Grade 3 · Spelling · Phonics

3rd Grade Diphthongs and Vowel Teams worksheets

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Diphthongs and Vowel Teams

Grade 3 Spelling Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the answer, or write the answer on the line.

1.
Which two letters fill the empty boxes? The word means "on every side, in a circle".
- ow
- oo
- au
- ou
Spell the word that means "to stay away from something".
3.
Which word has the same vowel sound as "author", but spells it with different letters?
- boil
- straw
- thousand
- oyster
4.
Which word has the same vowel team as "shower"?
- cowboy
- enjoy
- sauce
- point
5.
Three of these words have the same vowel sound. Which word has a different vowel sound?
- crown
- enjoyment
- loyal
- coin
6.
Which two letters fill the empty boxes? The word means "a picture made with a pencil or crayon".
- aw
- ou
- au
- ow
Spell the word that means "a very tall hill with steep sides".
8.
Which word has the same vowel sound as "noisy", but spells it with different letters?
- allowance
- strawberry
- astronaut
- enjoyment
9.
Which word has the same vowel team as "autumn"?
- oyster
- astronaut
- house
- boil
10.
Three of these words have the same vowel sound. Which word has a different vowel sound?
- crown
- enjoy
- brownie
- mouth

3rd Grade Diphthongs and Vowel Teams worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Diphthongs are vowel sounds that slide, like the sound in cloud, coin, and straw. Each of these sounds has two common spellings: ou and ow, oi and oy, au and aw. That is what makes them hard to spell, because a child can hear the sound perfectly and still write clowd for cloud or enjoi for enjoy. This worksheet practices the six spellings with words such as mountain, loyal, author, and drawing, and longer words such as allowance and astronaut at the challenge level.

Students fill in the missing team from a meaning clue, spell whole words, find a word with the same letters, find a word with the same sound but different letters, and pick the word whose sound does not match. Encourage your child to say the word, name the sound, and then think about which of its two spellings this word uses.

What your child will learn

Recognize the diphthong spellings ou, ow, oi, oy, au, and aw
Spell words with two-letter vowel teams
Group words by vowel sound, even when the letters differ
Choose the right one of two spellings for the same sound

Common Core standard: RF.3.3

Worked example

Cloud and crown have the same vowel sound, but cloud spells it ou and crown spells it ow.

Common mistake

Using the right sound but the wrong spelling, such as clowd for cloud.

Helpful hint

Say the word, name the vowel sound, then choose its spelling.

Next skill: R-Controlled Vowels Earlier: Long Vowel Patterns

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with diphthongs and vowel teams?

Using the right sound but the wrong spelling, such as clowd for cloud.

How can I help my child with diphthongs and vowel teams?

Say the word, name the vowel sound, then choose its spelling.

Are these 3rd grade spelling worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 3rd grade phonics

See all phonics

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