Word Bank – provides words for blending practice

This Word Bank provides words which can be used for sounding out and blending. For each letter
sound it only includes the letter sounds taught so far. This means that there are no words when just
the first letter sounds, s, has been taught, but the number increases as more letter sounds are
taught. Some words are underlined. These words tend to give an inaccurate pronunciation.
However, the pronunciations are so close that the children are able to 'tweak' them and read them,
especially if the words are in their vocabulary. Initially it is sensible to make sure the children
know how to blend the words that are not underlined before using the underlined ones.

The underlined words fall into different types, such as:

• as, resist, is etc. – the /s/ sound is more like a /z/ sound
• pasta, lemon, attack, packet etc. – in many words a vowel is not always pronounced as it is
spelled and makes an /uh/ type of sound. This is known as a schwa. Sometimes it can even
sound a bit like a different vowel, as in packet /pacit/. This causes few problems with reading
but makes spelling much harder.
• ink, tank, sunk etc. – the <nk> is pronounced /ngk/ - there are few problems for reading and
the spelling difficulties can be overcome by teaching the children to write <nk > when they
hear /ngk/, and learn the odd one that does not follow this advice, such as 'uncle' .
• sense, sneeze, mouse, cassette, opposite etc. – the <e> on the end gives no sound but the
word can be heard after blending the letter sounds that come before the <e>.
• apple, kennel, devil, royal, cheerful etc. – these all have an /l/ sound at the end. The children
cope well for reading but have to remember which alternative to use for spelling.
• catch, pitch, hutch etc. – the <t> is not pronounced.
 • doctor, collar, etc. - the <or> and <ar> have an /er/ sound. Again spelling is more of a
problem than reading.
• salt, alter, walrus etc. – the <al> gives an /or/ sound in British English, and an /o/ sound in
North American English, but the <l> is also pronounced.
• bold, told, sold etc. – the <o> is not a /o/ or an /oa/. It is in between these two sounds and
only becomes more difficult when spelling.
• blue, grew, rude etc. – have a long /oo/ sound rather than a /ue/ sound.
• fast, class, path etc. – children in North America and from the north of the UK have no
problems with these words. In international English and for children from the south of
England the words are pronounced with an /ar/ sound. Most southern children can 'tweak'
the pronunciation and cope well with these words, especially when it has been explained in
class.

Word Bank

Words in this column are suitable for The words in this column are more
younger children. appropriate for older children or children
with a more advanced vocabulary.
s

a as

t sat
at
i sit its assist
it is
p pip tip sap
pit sip pasta
pat spit pass
tap spat

n nap nit tan span

ant pin pant assistant
pants snip spin
nip an tin
pan insist snap

c,k cat pack stink napkin span spank

can kiss tank tact attic
cap kick packet stack kit
act sack pink spick attack
stick sick sank
skip panic sink
skin picnic snack
tick ink

e set pest tent antiseptic

pet nest insect castanets
net sent speck inspect
pen neck ticket tense
ten peck kitten arrest
test step antenna
 sense tennis cassette
h hen had honk hectic
hat hint
hip hiss
hit happen

r rat print trip spirit racket

rip risk strict strip rink
ran scrap crisps actress
rest strap crept transparent
rack stress crack attract
rent track present resist
press trap trick rinse respect
prick cricket trespass

m man crisps attempt

men trim ram
map pram mass
mat mess mimic
hem smack tram
ham tramp prim
him camp imp
miss miss tempt
mist stem mink
mint mattress rim
stamp
d dad kid damp dim
den pad dent mid
did desk dentist timid
dip add dress disc
sad skid disk deck
end drip drink tend
rid hand panda addict
red sand drank handicap
mad mend address intend
had send pretend drastic
hid spend rapid
din stand attend
admit
errand
madam
adapt

g gas dig grin tag stag anagram

pig rag grand sag crag pregnant
peg drag granddad nag gram magnet
gap snag spaghetti rig grim
egg grip
get gran

o top dot comic cog crop connect

pop god dragon mop spotted adopt
pot got nonsense hog protect incorrect
 pod rock second dock reckon opinion
on pond parrot desktop maggot cannon
cot sock pocket topic opposite recommend
cod spot rocket moss kiosk
cost stop carrot mock
hot trod cotton
hop trot correct
rot drop haddock
rod ticktock across
odd cannot
dog cross

u up dump upset rut instruct nun

us duck suntan drug rucksack sudden
bus tuck pumpkin sum product hippopotamus
sun hump undress rump sunset skunk
nut pump unpack stump spun sunk
cup mumps grunt undid putt minimum
cut hunt upon pun discuss tantrum
hum must trumpet
gum suck hiccup
tug gust puppet
hug rust eggcup
mug tusk drunk
mud drum trunk
rug duck
run truck
 pup stuck
dug scrub
hut snug
mum trust
dust crust
dump

l lap click roll elk link smuggle

lit clock petrol nil helmet spectacles
let plan tunnel till atlas tangle
leg plug lemon sill settle temple
log plum electric dell single tentacle
pal glum gallop dill allotment tingle
lip glad animal gill kilogram topple
led slug elastic pulp planet trickle
lot slid kennel kilt millennium twinkle
lid slim lesson hull omelette wiggle
lad slip milkman loss pollen hospital
lips slit melon gulp skeleton camel
lick slot salad plot neglect seldom
luck skill tinsel plus pelican result
lass skull carol clamp select
lump slam collect clump talent
lend slap candle drill talon
less smell cuddle plank triplet
lock split ankle stilts catapult
ill spell giggle electronic cattle
 pill spelt rattle laptop angle
kill spill handle insult ample
hill slept apple limit goggles
tell plump kettle clarinet miracle
mill grill little control pimple
sell lipstick simple troll ripple
doll adult sprinkle scroll riddle
dull lollipop middle stroll rectangle
gull plastic muddle helpless responsible
silk plimsolls paddle marigold rumble
sulk solid pebble eldest sample
tilt splendid prickles
lost until puddle
help unless saddle
held unplug struggle
list unlock tackle
melt old tickle
milk sold uncle
limp hold
still cold
clap told
clip gold

f if forest stiff sift frank scuffle

fat daffodil fluff self frantic funnel
fin infant flag cuff infect
fun difficult flat tiff muffin
fog gorilla flick flop adrift
elf sniff frog flip affect
fan soft flap flan offend
fit lift gruff frill reflect
fed loft frock drift fossil
off fist frost font fungus
fell felt from flock unfold
fill film fiddle flannel
fuss fact freckles confident
huff fond
traffic gift
fantastic left
golf puff
fold cliff
b bad bell bunk nib blunt acrobat
bat boss blink ban public acrobatic
bib belt problem rib cabin albatross
bag bump ribbon cob blank abominable
rub bend button hob album mumble
bit best umbrella bog subtract nimble
bin bulb bottle tub embarrass obstacle
pub crab bubble sob minibus scramble
cub grab buckle bob minicab sensible
bed grub grumble biff toboggan stumble
bud club horrible stub battle
bug black nibble drab bundle
big blend scribble blot crumble
bet brick tumble blob gobble
bun block terrible stab impossible
beg blond tremble snub incredible
rob rabbit slab assemble
bill robin abrupt abandon
back dustbin absent brilliant
blossom habit
bucket bold
blanket bottom
ai aim laid stain gain raid contain
rain hail pigtail aid saint obtain
sail mail raindrops ail pail aimless
pain paint afraid faint against
tail train again grain remain
rail snail captain sprain raise
paid brain strain praise
nail Spain trail complain
main plain
fail drain

j jog jug juggle jab project adjust

jam jump jut subject adjustment
jet just jazz jingle
jello jacket object jangle
job junk
jumble jungle

oa boat moan boast moat croak unload

goat oak coast roam poach petticoat
load roast coal cloak oats afloat
soap soak goal
road foam crossroads
loaf toad float
raincoat coat toast
foal groan
ie pie untie flies magpie
tie lies dries terrified
die cries
lie fries
lied tries

ee bee leek beer eel screen canteen

see tree steer seem reel jeer
seed feel agree steel reed feeble
need keep asleep greed agreement disagree
feet seen geese seek greet peek
deep been settee
heel beep sneeze
beef sleep beetle
jeep green needle
peep free
keep creep
meet street
feed speed
keen steep
teeth bleed
coffee indeed
deer toffee

or or fort mirror form anorak sportsman

for sport doctor port ashore stubborn
sort storm tractor lord important support
 torn foghorn cord enormous tailor
horn popcorn snort monitor terror
born horse stork organ corridor
pork sore sweetcorn ornament adorable
cork snore inform portrait portable
fork score landlord accordion ignorant
corn more platform actor terrorist
forgot forget record adore visitor
transport afford
store projector
tore report
forgive restore
ignore sailor
error scorpion
forbid shore

z zip zebra dazzle zap

buzz sneeze drizzle zest
fizz breeze puzzle maize
zigzag freeze

w win twin windmill wail swell wagon

web week unwell wilt tweet wicket
wet weed cobweb swift windscreen wisdom
wag worn between west wombat witness
went wait wore weep wigwam wick
wind twist wink wept waistcoat waitress
 well sweep wobble wig wicked
will sweet
swim swept
swam waist
twig weekend

ng ring sting sitting lung oblong swelling

sing spring wedding clang promising swung
bang bring willing sling rung training
song swing weeping fling railings wellington
wing stung feeling flung ding-dong kingdom
hang strong painting sprang gang
long cling ping-pong landing smuggling
king string soaking, meeting steering
sung bring spelling stinking speeding
rang singing along
sang morning belong,
hung buzzing snoring
seeing freezing sleeping

v van have travel vent prevent available

vet active vanilla vain sensitive develop
vest visit caravan anvil involve venom
give sleeve vivid level villa
invent massive vitamin
victim offensive adjective
vomit solve volunteer
 velvet olive visible
expensive aggressive invisible
attractive devil

oo good took footsteps brook

(little oo) wood look scrapbook crook
wool rook wooden
soot cook woollen
foot hook woodland
hood woof
book stood

oo zoo root stool boo igloo too

(long oo) moo soon bedroom boom proof cloakroom
cool boot broomstick hoot stoop noodles
fool hoop toadstool noon droop moose
hoof roof goose bloom roost baboon
mood room loose gloom scoop raccoon
pool tool broom beetroot swoop tattoo
food zoom
moon toot
loop spoon

y yes yak
yap yuck
yet yank
yell
 yelp

x six wax boxing exit index vixen

fox mix toolbox exam ox axle
fix next expect fax tax example
box sixteen paintbox flex text hexagon
explain textbook maximum
express mailbox exact
extend axe taxi
extinct relax
expand relaxing
oxen experiment
unexpected explore

ch chin chest catch duchess trench titch

chap check hatch hunch drench approach
chips champ match inch finch grandchildren
rich chug fetch chaffinch chump
chop chain stretch hunch cockroach
chum cheek itch chess twitch
chat cheer ditch poach hopscotch
much crunch witch porch ketchup
punch torch stitch screech patch
bench coach switch speech pitch
bunch chimpanzee hutch cheerful attach
lunch ostrich choose chipmunk sketch
chill chopsticks chuckle
 such sandwich scratch
chick children kitchen
munch chicken snatch
pinch chickenpox
chimp cheese

sh fish shut shrimps ash flesh slush

shop shelf splash shin polish vanish
dish shock finish shift posh blush
wish shook paintbrush shrug publish crush
ship brush punish shrink selfish refresh
hush smash rubbish shrank shellfish astonish
rush crash shampoo shrunk sheriff astonishing
shed flash bookshop shrill shred
shut flush mushroom
rash shoot shopping
mash shook shocking
cash sheep goldfish
dash sheet eggshell
shell short
shot shall

th this then them within

(voiced) that with than

th thin tooth thank maths strength thatch

(unvoiced) moth teeth think pith theft thimble
 tenth cloth thanks faith thrilling method
thing three sixth length width froth
thick thorn north anthem broth
thud throat thrill arithmetic throb
thump toothbrush thrush pathetic

qu quiz queen Squeeze quit squid request

quick quilt quin squint aquarium
quack squirrel quill quench ventriloquist
liquid quest quicksand
quail tranquil equipment

ou out couch outing hound wound trout

loud proud house pouch background obvious
found flour mouse south amount tremendous
shout cloud blouse outfit roundabout account
mouth spout greenhouse noun fountain accountant
round scout about stout mountain
pound crouch around outstanding woodlouse
sound ground aloud slouch aground
count sprouts sour snout mousetrap
our shouting without

oi oil joint spoilsport foil tinfoil disappoint

boil point toilet coil oilcan poison
soil spoil tortoise moist topsoil appointment
join spoilt avoid toil ointment asteroid
 coin boiling noisiest

ue fuel cue
rescue value
continue statue
argue

ue due avenue
as
British:
ue
N
American:
long oo
ue glue bluebell cruel
as long oo blue tissue clue
true untrue

er her painter thunderstorm fern chapter lobster

sister swimmer understand boiler consider locker
kerb thunder buttercup bother copper matter
herd winner helicopter bitter counter member
mister bumper interest enter evergreen mermaid
silver ever chatter perm asterisk miller
litter ladder cooker herb manners misunderstand
pepper dinner corner perch camera modern
letter hammer cracker stern person mutter
better hamster clever tender nerve order
winter jumper painter blender verse otter
never monster pattern shatter nervous perfect
butter offer numbers blunder recorder perform
fatter robber slippers slither customer perhaps
supper rubber finger amber alert pester
hotter runner father adverb referee pier
summer scooter afternoon advert angler porter
river shiver different sprinter reserve potter
under sticker remember entertain reverse printer
herself temper trousers expert soldier proper
blister toaster conkers antlers serpent quiver
splinter toddler singer archer servant interrupt
were terrific flutter serve rooster
folder miserable rudder
forever stretcher scanner
gander supporter scatter
gangster surrender September
border tanker shatter
dagger terminal shelter
duster thermometer shopkeeper
gather propeller shudder
glitter desert slender
gutter tweezers slither
hanger shepherd smuggler
hoover anger snooker
internet butterfingers sooner
 jerk hunger spanner
lantern herdsman stagger
lavender disaster stammer
liver rounders stopper
suffer trigger stutter
tavern twister verb
term underground waiter
timber understood woodpecker
trainer understanding camcorder
transfer upper

ar arm start alarm bar garlic grammar

car smart are ark harp startle
far spark garden tar larder target
art scarf kangaroo tart scar carpenter
jar shark cardigan cart starling remarkable
hard starfish caterpillar yard pardon bargain
farm sharper marbles chart carthorse familiar
barn farmer sparkle harsh sharpener blizzard
card artist carve darkroom similar scrollbar
park darling lizard Antarctic ajar arson
dart farmyard collar arch tartan
mark partner market arc vicar
dark cartoon mustard Arctic apart
bark harvest custard barber apartment
part armbands calendar
harm carpet vinegar
 march starve
sharp barbecue
charm harmless
star wizard

y mummy nanny cherry gusty industry tubby

as ee daddy fussy foggy army lottery wiggly
funny rocky muddy tabby terrifically willingly
poppy jelly floppy daily territory woolly
bunny holly body hobby robbery candyfloss
silly runny buddy ferry silvery wonky
jolly sunny buggy frothy similarly crockery
dolly tummy granny activity secretary cutlery
puppy lorry spotty county salary academy
plenty dummy story elderly satisfactory agony
sadly dusty dizzy hobby property daisy
sandy frosty ugly entry roomy anniversary
yummy lucky family fuzzy rugby antibody
sleepy rusty filthy glossy sherry archery
slippery penny very hardy shortly artery
soapy teddy greedy jellyfish silky astronomy
soggy berry happy lily simply majesty
sorry nappy grubby mainly speedy majority
sticky potty grumpy pantry sporty memory
telly merry handy partly study ordinary
tricky milky hurry possibly teeny enemy
unhappy misty windy pottery terribly factory
 unlucky party wobbly history victory
storybook pity lumpy
carry empty marry
copy skinny every
creepy spooky noisy
curry clumsy

a-e ate pale blame ale inflate scale

ape late skate blade invade paper
game make scrape blaze irritate relate
lane wake graze blazer lame later
gate same brakes daze maze roller-skate
save gale chase estimate landscape amaze
gave sale shame exterminate make-up hesitate
made take shape fade rate sandpaper
name tame shave fake male appropriate
cake tape shade fame mane shaken
hate cave pancake frame mate approximate
safe case lampshade gaze nickname ashamed
rake grapes sunshade grade pane scales
tale flame handshake grave slate wafer
wave plate mistake imitate slave separate
came snake cornflakes indicate state salesman
bake plane escape caveman telltale decorate
date crane awake wade trade demonstrate
lake brave marmalade inhaler translate
lemonade spade chocolate operate complicated
 pavement stale

e-e Steve here evening eve concrete event

Pete even extreme meter trapeze
theme these interfere prefect completely
park athlete prefer uneven
compete severe
complete fever

i-e ride beehive size live underline stripes

hide sunshine mine hike unlikely refine
nine fire wine slime vine revise
ripe bonfire tide bedside website satellite
life wire wife hillside spire silent
five lively quite likely umpire silently
line fine shine lakeside vampire title
pipe tired prize dislike admire times
mile alive smile dive advertise sunrise
pile arrive drive divide alike terrorize
time spider slide file item unwise
side wise bride glide arise valentine
wipe tiger inside pride anticlockwise wives
like bridesmaid upside bridegroom appetite clockwise
bike crocodile bedtime reptile describe pineapple
bite kite invite thrive glider polite
diver wide outside tile hibernate provide
hive stripes spike organize strike
 spine pantomime unlike
tribe rise

o-e bone homemade drove vote trombone stethoscope

home flagpole smoke cone wove suppose
rope molehill slope lone zone telescope
hope tadpole stroke globe scone voter
joke hose broke dome antelope woken
mole rose spoke code primrose woven
hole nose choke alcove antidote overtake
pole close throne explode enclose propose
woke those lonely lobe leftovers spoken
note alone owe robe mousehole stolen
doze broken over milestone October tone
poke envelope overcoat role November oversleep
stone frozen sole opening
stole open stove overlook

u-e mule cute use pure fuse unused

cube cure refuse used
excuse accuse yuletide
perfume amuse confuse
volume amusement include
useless fumes

u-e tune duke

as tube nude
British: costume attitude
ue assume
N
American:
long oo
ue rude ruler supermarket rule absolutely pollute
as long oo salute super computer June flute supervise
prunes fluke
absolute include

ay day stay railway ray sideways slay

hay pray runway bay sunrays display
lay spray holiday sway hurray haystack
pay staying playground crayfish mayonnaise hooray
may playtime player weekday Friday midday
say daytime crayons stray layer
way yesterday Tuesday subway playpen
play Sunday away
tray driveway
clay

oy boy enjoy annoy boyish joystick employment

toy Roy annoying employ joyful destroy
joy enjoying employer royal
oyster ahoy

y by fry cry spy terrify tyre

as ie my shy myself nylon terrifying dragonfly
sound try sty pigsty satisfy typing style
fly sly butterfly satisfied typist lullaby
dry sky magnify apply skyline
multiply rely type
simplify reply
pylon python
skyscraper supply

y pyramid
as i sound mystery

ea eat weak seatbelt peacock really seashore

tea neat daydream beam grease repeat
sea dear seagull east tease reveal
pea fear seaweed steamship season weasel
ear seal seashell anteater steamroller weave
meat year earwig creak increase overhear
read beach meaning bleak reason yearly
each teach nearly deal release weary
beat peach reach eager leaflet dreary
heap clean seaside feat eagle crease
leaf clear teabag flea treatment appeal
beak treat teacup lean weaken appear
heat cream seasick least weakness disappear
mean steam teacher meantime seahorse yeast
seat speak teaspoon nearby speaker earring
 leak steal underneath peak spear sneak
team dream peas seafood steal seam
real stream measles seagull tear gear
hear scream treacle
heal squeak easy
near cheap easily
meal peanuts leave
leap teapot please
lead jeans beads
beans

igh high sight might sigh slightly tighten

night bright lightning thigh sunlight overnight
light fight traffic lights midnight tightrope lighthouse
right tight lamplight flashlight nightingale
flight fright fortnight highlight tights
upright nightdress slight

ow low snowflake pillow row bungalow widow

as ou own snowman shadow rowing lowest widower
sound mow grown-up owner flow tomorrow willow
slow lower elbow, follow crow tenpin windowpane
snow bowl narrow shallow bowling windowsill
blow bowling arrow shown snowy glow
show below bow marrow sow fellow
grow slowest rainbow hollow marshmallow Halloween
throw yellow sorrow snowstorm overflow
 window borrow sparrow thrown
tow
ow owl drown tower sow fowl coward
as ou how crown downhill scowl flowerpot powder
sound now clown sunflower upsidedown however trowel
down crowd bow gown cowshed
town frown row prowl allow
cow growl showery vowel overcrowded
howl shower towel
brown flower powder

ir bird thirsty shirt sir shirk thirst

girl birthday third fir thirty cowgirl
dirt dirty skirt chirp firmly miniskirt
stir birdseed thirteen birth songbird bluebird
firm tee shirt twirl blackbird
first stirring swirl squirt
ur turn church curve turf further turban
burn burger purple furry disturb furthest
fur hamburger burglar further murmur surround
hurt beefburger return churn nursery Thursday
curl yogurt curtain Saturn suburb hurtful
purr sunburnt purse murder surf absurd
burnt turning nurse Saturday surname unhurt
burst surprise turnip survive turtle

ew few pew
 skewer
view

ew new newt
as dew newspaper
British: stew
ue
N
American:
long oo
ew blew chewing threw Jew shrewd
as long oo grew drew screw jewel slew
chew flew screwdriver unscrew

au fault haunted because haul automatic launderette

Paul August pause vault audible restaurant
haunt cauliflower taunt autumn astronaut
faulty cause launch author laundry

aw saw jigsaw straw sawmill shawl lawnmower

paw seesaw prawn withdraw hawk outlaw
jaw drawing crawl jawbone spawn sawdust
thaw dawdle yawn hawthorn trawl awful
lawn strawberry law trawler awfully
draw claw flaw creepy- awkward
raw crawly dawn
pawn drawer hawk
 drawn

al all tall altogether stalk altar alternative

hall talk alright mall basketball falcon
fall walk always ballpoint wallpaper false
ball chalk chalky walnut halt
wall small alter walrus penalty
call salt fallen alternate scald