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Kindergarten Short O Word Families Worksheets

The short-o families on this sheet are -op (hop, top), -ot (hot, pot), and -ock (rock, sock). Kindergartners sort the words by ending and get a vowel that's easy to hear and fun to say.

Free printable PDF, aligned to Common Core RF.K.3. One skill per page, answer key on page two.

Every sheet is one of a kind and prints with a version code, so you can reprint the exact same one later. New version every click.

A sample kindergarten sheet. Yours will have different sentences. Click it to print your own.

The kind of words you'll sort

Say each word. Write it under its family.

dockflockspotplotcropshoplothotmopstopknockstock

Columns: -op and -ot and -ock. "mop" belongs under -op; "spot" belongs under -ot; "stock" belongs under -ock.

Every print draws a fresh mix of word lists at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling gets a different sheet.

What's on each sheet

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

How to teach this

Short o is theatrical: open the mouth wide and let the sound drop. These families sort cleanly, so this is a good sheet for building speed and confidence. If knock appears, enjoy the silent k together; one odd letter is a feature, not a problem.

Watch for: Knock keeps a silent k at the front, but its ending still sorts it into the -ock family. The word not is a family word here, nothing more: -ot like hot and pot.

Common questions about short o word families

Which short-o family is easiest to start with?
The -op family: hop, top, mop, pop are all words kindergartners can act out, and acting a word out makes it unforgettable. Start there, then add -ot and -ock as the sorting habit settles.
What about the silent k in knock?
Treat it as a fun secret rather than an exception to master: the k hides, the ending still says ock, and the word still sorts with rock and sock. Children love being in on a spelling secret.

Related worksheets

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One page, answer key included. A fresh version every time you click.

Aligned to Common Core RF.K.3. Reviewed by the One More Sheet curriculum team. Content version 68, updated July 2026.