3rd grade commonly confused words worksheets
Commonly confused words sound the same but do different jobs: their (belonging), there (a place), they're (they are); your and you're; its and it's. Third graders learn to slow down and pick the word that matches the meaning.
Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.4.1.g.
A new sheet every click.
The kind of sentences you'll get
Circle the letter of the word that belongs in the sentence.
-
The players left water bottles on the bench.
they’re · their · there
Answer: their
- The geese built nest near the pond. there · their · they’re
- Turn at the big red barn. right · write
Every print pulls a fresh set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Choose the word. Circle the letter of the word that belongs in the sentence. 10 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Teach the expansion test first: if the word has an apostrophe, say the two words out loud in the sentence. "They're boots by the door" becomes "they are boots," which sounds wrong, so it isn't they're. For their/there, anchor each to a cue: their has "heir" (ownership), there has "here" (place). One set per session; mixing too early muddies all of them.
Watch for: Spellcheck won't catch these: 'there boots' is spelled correctly, it's just the wrong word. The apostrophe versions are always two words squeezed together: they're = they are, you're = you are, it's = it is. Expanding them is the test.
Common questions about commonly confused words
- How do I teach their, there, and they're?
- One meaning at a time. Their owns things (their boots). There points to a place (over there; notice "here" inside it). They're is "they are" squished together; if you can say "they are" in the sentence, it's they're. Then mix all three on a worksheet to test the sorting.
- Why can't spellcheck fix these mistakes?
- Because every option is a correctly spelled word. "The twins left there boots" passes a spellchecker; it just means the wrong thing. That's exactly why these words need deliberate practice rather than editing tools.
Related worksheets
- 4th grade commonly confused words A step harder, same skill
- 5th grade commonly confused words A step harder, same skill
- 6th grade commonly confused words A step harder, same skill
- 3rd grade adverbs of how, when, and where Same grade, nearby skill
- 3rd grade articles (a, an, the) Same grade, nearby skill
- 3rd grade collective nouns Same grade, nearby skill
- Commonly confused words, all grades The full progression
- All 3rd grade English worksheets Every skill at this level
- All 3rd grade worksheets Everything at this level
Ready to print one?
Need a fresh set of questions? Download another copy.
Aligned to Common Core L.4.1.g. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 137, updated August 2026.
Spot a mistake on this sheet? Tell us. · About these worksheets