Diphthongs and complex vowels · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Diphthongs: two vowels, one new sound

English · Phonics & Word Reading · ages 5-6
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which word rhymes with 'cloud'?

    • loud
    • cold
    • clod

  2. Aw and au can make the same sound, like the sound in 'claw' and 'sauce'.

    Circle one:   True   False

  3. Which two letters team up in the middle of 'cloud'?

    • l and d
    • c and l
    • o and u

  4. Which word says the same sound as 'ouch'?

    • cow
    • snow
    • toe

  5. Which word ends with the same sound as 'pie'?

    • tie
    • toe
    • tea

  6. Which sentence has a word with a gliding team?

    • The pig is pink.
    • The cow is big.
    • The dog can dig.

  7. Which word ends with the same sound as 'blue'?

    • bell
    • glue
    • bun

  8. Say each word out loud. Which one does NOT have a gliding team?

    • cap
    • cow
    • cloud

  9. Mia says 'cow' and 'snow' rhyme, because both end in ow. What do you tell Mia?

    • Mia is right. Both words have ow, so they rhyme
    • They rhyme because both words end in the letter w
    • ow says /ow/ in 'cow' but long o in 'snow', so they do not rhyme

  10. Which word has the same sound as 'sauce'?

    • safe
    • claw
    • such
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Diphthongs: two vowels, one new sound W1-mt_fMd7v87IiI-s1

  1. loud · 'Loud' has the same 'ou' sound as 'cloud'. 'Cold' and 'clod' sound different.
  2. True · That's right. Aw and au both say the /aw/ sound, like the sound in 'paw'.
  3. o and u · In 'cloud', the o and the u team up to make one gliding sound.
  4. cow · 'Cow' says /ow/, just like 'ouch'. 'Snow' and 'toe' use different vowel sounds.
  5. tie · 'Tie' ends with /igh/, just like 'pie'. 'Toe' and 'tea' end differently.
  6. The cow is big. · 'Cow' has the gliding team ow. The other sentences have plain short vowels only.
  7. glue · 'Glue' ends with the ue team, the same sound as 'blue'. 'Bell' and 'bun' end differently.
  8. cap · 'Cap' has a plain short a. 'Cow' has ow and 'cloud' has ou, both gliding teams.
  9. ow says /ow/ in 'cow' but long o in 'snow', so they do not rhyme · The team ow can say two sounds. 'Cow' says /ow/ and 'snow' says long o, so they do not rhyme.
  10. claw · 'Claw' has aw, which says the same sound as the au in 'sauce'. 'Safe' and 'such' sound different.
Worksheet · LightMySky