Phonics Worksheets: CVC Words, Beginning Sounds and Digraphs

Free phonics worksheets for pre-K to first grade: beginning and ending sounds, short vowel sorts, CVC word building, read and match, word families (-at, -an, -ig, -op, -ug), a CVC word search and sh, ch, th, wh and ck digraphs. Every picture is our own drawing and every PDF has its answer key on page 2. All free to print, no sign-up, with vector PDFs for US Letter and A4 paper.

Beginning and ending sounds (pre-K and kindergarten)

Write the Beginning Sound printable worksheet

Beginning Sounds Cut and Paste printable worksheet

Short vowels, CVC words and word families (kindergarten and grade 1)

Short Vowel Sort Cut and Paste printable worksheet

Fill In the Short Vowel printable worksheet

CVC Words: Read and Match printable worksheet

Word Families: -at and -an printable worksheet

Word Families: -ig, -op and -ug printable worksheet

Word Family Sort Cut and Paste printable worksheet

Digraphs: sh, ch, th, wh and ck (grade 1)

Digraph Sort: sh, ch, th, wh printable worksheet

More for early readers: the beginning sounds picture cards and ABC flash cards (also online), letter tracing, alphabet coloring pages, sight words with the pre-primer and first grade lists, sight word color by code and easy word searches. Then try the counting worksheets, kindergarten math worksheets and printables for teachers.

Collections: Kindergarten Math Worksheets First Grade Math Worksheets Free Homeschool Printables

How to use these pages

Phonics is learning which sounds the letters make and putting those sounds together to read words. It grows in a clear order. First children hear the first sound of a word (sun starts with s), then the last sound, then the short vowel in the middle. Next they blend three sounds into a CVC word (consonant, vowel, consonant: c-a-t, cat) and spell such words one sound at a time. Word families show that changing the first letter makes a new word that rhymes (cat, hat, bat). Then come digraphs: two letters that make one sound, like sh, ch, th, wh and ck.

These sheets follow that order. Start with beginning sounds, write the beginning sound and the beginning sounds cut and paste, then ending sounds. For short vowels, use the short vowel sort and fill in the vowel. CVC words come next: build the CVC word, read and match, the -at and -an and -ig, -op and -ug word families, the word family sort and the CVC word search. Finish with the digraph sort and fill in the digraph.

Frequently asked questions

Are these phonics worksheets free?

Yes. Every phonics worksheet is free to print for home, home school and classroom use, with no sign-up. Each one has a PDF for US Letter and A4 and an ink-saver version.

Do the worksheets have answer keys?

Yes. Every worksheet has its answer key on page 2 of the PDF, and “Show solution” shows the answers on screen.

What are CVC words?

CVC words are three-letter words made of a consonant, a short vowel and a consonant, like cat, dog, pig, sun and bed. Each letter makes one sound, so they are the first words children can sound out and blend on their own.

What is a digraph?

A digraph is two letters that make one sound together: sh as in shell, ch as in chair, th as in thumb, wh as in whale and ck at the end of duck. Children learn them after the single letter sounds and CVC words.

What age are phonics worksheets for?

Beginning and ending sounds suit preschool, pre-K and kindergarten (ages 4 to 6). Short vowels, CVC words and word families suit kindergarten and first grade, and digraphs suit first grade (ages 6 and 7).

Is there a PDF to print?

Yes. Every page has free PDF downloads for US Letter and A4 paper, with the picture centered inside print-safe margins. Choose "Download PDF (Letter)" or "Download PDF (A4)" on the page and print at 100% (actual size).