Spelling Rules Worksheets: Sort tch and ch Words

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Made at homeroomtools.comWord boxSort the words of the word box. Write each word under its heading.Spelling: sort by listList 1: short vowel, tchList 2: ch after consonantList 3: ch after two vowelsgulchwitchbirchtorchstretchpouchbranchcouchcoachcrunchwretchpoachteachetchsnitch
Made at homeroomtools.comSort the words of the word box. Write each word under its heading.Spelling: sort by listAnswer keyList 1: short vowel, tchList 2: ch after consonantList 3: ch after two vowelsetchwitchstretchwretchsnitchcrunchgulchtorchbranchbirchteachcouchcoachpoachpouch
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15 words from 3 lists, sort by list, on 1 page and 1 page of answers, Letter portrait.

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The spelling lists

List 1: short vowel, tch 10

  • botch A short o comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • etch A short e comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • glitch A short i comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • scratch A short a comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • snatch A short a comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • snitch A short i comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • stretch A short e comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • thatch A short a comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • witch A short i comes right before the last sound, so it is tch.
  • wretch A short e comes right before the last sound, so it is tch. The w is silent.
Show all 200 words (190 more)

List 2: ch after consonant 10

  • birch A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • branch A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • crunch A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • gulch A consonant, l, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • mulch A consonant, l, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • perch A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • porch A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • starch A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • torch A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • trench A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.

List 3: ch after two vowels 10

  • coach Two vowels, oa, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • couch Two vowels, ou, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • crouch Two vowels, ou, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • grouch Two vowels, ou, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • leech Two vowels, ee, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • peach Two vowels, ea, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • poach Two vowels, oa, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • pouch Two vowels, ou, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • preach Two vowels, ea, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.
  • teach Two vowels, ea, come before the last sound, so it is ch with no t.

List 4: i before e 10

  • belief I before e, and together they say ee.
  • brief I before e, and together they say ee.
  • chief I before e, and together they say ee.
  • field I before e, and together they say ee.
  • grief I before e, and together they say ee.
  • piece I before e, and together they say ee.
  • priest I before e, and together they say ee.
  • relief I before e, and together they say ee.
  • shriek I before e, and together they say ee.
  • thief I before e, and together they say ee.

List 5: ei after c or said ay 10

  • beige Here ei says ay, so the e comes first.
  • ceiling After c the e comes first: c, e, i.
  • conceit After c the e comes first: c, e, i.
  • deceit After c the e comes first: c, e, i.
  • eight Here ei says ay, so the e comes first.
  • feign Here ei says ay, so the e comes first.
  • receive After c the e comes first: c, e, i.
  • rein Here ei says ay, so the e comes first.
  • vein Here ei says ay, so the e comes first.
  • weigh Here ei says ay, so the e comes first.

List 6: rule breakers 10

  • bus A short u and one s. Most short words like this end in ss.
  • either E before i, though no c comes first and the two do not say ay.
  • gas A short a and one s. Most short words like this end in ss.
  • much A short u with ch right after it and no t. Most words like this take tch.
  • rich A short i with ch right after it and no t. Most words like this take tch.
  • seize E before i, though no c comes first and the two do not say ay.
  • such A short u with ch right after it and no t. Most words like this take tch.
  • weird E before i, though no c comes first and the two do not say ay.
  • which A short i with ch right after it and no t. Most words like this take tch.
  • yes A short e and one s. Most short words like this end in ss.

List 7: ff and ll 10

  • bluff A short u, then a double f.
  • drill A short i, then a double l.
  • fluff A short u, then a double f.
  • skull A short u, then a double l.
  • smell A short e, then a double l.
  • sniff A short i, then a double f.
  • spell A short e, then a double l.
  • spill A short i, then a double l.
  • stiff A short i, then a double f.
  • stuff A short u, then a double f.

List 8: ss and zz 10

  • bless A short e, then a double s.
  • cross A short o, then a double s.
  • fizz A short i, then a double z.
  • floss A short o, then a double s.
  • fuzz A short u, then a double z.
  • glass A short a, then a double s.
  • jazz A short a, then a double z.
  • moss A short o, then a double s.
  • press A short e, then a double s.
  • toss A short o, then a double s.

List 9: ve at the end 10

  • above The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v. The e does not make the o long.
  • carve The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v.
  • give The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v. The e does not make the i long.
  • glove The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v. The e does not make the o long.
  • nerve The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v.
  • serve The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v.
  • shove The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v. The e does not make the o long.
  • solve The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v.
  • starve The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v.
  • valve The v sound ends the word, so an e follows the v.

List 10: short vowel, dge 10

  • badge A short a comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • bridge A short i comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • dodge A short o comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • fridge A short i comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • grudge A short u comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • hedge A short e comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • judge A short u comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • ledge A short e comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • nudge A short u comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.
  • sledge A short e comes right before the last sound, so it is dge.

List 11: ge after consonant 10

  • grunge A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • hinge A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • large A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • purge A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • range A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • singe A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • strange A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • surge A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • tinge A consonant, n, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.
  • verge A consonant, r, comes before the last sound, so it is ge with no d.

List 12: long vowel, ge 10

  • age The a is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • cage The a is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • huge The u is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • oblige The i is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • page The a is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • rage The a is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • sage The a is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • stage The a is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • stooge The oo is long, so it is ge with no d.
  • wage The a is long, so it is ge with no d.

List 13: q with u 10

  • equal Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • quaint Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • queen Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • query Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • quiet Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • quote Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • square Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • squeal Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • squid Q, then u: together they say kw.
  • squirm Q, then u: together they say kw.

List 14: soft c before e, i, y 10

  • cedar C before e: here the c says s.
  • cement C before e: here the c says s.
  • center C before e: here the c says s.
  • cereal C before e: here the c says s.
  • cinema C before i: here the c says s.
  • citizen C before i: here the c says s.
  • citrus C before i: here the c says s.
  • civil C before i: here the c says s.
  • cycle C before y: here the c says s.
  • cyclone C before y: here the c says s.

List 15: double a letter 10

  • dripped Drip + ed. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the p doubles.
  • humming Hum + ing. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the m doubles.
  • knitted Knit + ed. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the t doubles.
  • patting Pat + ing. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the t doubles.
  • scrubbed Scrub + ed. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the b doubles.
  • slipping Slip + ing. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the p doubles.
  • stepped Step + ed. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the p doubles.
  • trimmed Trim + ed. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the m doubles.
  • tugging Tug + ing. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the g doubles.
  • zipping Zip + ing. One short vowel and one consonant at the end, so the p doubles.

List 16: drop the e 10

  • blaming Blame + ing. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • chasing Chase + ing. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • gliding Glide + ing. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • graded Grade + ed. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • hiding Hide + ing. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • piled Pile + ed. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • raking Rake + ing. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • scraped Scrape + ed. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • tamed Tame + ed. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.
  • voted Vote + ed. The ending starts with a vowel, so the e drops.

List 17: just add ed or ing 10

  • bumped Bump + ed. Bump ends in two consonants, so nothing doubles.
  • cooking Cook + ing. Two vowels come before the k, so nothing doubles.
  • dusted Dust + ed. Dust ends in two consonants, so nothing doubles.
  • floated Float + ed. Two vowels come before the t, so nothing doubles.
  • hunted Hunt + ed. Hunt ends in two consonants, so nothing doubles.
  • lifted Lift + ed. Lift ends in two consonants, so nothing doubles.
  • melted Melt + ed. Melt ends in two consonants, so nothing doubles.
  • peeled Peel + ed. Two vowels come before the l, so nothing doubles.
  • raining Rain + ing. Two vowels come before the n, so nothing doubles.
  • sleeping Sleep + ing. Two vowels come before the p, so nothing doubles.

List 18: soft g before e, i, y 10

  • general G before e: here the g says j.
  • generous G before e: here the g says j.
  • genie G before e: here the g says j.
  • genius G before e: here the g says j.
  • gentle G before e: here the g says j.
  • germ G before e: here the g says j.
  • gesture G before e: here the g says j.
  • gigantic G before i: here the g says j.
  • giraffe G before i: here the g says j.
  • gist G before i: here the g says j.

List 19: y turns to i 10

  • denied Deny + ed. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • dirtiest Dirty + est. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • emptied Empty + ed. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • greedily Greedy + ly. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • luckier Lucky + er. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • married Marry + ed. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • noisier Noisy + er. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • plentiful Plenty + ful. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • sunniest Sunny + est. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.
  • tidied Tidy + ed. A consonant comes before the y, so the y turns to i.

List 20: keep the y 10

  • annoyed Annoy + ed. A vowel comes before the y, so the y stays.
  • delayed Delay + ed. A vowel comes before the y, so the y stays.
  • denying Deny + ing. The y stays before ing.
  • destroyed Destroy + ed. A vowel comes before the y, so the y stays.
  • emptying Empty + ing. The y stays before ing.
  • marrying Marry + ing. The y stays before ing.
  • obeyed Obey + ed. A vowel comes before the y, so the y stays.
  • relying Rely + ing. The y stays before ing.
  • sprayed Spray + ed. A vowel comes before the y, so the y stays.
  • tidying Tidy + ing. The y stays before ing.

How this list was compiled: Our own choice and grouping of 200 English words into 20 lists of 10, one spelling rule to a list, with our own hints. Every word, and every base word a hint names, has an English entry at https://en.wiktionary.org/ (read on 2026-10-01). The rules were read on 2026-10-01. In the table of sounds and spellings at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_orthography: tch after a short vowel and ch most of the time; dge at the end of a word after a short vowel and ge after a vowel that is not short; ve for the v sound at the end of a word (give, twelve); c before e, i and y for the s sound and g before e, i and y for the j sound; qu for kw; and its note that ff, ll, ss and zz often end a word with a short vowel right before them, and that a one-syllable word ending in one short vowel and one consonant doubles the consonant when a suffix is added. At https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_verbs: the past tense adds ed to the base form, a base that ends in e adds only d, a consonant followed by y changes the y to i (try, tried), and a final consonant after a single vowel is doubled (ship, shipped). At https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_e: silent e usually drops before a suffix that begins with a vowel is added, and give and love keep an e that does not lengthen the vowel. At https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_G: get and give keep a hard g before e and i. At https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_before_E_except_after_C: the rhyme, its long a extension (neighbor, weigh), and seize, weird and either among the words outside it. The short and long vowels and the last sounds the hints name were checked for every word in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, http://www.speech.cs.cmu.edu/cgi-bin/cmudict. Licence: own work

How it works

These spelling rules worksheets open on a sort: fifteen words to write under tch, ch after a consonant and ch after two vowels. Word list has one rule to a list, from ff and ll to ie and ei.

Read the full guide

Sort by rule

A sorting sheet takes five words from the list on show and five from each of the two lists after it. From List 1 that is the ch sound: witch, branch, teach. From List 10 it is the j sound: judge, large, huge. From List 15 it is endings: stepped, graded, dusted.

Write the missing letters

Choose Missing letters under What goes on the sheet. Each word prints with its rule letters left out, sna___ for snatch, under a box of the list's ten words. Under the tool, every word has a hint that gives its rule.

  • List 6 holds the rule breakers: much and rich take no t, bus and yes have one s, weird and seize put the e first.
  • The answer key prints as the last page. To leave it off, open More options and untick Add an answer key as the last page.

Questions and answers

What are the basic spelling rules?

Tch and dge come right after a short vowel. Ff, ll, ss and zz often end a short word. C and g turn soft before e, i and y. An ending can double a consonant, drop an e or turn y to i.

When is it tch and when is it ch?

Tch comes right after one short vowel: snatch, etch, witch. After a consonant or two vowels it is ch: branch, teach. Much, rich, such and which break the rule, and they are on List 6.

When do you double the last letter before ed or ing?

When a one-syllable word ends in one short vowel and one consonant: knit, knitted. Two consonants or two vowels mean no doubling: melted, raining. A silent e drops before the ending: chase, chasing.

Do the spelling rules worksheets have an answer key?

Yes, as the last page of the print. Sort by list, Missing letters, Word shapes, Unscramble and ABC order print a key. Trace and write and Write a sentence have nothing to mark.

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