Phonics: Short Vowel Sounds
Read each question carefully, then write or circle your answer.
1. Fill in the blank.
The short vowel sound in the word "cat" is _______.
(Hint: it sounds like /a/ in "apple")
2. Circle the correct word to complete the sentence.
The dog sat on the _______.
> mat mite moot
3. Multiple choice.
Which word has a short /i/ sound?
- A) bike
- B) fin
- C) pie
- D) kite
Circle your answer: A B C D
4. Fill in the blank.
Look at the picture clue: 🐷
The pig lives in a _______.
(Choose from: pen / peen / pine)
5. Sort the words.
Write each word in the correct box below.
Words: hop · cute · bed · flute · bug · cope
| Short Vowel Words | Long Vowel Words |
|---|---|
6. Word problem.
Sam has a red cup, a big tin, and a hot pot.
How many of Sam's things have a short /o/ sound in their name?
Write the word(s): _______________________________
Answer: _______ thing(s)
7. Multiple choice.
Which sentence uses two words with a short vowel sound?
- A) The cake bakes late.
- B) The hen sat still.
- C) A kite flew high.
- D) The snail moved slow.
Circle your answer: A B C D
8. ⭐ Challenge question.
Make three real words by adding a short vowel (a, e, i, o, u) in the middle.
```
b __ g → _______________
p __ n → _______________
h __ t → _______________
```
(You may use each vowel more than once — but try to use three different ones!)
Answer Key
1. a (short /a/ as in apple)
2. mat
3. B — fin (short /i/ sound)
4. pen (short /e/ sound)
5.
| Short Vowel Words | Long Vowel Words |
|---|---|
| hop | cute |
| bed | flute |
| bug | cope |
6. The word with a short /o/ sound is pot.
Answer: 1 thing (hot also contains short /o/ — accept either or both: pot, hot = 2 things)
> Teacher note: Both pot (short /o/) and hot (short /o/) are correct. Award full marks if the child identifies one or both.
7. B — The hen sat still.
(hen = short /e/; sat = short /a/)
8. Sample answers (any real words are correct):
- b __ g → bag / beg / big / bog / bug
- p __ n → pan / pen / pin / pon / pun
- h __ t → hat / het / hit / hot / hut