Sort by the Middle Sound is a free printable Kindergarten English worksheet on hearing the short vowel inside a three-letter word, aligned to Common Core standard RF.K.3. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 10 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

One paper per pupil

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Sort by the Middle Sound

RF.K.3

NameDate

Sort each word into the right column.

1.Sort each word by its pattern: short a or short i or short o.

Sort: lid, not, box, fit, map, pan, cat, rod, fin

short ashort ishort o

2.Sort each word by its pattern: short a or short i or short o.

Sort: hot, hit, lap, win, mad, top, tin, bag, log

short ashort ishort o

3.Sort each word by its pattern: short a or short i or short o.

Sort: bat, rod, lid, lip, bag, tap, kid, sob, fox

short ashort ishort o

LessonPrint · RF.K.3 · Set 10 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Sort by the Middle Sound

Set 10. Prints on its own sheet.

1.short a: map, pan, cat; short i: lid, fit, fin; short o: not, box, rod
2.short a: lap, mad, bag; short i: hit, win, tin; short o: hot, top, log
3.short a: bat, bag, tap; short i: lid, lip, kid; short o: rod, sob, fox

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RF.K.3 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.