8 weekly lists of 3rd grade spelling words, each built around one spelling pattern, plus a list of tricky words. Pick a list below to print it as a worksheet or a spelling test, or edit the words first.
Name ____________________ Date __________
Trace each word, then write it two more times.
| List | Pattern | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Double consonants | little, letter, happen, rabbit, button, dinner, summer, puppy, follow, pillow |
| 2 | Silent letters (kn, wr, mb) | know, knee, knife, knock, write, wrong, wrist, lamb, climb, thumb |
| 3 | Soft c and g | city, circle, pencil, dance, place, giant, giraffe, page, large, change |
| 4 | Plurals -s, -es, -ies | boxes, dishes, lunches, glasses, foxes, babies, cities, stories, puppies, families |
| 5 | Compound words | sunshine, birthday, football, rainbow, classroom, something, outside, homework, airplane, sometimes |
| 6 | Contractions | can't, don't, isn't, won't, I'm, you're, we're, it's, they'll, wouldn't |
| 7 | Prefixes un-, re- | unhappy, unlock, unkind, unfair, untie, redo, reread, refill, rewrite, return |
| 8 | Suffixes -ful, -less, -ly | helpful, careful, thankful, hopeful, careless, useless, fearless, quickly, slowly, loudly |
| — | Tricky words | although, answer, busy, different, enough, favorite, minute, though, thought, whole |
Teach one pattern a week. On Monday, read the words together and sort them by sound; midweek, use the missing-letters or unscramble worksheet; on Friday, give the spelling test. Add two or three tricky words each week, since they have to be memorized rather than sounded out.
Other grades: 1st grade spelling words, 2nd grade spelling words, 4th grade spelling words, 5th grade spelling words. Have your own list? Use the spelling worksheet maker.
By the end of third grade, most children practice the patterns on this page (double consonants, silent letters (kn, wr, mb), soft c and g and more) plus common words that break the rules, like although, answer, busy, different. Your school's curriculum may order them differently.
Ten to fifteen words is typical, usually one pattern plus a few tricky words. Each list here has ten.
Yes. Pick a list, choose Spelling test and print. You get a numbered answer sheet and a separate page with the words to read aloud.
Yes, free and unlimited with no sign-up. They're made in your browser.