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Alliteration Worksheets

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Hear and write alliteration, including the tricky same-letter, different-sound cases, plus tongue twisters and a poem.

Download the alliteration worksheets

Alliteration chart

A definition plus same sound, same letter; same sound, different letters; and same letter, different sound examples.

Find the alliteration

Circle the repeated sound, decide whether word pairs share a sound, and pick the sentence with alliteration.

Write alliteration and tongue twisters

Write alliterative sentences with a given sound, then invent your own tongue twister.

Alliteration in a poem

An original beach poem to read aloud, with questions about its repeated sounds and rhyme.

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these alliteration worksheets

Alliteration (say it uh-lit-er-AY-shun) is the repetition of the same beginning sound in words that are close together, like "big brown bears" or "seven silly seals swam south." It makes lines fun to say, adds rhythm to poems, and helps names stick in your memory.

The key word is sound, not letter. "Cute kitten" is alliteration, because cute and kitten both start with a k sound, even though the letters are different. "Funny photo" works too: ph makes the f sound. But "city cat" is not alliteration: city starts with an s sound and cat with a k sound. "Giant goat" is not either (a j sound and a g sound), and neither is "shiny sock" (sh and s).

Small words like a, the, and on can sit between the alliterative words without breaking the pattern: "Big bears bounced on blue balloons." Alliteration is different from rhyme, which repeats the ending sound (cat, hat), and from onomatopoeia, which imitates a noise (buzz).

These worksheets teach children to listen with their ears, not their eyes. They include a chart of same sound and same letter cases, circling the repeated sound, yes-or-no sound pairs, choosing the sentence with alliteration, writing alliterative sentences and tongue twisters, and an original beach poem to read aloud.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.5Explain major differences between poems, drama, and prose, and refer to the structural elements of poems (e.g., verse, rhythm, meter) and drama (e.g., casts of characters, settings, descriptions, dialogue, stage directions) when writing or speaking about a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.3.AChoose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.5Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

How to use them

  1. Read the chart aloud. Pause on the "same letter, different sound" box and say each pair slowly.
  2. Do Same Sound or Not? out loud. Saying the words is the whole trick.
  3. Use Find the Alliteration and Which One Has Alliteration? for more listening practice.
  4. Read At the Water's Edge aloud, then write tongue twisters to share.

Teaching tips

  • Have your child whisper each word and feel how their mouth starts the sound.
  • Silent letters are sneaky: knee and nice both start with an n sound, and honest starts with a vowel sound.
  • Make up alliterative names for family members, pets, or a pretend store.
  • Tongue twisters are great for reading fluency. Time a few tries and see if speed improves.

Questions teachers and parents ask

What is alliteration?

Alliteration is the repetition of the same beginning sound in nearby words, such as "Wendy wished for a warm winter."

What is an example of alliteration?

"Twelve tiny turtles tiptoed," "Fiona found five funny photos," and "Lily licked a lemon lollipop" are examples. Notice that photos counts, because ph makes the f sound.

Does alliteration have to start with the same letter?

No. Alliteration is about the beginning sound, not the letter. "Cute kitten" and "funny photo" are alliteration even though the letters differ, while "city cat" is not alliteration even though both words start with c.

What is the difference between alliteration and rhyme?

Alliteration repeats the beginning sound (silly seals). Rhyme repeats the ending sound (seal, meal). A poem can use both.

How do you write a tongue twister?

Pick one sound, list words that start with it, and string them into a silly sentence: "Fred fried fresh fish for four friends." Then try saying it three times fast.