Printable Spelling Lists

We have oodles of printable spelling lists here at Spelling Words Well. If you know what grade level you need, see the links below to find lists for grades 1 through 12. However, if you're not sure what list is most appropriate for your child or students, read on below the list of links. 

Please note: Students who are avid readers sometimes change spelling levels quickly! Don't be afraid to re-evaluate partway through an academic year and move good spellers up a notch, or boost their weekly spelling word lists with additional challenge words. See spelling lists for grades 10-12 by scrolling below. 

I've selected 30 sample words from grades 1-9 and compiled them here. You may use these lists to get a rough idea of the proper grade level of words for your child to study.

How to Use These Printable Spelling Lists

1) Quiz your child, orally or written, over the 30 words at the grade level you think might be at his current skill level.

2) If he spells 26 words or more correctly, he probably has a good grasp of most of the words in our larger lists at that level. You could quickly review the hardest words from that grade before moving on to the next level.

3) If he spells 20-25 words correctly, you should stay at that grade level and give your child plenty of practice in mastering those words.

4) If he spells less than 20 words correctly, you should back up to the previous grade and be sure he can correctly spell at least 26 of those words before trying to do anything more difficult.

Word Lists for Grade Level Placement

Printable spelling lists for grades 1-9 : Sample lists

30 sample 1st grade words

30 sample 2nd grade words

30 sample 3rd grade words

30 sample 4th grade words

30 sample 5th grade words

30 sample 6th grade words

30 sample 7th grade words

30 sample 8th grade words

30 sample 9th grade words

Choosing the BEST Words

Remember, these printable spelling lists are a guideline to help you find the right place to get started. All placements of words by grade level is subjective. Any word may be more difficult to some children, naturally, than it is to others. As a teacher or a parent, you're likely to find a few words on any list that are a bit too easy or a bit too challenging for your students or children. Use your own best judgement to edit the spelling lists. 

If you need some easier words, select a few from a lower grade level. Or add a few words from a higher grade to toughen up your list. These are free spelling words to use however you choose! (But please remember our copyright!)

If you're trying to engage some less-than-enthusiastic spellers, seek additional words from high-interest topics. If your child is a sports enthusiast, supplement the lists above with words such as strategy, champion, stadium, and referee. For animal lovers, add words such as cheetah, rhinoceros, penguin, and flamingo. 

You are always the best judge! 

More Spelling Resources

Please note that we have lots of spelling word games, spelling worksheets, and other activities throughout this site to give your student lots of practice in spelling words well.

For more fun spelling practice, try our AnyWord Spelling Practice Series. In these three eBooks, you'll  find word play worksheets, writing prompts and partner games and activities that work with almost any list of spelling words!

Ann Richmond Fisher is a longtime published educational writer, a former classroom teacher and a former homeschool teacher. Ann's spelling bee resources, graded spelling word lists, spelling games, worksheets, and other language arts resources have become respected around the globe since she launched Spelling-Words-Well in 2010.

Ann is also the creator of www.word-game-world.com.

Visit my YouTube Channel for fun spelling practice videos!

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