Spelling Games With Your Own Word List
These free spelling games work with any word list. Pick one of our 24 pattern lists, or let a grown-up type or paste up to 30 of your own words, then play build the word, find the word, memory match, flash cards or a typed spelling test. Your own words are kept in memory only and disappear when you close the page.
Spelling games
Ready-made lists to play
Pick one in the game above, or choose “My own words…” and type this week’s list.
- Short a words
- Short e words
- Short i words
- Short o words
- Short u words
- Short vowels review
- Digraph sh words
- Digraph ch words
- Digraph th words
- Digraphs wh and ck
- L-blend words
- R-blend words
- S-blend words
- Ending blends
- Silent e: long a (a_e)
- Silent e: long i, o, u
- Vowel teams ai and ay
- Vowel teams ee and ea
- Vowel teams oa and ow
- Bossy r: ar and or
- Bossy r: er, ir, ur
- Adding -ing
- Adding -ed
- -ing and -ed: double or drop e
Lists by pattern: Short vowelsDigraphsall 24 lists.
Which spelling game builds which skill
Spelling grows in steps: first a child recognizes the word, then recalls it, then writes it without help.
- Find the word and memory match are for recognition. Your child picks the right spelling out of look-alikes.
- Flash cards and build the word move toward recall. In build the word, letters go into slots, decoy letters are mixed in, and a wrong letter bounces back.
- The spelling test checks real recall. The word is said twice and your child types it. One-letter slips show as "almost".
Words are read aloud by your device's built-in voice, when it has one; otherwise the word is shown and a grown-up can read it, and the test works from a folded paper list.
A week of spelling games with one list
- Monday: memory match, then flash cards.
- Tuesday: find the word, then build the word.
- Wednesday: build the word with the trickiest words only.
- Thursday: a practice spelling test.
- Friday: the real test, then one game your child chooses.
Ten minutes a day is plenty. If you want to save a list on the device, see a results summary or print the misses, use our spelling practice page.
Keeping spelling games fun for kindergarten and up
Keep rounds short and let your child pick the game. Kindergartners and younger children often do best with three or four short words and lots of build the word. Older children may enjoy beating their own number of tries in memory match. Stop on a win, not after a long run of mistakes.
Spelling games in the classroom or a small group
One device is enough for a small group. The teacher types the week's list into "My own words" and children take turns, one round each. There are no student accounts, and no names or results are collected. Typing in the test stays on the device.
Spelling games with no screen
- Rainbow writing: write each word three times in three colors.
- Magnetic letters: say a word, and your child builds it on the fridge.
- Spelling hopscotch: chalk letters on the ground and hop the word, saying each letter.
For paper practice, print sheets with our spelling worksheet generator.
Frequently asked questions
Can the spelling games use my child's school list?
Yes. Choose "My own words" and type or paste up to 30 words. The games use them right away.
Are there spelling games for preschoolers?
Most preschoolers are not ready to spell yet. Matching and building short words helps more; try our CVC word games.
Does the typed spelling test check capital letters?
No. Answers are checked without caring about capitals, so Cat and cat both count.
Do the spelling games have a timer?
No. There is no timer in any game, so children can take their time.
Where are the ready-made spelling lists?
All 24 pattern lists are on our spelling words page, and they appear in the list picker here too.