Silent Letters Worksheets
About Our Silent Letters Worksheets
Silent letters are those sneaky spellings that show up in words but keep quiet when we say them, like the k in knit or the b in lamb. Learning where these letters hide helps children pronounce words smoothly, spell with confidence, and avoid getting tripped up while reading. In this collection, kids meet silent letters in friendly, bite-sized activities that turn "why is that letter there?" into "ohhh, I get it!". With clear patterns and plenty of practice, tricky words become trusty friends.
As students notice silent letters across words, they begin to recognize families and rules: kn at the start, mb at the end, wr before vowels, and so on. That pattern power improves decoding, so children read more fluently and spend their brainpower on meaning rather than puzzling out sounds. It also levels up spelling because kids learn to expect certain letters even when they can't hear them. The more predictable English feels, the more confident readers sound.
These worksheets move step by step-from spotting a silent letter, to sorting by pattern, to using it correctly in reading and writing. Short tasks, clean visuals, and playful themes keep motivation high and frustration low. You can use them in centers, small groups, or at home without extra prep. This is more than worksheets-this is sound-to-word mastery in action!
Looking At Each Worksheet
Castle of Silence
Students explore a "castle" where silent letters live behind the scenes, searching for words like knight, castle, and sword while practicing smooth pronunciation. The main activity is a themed hunt and sort that groups words by silent-letter patterns. It directly improves recognition of common silent pairs so kids read without stumbling. Perfect for centers or partner play with lots of pointing and smiling. Bonus: Give each "discovered" word a tiny shield sticker for the castle wall.
Dice Silence
Kids roll a die to land on a silent-letter pattern, then read, sort, or write a matching word-phonics turns into a game night. The roll-and-respond routine keeps practice brisk and varied. It strengthens flexible decoding as students meet the same pattern in different words. Great for small-group sprints or family practice. Bonus: Let a six mean "act it out" while the team guesses the silent letters.
E is Silent
Learners focus on final e that changes a vowel's sound but stays quiet, comparing pairs like hop/hope and rid/ride. The task is to read, match, and explain how "silent e" transforms short vowels into long ones. This makes the cause-and-effect of CVC → CVCe crystal clear. Ideal as a bridge into long-vowel spelling. Bonus: Hand out a "magic e" wand for dramatic word flip-overs.
G and H Ghosts
Students track down words where gh goes silent, as in night, though, and daughter. The activity asks kids to spot, underline, and sort by position while reading the words smoothly. It builds confidence with a famously tricky pair and reduces over-pronouncing. Great for visual sorting with quick rereads. Bonus: Whisper "boo!" whenever gh is silent to celebrate the find.
Quiet Bs
This page targets mb at the end of words like thumb, lamb, and climb. Children read, circle, and sort, then explain why b stays quiet after m. The focused practice turns a common spelling tangle into an easy win. Perfect for quick daily review. Bonus: Do a tiny "thumbs-up" every time you spot a silent b.
Silent C Checker
Kids examine words with sc (like science) or patterns where c goes quiet, checking which letter is doing the talking. The main task is a "true or false" style check plus a sort. It clarifies when c speaks and when it steps aside. Great for careful listeners and curious rule-spotters. Bonus: Use colored pencils-blue for the talker, gray for the silent sidekick.
Silent Fills
Learners complete words by filling in the missing silent letter, then read the finished word aloud. The fill-in format makes the invisible visible and locks in spelling. It connects print choice to smooth pronunciation in context. Ideal for independent practice or homework. Bonus: Add one silly doodle next to each completed word to make it memorable.
Silent K Pick
Students focus on kn at the start of words (knee, knit, knight), picking the correct spelling from close look-alikes. The activity trains eyes and ears to expect the quiet k before n. It's simple, targeted, and satisfying. Great for warm-ups or stations. Bonus: Tap your knee each time you read a kn word to cue memory.
Silent Letter Line-Up
Children line up word cards under headers like kn, wr, mb, gh, and wh (silent h in ghost-type words), building a big-picture view. The sort-and-say routine turns noticing into knowing. It strengthens flexible decoding and quick pattern talk. Perfect for collaborative tables. Bonus: Appoint a "line captain" who checks and celebrates each correct placement.
Silent Letter Picker
Learners choose which silent-letter pattern completes each word or best matches a picture cue. The pick-one design builds quick decision-making and confidence. It directly links pattern choice to accurate reading. Great for exit tickets or intervention. Bonus: Have kids justify each pick with a two-word reason like "wr start" or "end mb."
Silent Match-Up
This is a memory-style game where students flip and match words that share the same silent-letter pattern. Saying each match aloud builds articulation and recall. It's repetition disguised as fun. Ideal for pairs or small groups. Bonus: Add a "steal a turn" rule if you can explain the pattern out loud.
Silent Sort
A larger mixed bank invites kids to sort by silent-letter type and then read each pile fluently. Sorting demands evidence, so patterns stick harder. It's classic, revealing practice teachers love to observe. Great after a mini-lesson. Bonus: Include a "not sure yet" pile and revisit with the group at the end.
Silent Sound Check
Students scan a list and mark which letter is silent, then reread the line smoothly. The quick mark-and-read cycle pairs accuracy with fluency. It stops over-pronouncing before it starts. Perfect for warm-ups. Bonus: Try a second pass in a storyteller voice to feel the difference.
Silent W Words
This page targets wr words like write, wrong, wrist, where w stays quiet and r leads. Children read, sort, and use the words in a tiny sentence. It builds automaticity with another high-frequency pattern. Ideal for quick wins. Bonus: Make a "windshield wiper" motion for w while your voice starts on r.
T is Tricky
Kids meet words where t shifts or falls silent in patterns like -ten/-sten (often, listen) or softens in -tion. The activity is to spot, sort, and practice natural pronunciation in short lines. It normalizes a common real-world reading bump. Great for fluency polishing. Bonus: Read each line twice-once robot-style, once natural-to hear how the tricky t relaxes.
What Are Silent Letters?
Silent letters are letters we write but don't pronounce in a word, like k in knee or b in thumb. They can signal word origins, guide vowel sounds (hello, silent e), or appear because English changed over time while the spelling stayed put. Knowing these patterns helps readers decode without guessing and spell without second-guessing. When kids expect a silent letter in the right spot, words become friendlier fast.
You'll find silent letters all over everyday reading-recipes with knead, signs for a wrapping station, stories about a gnome, or science words like light where gh is quiet. Songs, poems, and jokes love them too, which makes practice feel playful instead of puzzling. As children meet the same patterns again and again, recognition grows automatic. That automaticity frees up brainpower for meaning and expression.
Developmentally, mastering silent letters boosts fluency, spelling accuracy, and confidence. Readers stop over-sounding and start reading in natural phrases. Writers choose spellings that fit the pattern even when their ears can't hear the letter. With these patterns in place, kids step into longer words and richer texts with a smile.
Example Uses of Silent Letters
Example 1
Sentence: The knight will write a note before dinner.
Explanation: K is silent in knight and w is silent in write, showing that kn and wr keep one letter quiet at the start while the other does the talking.
Example 2
Sentence: Please climb down; my thumb is numb.
Explanation: The b is silent after m in words like climb, thumb, and numb, teaching kids to expect mb at the end even when they can't hear the b.