About this worksheet
Words with silent letters require students to remember letters they do not hear when saying the word aloud matters in fourth grade because spelling work now connects word meaning, word parts, and editing accuracy. Fourth graders may spell only the sounds they pronounce, which leads to nite for knight, rite for write, or thum for thumb. This worksheet keeps the focus on one spelling pattern at a time so children do not get credit by eliminating unrelated words. Students identify silent letters, choose correct spellings from meaning clues, compare close misspellings, and use silent-letter words in sentences. The items rotate across choosing the correct spelling, identifying the word part or pattern, using a meaning clue, and explaining the spelling rule. Support versions provide more visible letters and fewer choices. Standard and challenge versions ask for closer comparisons and more independent recall. Ask your child to say the word, mark the meaningful part or spelling change, and then check whether the written form still matches the meaning. That process is slower than guessing, but it builds spelling habits that transfer to real writing.
What your child will learn
- Identify silent letters in common words
- Spell words that include letters not pronounced
- Use meaning clues to choose silent-letter words
- Avoid sound-only misspellings
Worked example
In write, the w is silent even though it must be included in the spelling.
Common mistake
Leaving out the silent letter because the word is spelled only by sound.
Helpful hint
Say the word, then remember which letter is written but not heard.
Worksheet 1