Compound Word Lists

Free printable compound words lists for preschool, kindergarten, first, and second-grade students. Compound words are fun to learn, and our teacher-curated word lists will ensure your students are building literacy skills while having fun! If you are looking for more reading activities, take a look at our R.E.A.D. Bundle for kidnergarten and first-grade students.

Printable Compound Word Lists

Students can use these PDF printable word lists as reference charts, or writing tools for daily journals. Print one for each student notebook, or laminate and provide for student literacy centers.

Level 1 Compound Words List (PK-KG)

Level 1 compound words are appropriate for preschool and kindergarten students. These are loosely based on root words your students have likely already been exposed to and will be able to easily identify.

Level 1 Compound Word List: backpack, bathtub, bluebird, bookshelf, butterfly, catfish, cowboy, cupcake, doghouse, dragonfly, dustpan, firefly, fishbowl, goldfish, grapefruit, gumball, hairbrush, hamburger, honeybee, jellybean, jellyfish, ladybug, lipstick, mailbox, oatmeal, pancake, peanut, playhouse, popcorn, rainbow, rowboat, sandbox, seagull, seaweed, shoelace, spaceship, sunflower, toothbrush, toothpaste, and waterslide.

Level 2 Compound Words List (KG-1st)

This is the second set of compound word lists. Level 2 is loosely based on words that your kindergarten and first grade students will be able to understand.

Level 2 Compound Word List: airplane, cornbread, inchworm, sailboat, applesauce, baseball, basketball, bedroom, birthday, bookmark, campfire, cheeseburger, cookbook, doughnut, eyebrow, eggshells, fireplace, flashlight, football, gumdrop, haystack, headband, ladybug, raindrop, lighthouse, meatball, milkshake, nightlight, notebook, playground, raindrop, snowball, softball, sunrise, tablecloth, teardrop, washcloth, watermelon, wheelchair, and workbook.

Pair these compound word lists with our free printable compound word worksheets and flashcards for additional practice.

Level 3 Compound Word Lists (1st-2nd)

Free printable compound words list for first and second grade students. In general, compound words are introduced during the first grade year, however it’s never too early or too late to get started!

Level 3 Compound Word List: armchair, blueberry, bookcase, candlestick, cheesecake, crosswalk, dishwasher, doorknob, earlobe, eggplant, fingernail, firework, gingerbread, grapevine, headlight, hedgehog, honeycomb, hourglass, keyboard, kickball, laptop, lifeguard, motorcycle, newspaper, outside, pinwheel, ponytail, raincoat, restroom, schoolwork, sidewalk, snowflake, sunburn, sunglasses, superhero, teacup, teapot, textbook, volleyball, and wastebasket.

Level 4 Compound Words List (2nd-4th)

Level 4 is loosely based on words that your second, third, and fourth-grade students will be able to read and write. These materials are differentiated for multiple ages and abilities.

Level 4 Compound Word List: bedbug, blackbird, bookstore, cardboard, chalkboard, chopsticks, classroom, driveway, drumstick, eardrum, eyeglass, firefighter, flagpole, headlight, hedgehog, honeycomb, hourglass, iceberg, keyboard, moonlight, newborn, nutcracker, placemats, postcard, pothole, quarterback, railroad, rattle, sandpaper, seahorse, shortcake, skateboard, snowflake, suitcase, swordfish, tablespoon, tugboat, watercolor, windmill and yardstick.

When students are ready, advance to our Compound Words Reading Passages, or even our free printable Reading Comprehension Worksheets.