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Compound Words

10 free PDFsUS Letter or A4Answer key includedNo login

A compound words list for kids, a picture chart, and worksheets where children put two words together (sun + flower = sunflower), match halves, split and write compound words.

Download the compound words worksheets

Compound words list and chart

A printable list of compound words for kids and a picture chart.

Put two words together

Join two pictures or two words to make a compound word.

Split and write compound words

Find the two words inside a compound word, then write it.

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

About these compound words worksheets

A compound word is one word made by joining two smaller words. Sun and flower make sunflower; rain and bow make rainbow. Each small word keeps its spelling, and the meaning usually comes from both parts: a toothbrush is a brush for your teeth.

Compound words are a natural next step after clapping syllables, because most of them break into two beats that are real words. The picture worksheets let pre-readers join two pictures to make a new one. Later pages ask children to match word halves, find the two parts, draw a line between the words, and write the whole compound word on handwriting lines.

Here is a starter compound words list for kids: sunflower, rainbow, snowman, cupcake, starfish, football, basketball, toothbrush, mailbox, butterfly, ladybug, pancake, popcorn, doghouse, sailboat, backpack, bathtub, bedroom, playground and sandbox. The printable compound words list has 60, with the first word in bold.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.2.BCount, pronounce, blend, and segment syllables in spoken words.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.2Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.4.DUse knowledge of the meaning of individual words to predict the meaning of compound words (e.g., birdhouse, lighthouse, housefly; bookshelf, notebook, bookmark).

How to use them

  1. Start with the picture chart. Point to each part and say it, then say the whole word: “sun … flower … sunflower.”
  2. Play it out loud too: “What do you get when you put foot and ball together?” Then switch: “Say sunflower without sun.”
  3. On the matching pages, read both columns together before drawing lines. Each first word joins one second word.
  4. On the split page, have your child cover one part of the word with a finger to find where the two words meet.
  5. Use the writing pages once children can copy short words. They read the two parts and write the whole word on the line.

Teaching tips

  • Choose compound words whose meaning comes from both parts (toothbrush, mailbox) before tricky ones where it doesn't (butterfly, hotdog).
  • Talk about what the new word means: a doghouse is a house for a dog. This builds vocabulary as well as word awareness.
  • Compound words are also great for clapping syllables. Most kindergarten compound words have two beats.
  • Keep the parts together when writing: no space between rain and bow.

Questions teachers and parents ask

What is a compound word?

A compound word is two words joined to make one new word, like sun + flower = sunflower or cup + cake = cupcake.

What are some compound words for kids?

sunflower, rainbow, snowman, cupcake, football, toothbrush, mailbox, butterfly, ladybug, pancake, popcorn, doghouse, sailboat, backpack, bathtub, bedroom, playground and sandbox.

What grade learns compound words?

Children meet them in kindergarten as a listening game, putting two spoken words together. In first and second grade they read, spell and use compound words to work out meaning.

Are all long words compound words?

No. Both parts must be words on their own. Basketball is basket + ball, but elephant and banana are not compound words.

Are these compound words worksheets free?

Yes. Every page is a free PDF with no sign-up, in US Letter and A4. Sheets with right answers have an answer key on page 2.