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10 printable sets · answer key on every set

Short Vowel Sounds Worksheets

  • CCSS RF.1.3.b
  • 20 items per set
  • Answer key included

What this skill is

Naming which of the five short vowel sounds (a/e/i/o/u) is in a word.

When it comes up: First grade, building directly on kindergarten CVC decoding.

The mistake to watch for

Confusing short e and short i — "pen" and "pin" sound nearly identical to an early reader's ear.

How to help

Have your child feel their mouth shape: short e opens wider than short i. Pairing minimal pairs (pen/pin, ten/tin) side by side makes the difference audible.

Next: Blends and digraphs, adding consonant complexity around the vowel.

A worked example

Say 'pig' slowly: p-i-g. The middle sound is the short i, like in 'sit'. Short vowels are quick sounds: a in cat, e in bed, i in sit, o in hot, u in cup.

Words to know

vowel
The letters a, e, i, o and u. Every syllable has a vowel sound.
consonant
Any letter that is not a vowel, like b, c, d or f.
sound
What you hear when you say a letter or a word.
letter
One of the symbols we use to write words, like a, b or c.
syllable
One beat in a word. Elephant has three syllables: el-e-phant.

Practice

Name the short vowel sound in each word.

Showing Set 1 · 20 items

  1. What is the vowel sound in 'hen'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  2. What is the vowel sound in 'top'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  3. What is the vowel sound in 'sun'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  4. What is the vowel sound in 'web'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  5. What is the vowel sound in 'pen'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  6. What is the vowel sound in 'mop'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  7. What is the vowel sound in 'cat'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  8. What is the vowel sound in 'ten'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  9. What is the vowel sound in 'bag'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  10. What is the vowel sound in 'run'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  11. What is the vowel sound in 'cup'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  12. What is the vowel sound in 'lip'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  13. What is the vowel sound in 'wig'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  14. What is the vowel sound in 'pan'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  15. What is the vowel sound in 'map'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  16. What is the vowel sound in 'bus'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  17. What is the vowel sound in 'rug'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  18. What is the vowel sound in 'six'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  19. What is the vowel sound in 'hat'? (a / e / i / o / u)
  20. What is the vowel sound in 'box'? (a / e / i / o / u)

Download this set20 items · answer key included PDF

Answer key
  1. e
  2. o
  3. u
  4. e
  5. e
  6. o
  7. a
  8. e
  9. a
  10. u
  11. u
  12. i
  13. i
  14. a
  15. a
  16. u
  17. u
  18. i
  19. a
  20. o

All 10 sets

Each set is a different list of 20 items with its own answer key. Use the buttons above to look at one on this page, or download any of them as a PDF.

How these sheets were made
  • Problems are generated for each set and checked against RF.1.3.b before the sheet is built — no duplicates, and every problem falls inside the standard's number range.

Common Core State Standards © 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.