ghost in one list; cost, lost and frost in another.

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List 1: -ost with long o (most)

Words to learn. Read each word, cover it, write it, then check it.

  1. 1.mostMost of the puddles dried by noon.
  2. 2.postTie the rowboat to that wooden post.
  3. 3.hostThe host greeted every guest at the door.
  4. 4.ghostI dressed as a ghost with a striped scarf.
  5. 5.almostThe kettle is almost ready to whistle.
  6. 6.compostToss the apple cores onto the compost pile.

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Next step More long o before two consonants: cold, boltLong o spelled oa: toast, coast, roast

All 32 words

List 1: -ost with long o (most) 6

  • almost The kettle is almost ready to whistle.
  • compost Toss the apple cores onto the compost pile.
  • ghost I dressed as a ghost with a striped scarf.
  • host The host greeted every guest at the door.
  • most Most of the puddles dried by noon.
  • post Tie the rowboat to that wooden post.

List 2: -ost said as in lost (frost) 6

  • cost The kite cost less than the string.
  • defrost Turn the dial to defrost the windshield.
  • frost Morning frost sparkled on the pumpkin patch.
  • hoarfrost White hoarfrost coated every blade of grass.
  • lost Our puppy lost one chew toy under the couch.
  • permafrost The tundra hikers camped above the permafrost.

List 3: compound words that end in -post (signpost) 8

  • bedpost He looped his belt over the bedpost.
  • doorpost Mark my height on the doorpost again.
  • gatepost A crow sat on the gatepost all afternoon.
  • guidepost An old guidepost stood where the roads crossed.
  • lamppost A lost mitten hung from the lamppost.
  • milepost We counted each milepost along the highway.
  • outpost The traders reached a small outpost by dusk.
  • signpost The signpost pointed toward the lighthouse trail.

List 4: words that end in -most (topmost) 12

  • easternmost Sunrise reaches the easternmost dock first.
  • foremost Safety was foremost in the climber's mind.
  • furthermost Her tent stood in the furthermost corner of camp.
  • innermost The smallest doll hid in the innermost shell.
  • lowermost The lowermost drawer holds the winter socks.
  • northernmost The northernmost cabin gets the first snow.
  • outermost Peel off the outermost layer of the onion.
  • southernmost We drove to the southernmost beach on the island.
  • topmost A robin sang from the topmost branch.
  • uppermost The cookie tin sits on the uppermost shelf.
  • utmost Carry the glass bowl with the utmost care.
  • westernmost The westernmost window glows at sunset.

How it works

The ost word family is two families. Most, post, host and ghost have long o; cost, lost and frost do not, so they stand on a list of their own. Two more lists hold the -post and -most words.

Read the full guide

Ost word family words, sorted by sound

List 1 is long o: most, post, host, ghost, almost, compost. List 2 is the other sound: cost, lost, frost, defrost, permafrost, hoarfrost. List 3 is compounds that end in -post, such as signpost, lamppost and bedpost. List 4 has twelve words that end in -most, from topmost to northernmost. Lists 3 and 4 rhyme with most.

How the dictionary writes the two sounds

The American Heritage Dictionary writes most as (mōst) and ghost as (gōst), with no sound for the h. It writes cost as (kôst), the vowel of paw, and gives lost and frost a second pronunciation with the short o of pot: (lôst, lŏst).

  • Lost is the past of lose. Cost does not change: it cost a dime last year. Frost, post and host add -ed.
  • Permafrost is permanent and frost run together, and hoarfrost is also called white frost.

Questions and answers

Does toast rhyme with most?

Yes. The dictionary writes toast (tōst), coast (kōst), roast (rōst) and boast (bōst) with the ending of most. They spell long o with oa, so they belong with the oa words and are not on these lists.

What does -most mean at the end of a word?

The American Heritage Dictionary enters -most as an ending of its own that means most or nearest to. Innermost is farthest within, topmost is highest and northernmost is farthest north.

Can I print ost word family worksheets?

Yes. Lists 1 and 2 have six words each, so one sound fits one short sheet. Each comes as a Word list, a Test sheet, an ABC order sheet or a Missing letters sheet.

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