Alphabetizing Words (First same letter) worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are given five words:
- bad
- baby
- bag
- but
- bat

We need to put them in alphabetical order — that means from A to Z, like how they appear in a dictionary.

All the words start with “b”, so we look at the second letter:

- bad → second letter is “a”
- baby → second letter is “a”
- bag → second letter is “a”
- but → second letter is “u”
- bat → second letter is “a”

So “but” has a “u” as the second letter — that comes after “a”, so it will be last.

Now let’s compare the ones that start with “ba”:

- bad
- baby
- bag
- bat

Look at the third letter:

- bad → “d”
- baby → “b” (third letter)
- bag → “g”
- bat → “t”

Wait — actually, for “baby”, we have to go further because it has 4 letters. Let’s line them up and compare letter by letter.

Compare:

1. baby → b-a-b-y
2. bad → b-a-d
3. bag → b-a-g
4. bat → b-a-t

First two letters are same: “ba”

Third letter:

- baby → “b”
- bad → “d”
- bag → “g”
- bat → “t”

Alphabetically: b, d, g, t

So order of these four should be:

→ baby (because “b” comes before “d”)
→ bad (“d” comes before “g”)
→ bag (“g” comes before “t”)
→ bat

Then finally, “but” — since “bu” comes after “ba”.

So full order:

1. baby
2. bad
3. bag
4. bat
5. but

Let me double-check:

- baby: b-a-b
- bad: b-a-d → “b” < “d” → correct
- bag: b-a-g → “d” < “g” → correct
- bat: b-a-t → “g” < “t” → correct
- but: b-u → “a” < “u” → so all “ba...” come before “bu” → correct

Yes! That’s right.

Final Answer:
baby
bad
bag
bat
but