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Word ladders for the classroom.

A word ladder turns one word into another by changing one letter at a time. They practice spelling, phonics and vocabulary, and they take five minutes. Print these sheets for free, answer keys included.

How word ladders work

How to use them

  • Students change one letter per line, and every line has to be a real word.
  • The number of empty rows is the number of steps in the answer key. Other routes can work too.
  • Try reading each new word aloud, or using it in a sentence, to build vocabulary.
  • For a challenge, ask students to find a route with fewer steps than the rows given.

Word ladders: three letters

Name: ____________________

Short vowels and simple consonants. Each ladder takes three steps. Change one letter on each line to make a new word.

1. BUS to TIN
2. WOW to PIN
3. RAG to MOP
4. BUN to PAY
5. TAB to HIP
6. WIT to BAG
7. MAD to HIS
8. RID to LET
Answer key
  1. BUS, BUN, BIN, TIN
  2. WOW, WON, WIN, PIN
  3. RAG, RAP, MAP, MOP
  4. BUN, BAN, PAN, PAY
  5. TAB, TAP, TIP, HIP
  6. WIT, BIT, BAT, BAG
  7. MAD, HAD, HID, HIS
  8. RID, LID, LED, LET

Word ladders: four letters

Name: ____________________

Blends and vowel teams. Each ladder takes three or four steps. Change one letter on each line to make a new word.

1. RACK to LINE
2. BUCK to FANS
3. FIND to LATE
4. FARM to MODE
5. WARM to COOK
6. LIVE to PENS
7. RANG to SICK
8. REAL to LORD
Answer key
  1. RACK, RANK, RINK, LINK, LINE
  2. BUCK, BACK, BANK, BANS, FANS
  3. FIND, FINE, LINE, LANE, LATE
  4. FARM, FARE, FADE, MADE, MODE
  5. WARM, WORM, WORK, CORK, COOK
  6. LIVE, LINE, PINE, PINS, PENS
  7. RANG, SANG, SING, SINK, SICK
  8. REAL, READ, LEAD, LOAD, LORD

Word ladders: five letters

Name: ____________________

Longer words and plurals. Each ladder takes four or five steps. Change one letter on each line to make a new word.

1. GROWN to CLASS
2. PILLS to FAIRY
3. BEARS to SANDY
4. MIXED to BELLS
5. WIRED to TALKS
6. LATER to POSTS
7. FORMS to DATED
8. MILKS to RATED
Answer key
  1. GROWN, GROWS, GROSS, GRASS, GLASS, CLASS
  2. PILLS, FILLS, FALLS, FAILS, FAIRS, FAIRY
  3. BEARS, BEADS, BENDS, SENDS, SANDS, SANDY
  4. MIXED, MIXES, MILES, MILLS, BILLS, BELLS
  5. WIRED, TIRED, TIRES, TILES, TALES, TALKS
  6. LATER, LASER, LOSER, LOSES, POSES, POSTS
  7. FORMS, FARMS, FARES, DARES, DATES, DATED
  8. MILKS, MILES, MALES, MATES, RATES, RATED

Free to print and share for classroom use. Made by the team behind Veer, a daily word ladder for iPhone and iPad.