Spelling Bee Lists for Upper Grades
New words for 2023-24
Are you a teacher
looking for spelling bee lists to use in your next classroom competition? Or perhaps you're a
parent or student trying to "study ahead" on some typical spelling bee words. Either way, this list should help! I've carefully compiled this list after researching a number of online and in-print resources.
This page features 120 spelling bee words for 8th grade. It's a great study list for students in 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Use the links below to find my lists for other grades.
Printable spelling bee list for 8th grade
1
budget
2 corral
3 inept
4 dilemma
5 frostbitten
6 mayhem
7 parachute
8 voucher
9 meteor
10 statute
11 acoustics
12 gymnasium
13 behavior
14 gnarled
15 horrific
16 scholar
17 stampede
18 newsstand
19 observatory
20 crevice
21 desirable
22 villain
23 integrity
24 professional
25 accuracy
26 legitimate
27 sieve
28 brilliance
29 luncheon
30 withhold
31 berserk
32 hospitality
33 neutral
34 obstinate
35 collateral
36 pageant
37 impassable
38 luxurious
39 abalone
40 mosaic
41 efficiency
42 concocted
43 fiasco
44 biographical
45 haphazard
46 calamity
47 optimism
48 endeavor
49 diagnosis
50 epidemic
51 frivolous
52 multitude
53 rehearsal
54 colleague
55 inauguration
56 confiscate
57 precipice
58 symmetrical
59 dialogue
60 abbreviate
61 innumerable
62 critique
63 discrepancy
64 mathematician
65 successor
66 grotesque
67 accelerate
68 familiarity
69 cocoon
70 negligence
71 subtlety
72 avalanche
73 recuperate
74 amateur
75 treacherous
76 equilibrium
77 anecdote
78 misdemeanor
79 quadrilateral
80 perseverance
81 piccolo
82 susceptible
83 mythological
84 chameleon
85 lieutenant
86 aerial
87 unconscious
88 chandelier
89 erroneous
90 apostrophe
91 psychiatrist
92 simultaneous
93 pneumonia
94 acquisition
95 penitentiary
96 variegated
97 reservoir
98 accommodations
99 synchronize
100 quantifiable
101 acknowledging
102 proprietor
103 espionage
104 undecipherable
105 mischievous
106 schizophrenic
107 unanimous
108 pseudonym
109 accompaniment
110 blasphemous
111 eccentric
112 anonymous
113 incalculable
114 loathsome
115 magnanimous
116 coalesce
117 continuum
118 dossier
119 restaurateur
120 boutonniere
Note: You may wish to adjust this list for your group of students. Feel free to substitute a few easier words or insert some more difficult words.
Important Tips
1. Give students lots of practice in oral spelling before competitions. Ask students to spell words frequently aloud, even from their seats, for a bit of "performance" practice.
2. Be sure to use spelling bee words in sentences when quizzing students. For instance, bizarre, should be clarified so it won't be confused with bazaar: The dog's behavior was so bizarre, the veterinarian knew it was gravely ill.
3. One set of tricky spelling words may be those that contain "extra" vowels, vowels that form their own syllable, or vowels that are frequently replaced with incorrect vowels. Troublesome words include: 'ancient
- coupon
- disastrous
- familiar
- marriage
- separate
- temperature
- vacuum
- vegetable
One of the best ways to learn some of these these words is to over-emphasize the problematic vowel when pronouncing the words. For instance, teach your student to say:
- vegetable: Say "vej-EH-tuh-buhl"
- familiar: Say "fuh-mil-E-yer" or "fuh-mil-I-yer"
- vacuum: Say "vac-you-oo-um"
NEW! Spelling Bee Words List - 25 Challenging Spelling Bee Words with Pronunciations and Meanings! Teachers, use these for classroom warm-ups or competitions. Students, learn these before your next competition!
You may also enjoy this list of 50 Hard Spelling Bee Words and Definitions. This is required learning for anyone who wants to excel in an upper grade spelling competition. Please take time to learn the word meanings, along with the spellings!
Worksheets for More Spelling & Vocab Practice
At-TEN-tion! Complete the spellings of words with the letters TEN on this fun English worksheet. Great vocabulary and spelling practice! For grades 4-8.
Croaky Meets the Plumber and Extra Letters Worksheets: Students chose the correctly spelled words to complete an interesting story or eliminate extra letters to solve a word puzzle. Based on our sixth grade spelling word list.
8th Grade Worksheet featuring an ARMADILLO! Students must form a word for each clue using only the letters in ARMADILLO, then place the words correctly into the diagram. Great vocab and spelling practice!
Wacky Weather Cryptogram Worksheet: Puzzle page for upper grades. Includes instructions so students, parents or teachers can make more cryptogram puzzles with any word list. Grades 6-9.
Teachers: Need Another Spelling Bee List?
Our Spelling Bee Toolbox eBooks are comprehensive resources for anyone who wants a simple way to put together a classroom, all-school or multi-school spelling bee.
Each eBook contains 600 words and
sentences, rules, award
certificates, organizational tips, student helps and much
more. We also offer additional sets of 600 spelling bee words and
sentences for those who don't need all the other bells and whistles.
Also, see our 100
Difficult Words for Spelling Bees that includes definitions,
pronunciations, sentences and more.
Or use our Monumental Bee Word Lists, if you're holding a competition in which you require definitions, parts of speech, language of origin and sentences. In each eBook, you'll find 400 all-new words!
Students:
If you're looking for more words to study, see our list of frequently misspelled words. Or take our Dictionery/dictionary quiz!
FAQs
Q: Where can I find high-quality spelling bee lists?
Q: Where can I find high-quality spelling bee lists?
A: Scripps Spelling Bee has resources at https://spellingbee.com/. Many more free spelling bee lists can be found here at https://www.spelling-words-well.com/ At this site, lists for grades 2-8 are compiled by a veteran teacher and educational author.
Q: What tips can I give students who are preparing to compete in spelling bees?
Q: What tips can I give students who are preparing to compete in spelling bees?
A: 1) Students should have lots of practice spelling orally.
2) Students should learn words in context. They should listen carefully as words are used in sentences so they can distinguish between the words "capital" and "capitol" for example.
3) Students should practice challenging words: those with troublesome vowel combinations, silent consonants, and unfamiliar words.
Q: Are there any FUN ways to practice spelling bee words?
Q: Are there any FUN ways to practice spelling bee words?
A: YES! Students can play spelling bee games, and solve crosswords, word scrambles, cryptograms and almost any kind of word play game. All of these will help kids learn and remember how to spell tricky words!
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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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The Spelling Bee Treasury: New Spelling Bee Word Lists!
The new Spelling Bee Treasury word lists are here! These lists contain new words, definitions, sentences, parts of speech and pronunciations for the tough words!
300 Spelling Bee Words by Grade Level, with definitions, sentences and languages
Spelling Bee Toolboxes for Grades 3/5 and 6/8 All the resources you need for a successful bee!
Mammoth Spelling Bee Word Lists with sentences, definitions, and languages
Monumental Spelling Bee Word Lists with definitions, sentences and languages
Young Spellers Spelling Bee Word List for Grades 1 & 2
100 Difficult Spelling Bee Words, Definitions & Sentences My toughest lists, for upper grades and adults!
600 Spelling Bee Words & Sentences for Gr 3/5 & 6/8 Extra words & sentences at two levels
AnyWord Spelling Practice Series Fun Worksheets, games & prompts that work with almost ANY spelling words!
101 Word Play Puzzlers Discover the FUN of letters & words as you solve each unique puzzle. Great vocabulary & spelling practice!
