What is a short u reading passage?

A short story where the words with a vowel sound use short u, the u in bus. The rest are a few sight words, so a 1st grader can sound out nearly every word.

How do the questions work?

Each question has three word choices that look alike. Your child reads all three, finds the answer in the story and writes it on the line, so the answer is written, not circled.

What comes after the short u page?

Another short vowel page, then the main 1st grade page, which mixes stories for all five short vowels.

Short u reading passages for 1st grade, free PDF

Short u reading passages

A short u reading passage for 1st grade: a decodable story where every three-letter word has the u in bus, like bug, cup, sun and tub, and the other words are short sight words such as the, is and said. Four questions follow. Your child reads three look-alike words under each one and writes the right word on the line.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core RF.1.3.b, RF.1.4.a.

One page for every short vowel

Each short vowel has its own page of stories, so a child can stay on one sound for a week before mixing them.

What's on each sheet

Read and write. Read the story. Then read each question and the three words under it. Write the word that answers the question on the line. One story per sheet, with four questions to answer in writing.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.

Stories with all five short vowels print from 1st grade CVC reading passages.

How to teach this

Short u is the sound in bug and sun, and it is often the last short vowel taught, so this page makes a good review. Before reading, say three short u words from the story and have your child tap one finger for each sound. Then read the story with a finger under each word, and read it a second time so it sounds like talking. For each question, read the three choices aloud (bun, bug and bud look alike on purpose), find the sentence in the story that answers it, and write that word on the line.

Watch for: Reading the first letter and guessing the rest. The choices start the same way, so the child has to read every letter. Swapping in another short vowel, most often short o (hut and hot). Slow down and listen to the middle sound. Answering from memory of the story without looking back. Find the sentence first, then write the word.

Common questions about short u reading passages

What is a short u reading passage?: A short story where the words with a vowel sound use short u, the u in bus. The rest are a few sight words, so a 1st grader can sound out nearly every word.
How do the questions work?: Each question has three word choices that look alike. Your child reads all three, finds the answer in the story and writes it on the line, so the answer is written, not circled.
What comes after the short u page?: Another short vowel page, then the main 1st grade page, which mixes stories for all five short vowels.

Related worksheets

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Want a different story? Print again. Each print picks one of the 14.

Aligned to Common Core RF.1.3.b, RF.1.4.a. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated October 2026.

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