Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Words Ending in -le: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 2
- ForYear 2
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Words Ending in le is a free printable spelling worksheet for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Children find eight words that end in le in a word search. As they hunt for each word, they look closely at its letters and see the same ending again and again.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. It has notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a word search with a hidden word list. Children look for eight words that all end in le. Each word has a consonant just before the le, so the same spelling pattern comes up every time. To find a word, a child has to read the letters carefully and in the right order. That close looking is good practice for spelling, and it feels like a puzzle rather than a test.
- TABLE
- APPLE
- LITTLE
- BUBBLE
- PUDDLE
- CANDLE
- BOTTLE
- TICKLE
Ways to build the skill
Say it and listen
Say each word slowly and stretch out the end. Ask your child what they hear. The le makes a sound a little like ul, and hearing it helps children remember to write the l and the e.
Spot the consonant
Look at the letter just before the le. Ask your child to point to it and name it. Noticing that a consonant always comes first is the heart of this pattern.
Chunk the word
Split a word into two parts, such as the start and the le ending. Say each part, then write them side by side. Short chunks are easier to hold in the memory than a whole word.
Cover, write, check
Look at a word, cover it, write it from memory, then uncover it and compare. Do this with one or two words at a time, not all at once.
Why practise words that end in le?
Many English words end in a consonant followed by le. The ending makes a sound a little like ul, and the letters le carry that sound. Children often hear it clearly but are unsure how to write it, because other endings can sound similar. Year 2 is where children are taught that this is one of the main ways to spell the sound. Learning the pattern as a whole helps them remember it.
A word search suits this skill because children cannot skim. They have to look at letters in order, one after another. Each time they spot a word, they see the consonant, then l, then e. Seeing that pattern again and again in different words helps it stick. It also feels like play, which keeps young children willing to try.
Skills and curriculum link
- Spelling words ending in le
- Spotting the consonant before le
- Reading carefully
- Word search skills
- Letter order and visual memory
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Curriculum (England) | English | Writing: transcription (spelling) | Year 2 |
What children will be able to do
- I can spell words that end in le.
- I can spot the consonant before the le.
- I can use le words in sentences.
Ideas that help with le words
- The ending soundThe le at the end of these words makes a sound a little like ul. Children can hear it, but they need to learn the letters that go with it.
- Consonant firstIn this pattern, a consonant comes just before the le. Asking which letter sits there is a useful habit.
- Every syllable needs a vowelEach part of a word needs a vowel letter. In le words, the e at the end helps the last part of the word work.
- Same ending, different startsWords with this ending can start in many ways. Children learn the ending once and use it again and again.
Key words
- ConsonantAny letter that is not a, e, i, o or u.
- VowelThe letters a, e, i, o and u.
- SyllableOne beat in a word. Clap it out to count the beats.
- EndingThe last letters of a word.
- Word searchA puzzle where words are hidden among rows of letters.
- Spelling patternA group of letters that often go together, such as le at the end of a word.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Say each word and listen for the le sound at the end. Talk about what you hear.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice.
- Check against the notes on page 2 and the answers. Ask your child what they notice about the letter before le.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Cross off each word in the list as you find it. This shows what is left to find and keeps the task manageable. Say each word aloud before you look for it, and point to the le at the end.
To stretch confident children
Write a sentence for each word, then try to spell it from memory. Cover the word, write it, then uncover it and check every letter. Try putting two le words in one sentence.
Make it a game
Look for more words that end in le around the house. Set a timer for a few minutes and see how many you can spot or think of. Write them down, then check the letter before the le.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child writes el at the end instead of le, for example gigel for giggle.
Try thisSay the word slowly and point out that le is written the other way round. Write the ending in a bright colour and have them copy the whole word.
Watch forA child leaves out the consonant before the le, so the word looks too short.
Try thisChunk the word into two parts and say each part. Ask which letter sits just before the le, then write it again.
Watch forA child loses their place in the word search and gives up.
Try thisUse a finger or a ruler to move along each row. Look for the first letter of one word at a time, and cross it off the list when found.
Talk about it
- What do you notice about the letter before le?
- Which le word was trickiest to spell, and why?
- Can you write a sentence with two le words?
- What sound do you hear at the end of each word?
- Can you think of a le word that is not on the sheet?
- How did you find the words in the grid?
Take it off the page
Le word hunt
Walk around the house or garden with a pencil and paper. Write down anything with a name that ends in le. Read the list aloud together at the end.
Chalk spelling
Write le words in chalk on the path. Take turns to say a word and write it. Check each one by looking at the letter before the le.
Make a le poster
Choose three le words and draw a picture for each. Write the word underneath in big letters and colour in the le at the end.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Say the words aloud together and listen for the ending. Stop when they have had enough and return another day. Praise effort and careful looking, not only finding words.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the sheet links to Year 2 spelling in the National Curriculum.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider English plan. It pairs well with reading aloud, handwriting and everyday talk. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for a quick revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits
Before this, children learn to blend sounds to read and write simple words, and to spot patterns in how words are spelt. Sheets like Sound Button Stepping Stones build that early confidence with sounds and letters.
After this, children meet other word endings and spelling patterns in Year 2 and beyond, including endings that make a similar sound. They also write longer sentences and use new words in their own writing, which a sheet like the Summer Reading Challenge Chart can encourage.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What do you notice about the letter before le?
- Which le word was trickiest to spell?
- Can you write a sentence with two le words?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Words Ending in le for?
It is written for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can try it with a grown-up beside them, and older children can use it as quick revision.
- What will children practise?
They practise spelling words that end in le after a consonant. They also practise reading carefully, because they must look at letters in order to find each word in the word search.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Say each word and listen for the le sound at the end. Work through it together the first time, then check against page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Cross off each word in the list as you find it. Say each word aloud first and point to the le at the end. Try finding just a few words, then come back to the rest another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
- How long does it take?
It depends on the child. Some will finish in one go and others will want to come back to it. There is no set time, so stop when your child has had enough and return another day.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. A pencil is all your child needs, which also makes it a good screen free activity for quiet time or school holidays.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.