Why do these words get their own page?

The consonant-le ending is one of the six syllable types teachers build reading on, and its three spellings are a classic sorting decision that pure listening cannot make.

Which spelling should kids reach for first?

-le, by the numbers: table, little, middle, purple, and hundreds more. The -el and -al words are smaller families learned by membership.

2nd grade consonant-le endings (-le, -el, -al)

2nd grade consonant-le endings (-le, -el, -al) worksheets

Second graders sort the consonant-le family: words ending -le (table, apple), -el (camel, towel), and -al (metal, pedal). The ending always forms the word's final syllable.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core RF.2.3.c.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of words you'll complete and sort

Fill in the missing letters to make a real word, then write the whole word in its column.

towmiddpuzzlabbottanimovmed (a winner wears it on a ribbon)shov

Columns: -le and -el and -al. Only le turns "bott_" into a real word, so bottle goes under -le; Only el turns "lab_" into a real word, so label goes under -el; Only al turns "anim_" into a real word, so animal goes under -al.

Every print pulls a new set of words at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different mix.

What's on a 2nd grade sheet

2nd grade sheets draw from 32 words, 21 to a page. All 32 are on 3rd grade sheets too, along with 13 more.

Some of the words:

purpleapplecandleleveltravelsquirrellocaltotalfinalroyal

Complete and sort. Fill in the missing letters to make a real word, then write the whole word in its column. 21 words per page.

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

How to teach this

Sort by eye, then read each column aloud and notice the endings all sound the same. Naming that surprise out loud is the lesson: this is a spelling pattern, and the eye is in charge.

Watch for: All three endings SOUND identical, so this is a spelling-memory sort, not a listening sort. That is exactly why the families are worth sorting: the eye must learn what the ear cannot tell. -le is the giant family (table, little, purple); -el and -al are smaller clubs. When in doubt while writing, -le is the percentage play, then check.

Common questions about 2nd grade consonant-le endings (-le, -el, -al)

Why do these words get their own page?: The consonant-le ending is one of the six syllable types teachers build reading on, and its three spellings are a classic sorting decision that pure listening cannot make.
Which spelling should kids reach for first?: -le, by the numbers: table, little, middle, purple, and hundreds more. The -el and -al words are smaller families learned by membership.

Related worksheets

Ready to print one?

Need a fresh set of words? Download another copy.

Aligned to Common Core RF.2.3.c. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated August 2026.

Spot a mistake on this sheet? Tell us. · About these worksheets