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Printable Spelling Lists

A sampling of the Printable Spelling Lists at www.spelling-words-well.com

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 9. However, if you're not sure what list is most appropriate for your child or students, read on below the list of links. 


Red checkmark

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. 

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

Group of young boys

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.

Printable spelling lists for grades 1-9 : Sample lists

30 sample 1st grade words

am and big bit but
cat did eat frog green
hand hog is like little
map meet nose pet ran
rip see six some stop
that then try when you

30 sample 2nd grade words

after animal away because buy
clock drip eight family first
goat happy home kind look
night only plus rest sea
shape slid soon their think
trick went winter would your

30 sample 3rd grade words

across almost breakfast build carries
circus color dinner doesn't driving
heart it's know love maybe
never really Saturday sitting someone
stretch Sunday today together tooth
true until voice wrong you're

30 sample 4th grade words

against although answer believe center
chicken couple didn't double electric
final fourth guard hundred interest
libraries neighbor no one  planet question
remember since squirrel studying twenty
useless weight worried written yourself

30 sample 5th grade words

actually business carefully consonant different
eighth fault government information known
major message neither opposite problem
produce quietly remain separate sincerely
slippery solution statement straight surprise
thoughtful usually weird whisper yesterday

30 sample 6th grade words

accidentally comfortable creative denominator distance
encouragement especially example excitement familiar
fierce happiness importance lawyer marriage
medicine muscle occur penalty purchase
recycle resident session spaghetti strength
temperature themselves vacuum vegetable yield

30 sample 7th grade words

accurate alternate association bizarre
campaign chaperone competition consequently
description elementary environment extraordinary
fundamental havoc idol infamous
irresistible language mortgage oasis
parallel precipitation psychology recruit
significance skeptical souvenir supposedly
tournament unfortunately

30 sample 8th grade words

accommodate acquittal annoyance apology
asthma biannual caricature collaborate
considerable criticize diagnosis endeavor
extremity forgery hazardous inept
interrogate luncheon mesmerize negligence
obstinate paralysis persuade predecessor
questionnaire roommate scholar sophomore
technically unique

30 sample 9th grade words

accomplice ambiguous authenticate camouflage
chaotic conscientious defamation distinction
elimination exaggeration fallacy grammatically
hypocrisy inconsolable irreconcilable liaison
martyr notoriety olfactory partiality
philanthropist potpourri quixotic remembrance
retaliate spasmodic surveillance technique
uncouth vengeance

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 list. 

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.

Athlete holding or juggling LOTS of different sports equipment

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

third grade girl with laptop

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.


AnyWord Spelling Practice eBooks

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!



Author Ann Richmond Fisher

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.

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