How it works
This free phonics crossword printable opens on 12 easy words with a word bank, among them Ship, Frog, Cake, Boat and Car. One clue reads "sh: it sails across the ocean". The answer key prints last, on Letter or A4.
Read the full guide
Seven sound sets
Short Vowels has Cat, Bed and Sun. Digraphs has Chin, Moth and Whale. Blends has Frog, Sled and Lamp. Silent e has Kite, Bone and Cube. Vowel Teams has Rain, Feet and Coin. R-Controlled Vowels has Star, Fork and Bird. Two-Syllable Words has Rabbit, Pencil and Candle.
How a clue reads
Each clue starts with the pattern, then gives a hint: "Long a, silent e: sweet treat with frosting" is CAKE, and "oa: it floats and you row it" is BOAT. A blend that closes a word is marked, as in "mp at the end: it lights a room".
- Match the set to the week's pattern, so the puzzle practices only the spelling just taught.
- A child who cannot read the hints yet can solve with a partner who reads each clue aloud.
Questions and answers
Are the phonics crossword puzzles printable without an account?
Yes. They are free, with no sign-up. Print gives the puzzle first and the answer key last, on a sheet of its own.
Can phonics crosswords be used as worksheets?
Yes. A puzzle prints with a name and date line and a word bank under the clues, and the key is on a separate sheet, so it works as seat work or homework.
What grade are the phonics crosswords for?
Short Vowels and Easy Phonics Words suit kindergarten and first grade. Digraphs, Blends and Silent e suit first grade, and the other three sets first and second grade. These bands are our judgment, not a published standard.
What is the difference between a digraph and a blend?
A digraph is two letters that spell a single sound, such as sh in ship. In a blend the consonants stand side by side and each is still heard, such as f and r in frog.