Long e Words

Spelling words with the long e sound can be tricky for young learners, especially since this vowel sound can be written in several different ways. That’s why this Long e Words resource is the perfect support for Year 1 and Year 2 students working on phonics and spelling. It helps children recognise, practise, and spell long e words using five common graphemes.

 

What’s in the Resource?

This free printable spelling list focuses on the long e sound, showing how it can be represented using:​

• e (as in me, he)

• ee (as in tree, feet)

• ea (as in eat, beach)

• e_e (as in these, even)

• y (as in happy, funny)

Each grapheme has its own column, with example words that are simple, useful, and perfect for early writers.

 

Why Teachers and Parents Love It

This resource makes long vowel spellings easy to understand. It:

• Clearly shows the different ways to spell the long e sound

• Gives students a bank of words they can read, spell, and use

• Helps students make visual and sound connections between graphemes and phonemes

• Is ideal for phonics groups, literacy rotations, or spelling stations

Because the words are grouped by their spelling pattern, students can begin to notice rules and patterns as they grow more confident with long vowel sounds.

 

Easy to Use at School or Home

This printable is great for:

• Phonics instruction – introduce each grapheme in a structured way

• Word sorting activities – cut and sort, match, or highlight different spellings

• Spelling practice – use as a reference sheet or homework tool

• Literacy centres – laminate and reuse as a hands-on spelling mat

It’s also great for individual students who need more support with tricky vowel sounds or spelling choices.

 

Extension Activities

Here are a few ways to take this activity further:

• Have students highlight the different spellings in different colours

• Write a silly sentence using three words from the same column

• Challenge students to find more long e words for each grapheme

• Use the list as inspiration for a mini spelling test or word search

 

Download Your Free Copy

This Long e Words printable is free and ready to use immediately. You can find it on the Smart Boarding School website, along with dozens of other free, high-quality phonics and literacy resources designed for primary classrooms.