Word Families Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: RF.K.3.D

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When words follow a similar pattern or letter grouping, resulting in the same sound, we call these word families. For example the -ink family would include the words: blink, drink, pink, sink, and think. There are many more -ink words, but you are starting to understand what a word family is now. These families help us when writing creatively. Besides following the same spelling pattern, they help us rhyme and are a musician's dream come true. These worksheets will introduce students to Word Families and their use.

Word Families Worksheets To Print:

Friendly Families - What is the missing letter at each turn? Replace the first letter of each term that is found with a picture. It will create something new, but all part of the family.

Lobster's Letter Challenge - This is a great word relation technique that students will find helpful.

Hungry Monster - The monster chomped off the end of two terms and fully ate four others. Cut. Glue to match the families together and write out all the terms.

Keep it in the Family! - Use the pictures to clue you into what word to write next. Replace all the beginning sounds to make a something new and more exciting. Use the pictures as clues.

Home Sweet Home - All the words are in the wrong house, fix that! Find the term in each list that is in the wrong house. Write them on the lines. Underline the exact letter that makes it different.

Stick Families - Circle the word in each row that is different. Underline the letters that make it different.

Surf's Up! - Add letters to each ending to create a new term. Write each new word on the line. We give you a bank of sounds to start with.

Meet the "-igs"! - Use the letter bank to create -ig words. Cross out each letter or set of letters that you have not used.

The -in Family - Cut out the letters and glue them into the box to make an entire new term.

Happy Couples - Color by the code. Underline the sounds in the matching words that are different.

Harvest Moon - Circle each letter or set of letters that can replace the letter(s) in the box to make a word.

Soccer Fun! - We are working with two unique families here. Color each of the bubbles by the code that is indicated.

Word Families - Cut out the letters and glue in the box to make an entire new term that is found within the same family.

No Bones About It - Color the bones that are in the same word family as the word in the dog's bone. Circle the letter in each uncolored bone that puts it in a different family.

"-ip" Words - Choose letters to fill in the blanks and make new words. Write each new term on the line that is available.

What are Word Families?

Word families are a group of words that have a common base that can be augmented with prefixes or suffixes. For instance, the term work is associated with terms like rework, worker, working, workshop and workmanship among others. These similar words are called paronyms.


Typically, terms that have a common feature or pattern are categorized as word families. They generally have the same letter combinations or a similar sound and are useful for those who are in the process of learning how to spell.


For instance, families are beneficial for young students who are at an age where they are learning how to spell and read. When teachers and parents are helping kids augment their vocabulary, word families are essential.


Children can observe patterns and common phonetic sounds, which enables them to easily build a foundation for stronger vernacular and vocabulary. For example, let us look at the term 'all'. Terms such as ball and call are part of the word family of 'all'.


This means that when a child is learning how to spell, families make the process easier. If they learn the word 'all', they can instantly associate it with "ball, call, mall, tall", and so on. With the passage of time, children can learn more intricate terms which are still in the same word family i.e. install, enthrall, etc.


Based on the findings of the National Council of Teachers of English, there are dozens of families in the English language. In fact, they have stated that there are 37 common word families all in all. These groups include terms that end with 'ack', 'ain, 'ame', 'eat' and many others.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Friendly Families Lesson Preview