Matching Compound Words worksheet for students to draw lines between words to form compound words.

Let’s solve this step by step.

We need to match each word on the left with a word on the right to make a real compound word — that means two words put together to form one new word with its own meaning.

Let’s go one by one:

1. rain → What can “rain” combine with?
- rain + bow = rainbow ✔ (a colorful arc in the sky after rain)
So, “rain” matches with “bow”

2. out →
- out + side = outside ✔ (not inside)
So, “out” matches with “side”

3. some →
- some + thing = something ✔ (an unspecified object or idea)
So, “some” matches with “thing”

4. lady →
- lady + bug = ladybug ✔ (a small red insect with black spots)
So, “lady” matches with “bug”

5. home →
- home + work = homework ✘ (but “work” isn’t on the right)
Wait — let’s check the options again.
Right side has: walk, bug, bow, side, light, thing, run, flies, cake, shine
Try: home + run = homeroom? No.
home + light? Not common.
home + work? Not there.
Wait — maybe “home” + “run”? Not really.
Let’s skip and come back.

Actually — look at “moon” and “shine” — moonshine? That’s a thing, but also “sunshine”.
Wait — let’s try “fire” + “flies” = fireflies ✔ (glowing insects)

So maybe “fire” goes with “flies”

Then “sun” + “shine” = sunshine ✔

“moon” + “cake” = mooncake ✔ (a traditional pastry)

Now back to “home” — what’s left?

Leftover right-side words: walk, light, run

Try: home + work? Not there.
home + run? Homeroom? No.
Wait — “home” + “light”? Not common.
Maybe “home” + “run” is not right.

Wait — perhaps “side” was already used for “outside”, so “side” is taken.

Let me list all pairs clearly:

Left: rain, out, some, lady, home, pan, side, sun, moon, fire
Right: walk, bug, bow, side, light, thing, run, flies, cake, shine

We have:

- rain → bow (rainbow)
- out → side (outside)
- some → thing (something)
- lady → bug (ladybug)
- fire → flies (fireflies)
- sun → shine (sunshine)
- moon → cake (mooncake)

That leaves: home, pan, side (left) and walk, light, run (right)

Wait — “pan” + “cake” = pancake ✔ But we already gave “cake” to “moon”? Oh no!

Mistake here.

“mooncake” is a thing, but “pancake” is more common for kids.

Let’s reassign:

Better pairing:

- pan → cake (pancake) ✔
- Then moon → ? Leftovers: light, run, walk

Moon + light? Moonlight ✔ (light from the moon)

Then home → ? Left: run, walk

Home + run? Homeroom? No.
Home + walk? Homework? No.
Wait — “home” + “work” not available.

What about “side”? We have “side” on left too.

Left: side (still unmatched), home, and right: run, walk

side + walk? Sidewalk ✔ (path beside the road)

Then home → run? Home run ✔ (in baseball, hitting the ball and running around bases)

Yes! That works.

And then what’s left? “light” — who takes “light”?

We had “moon” → light? Moonlight ✔

But earlier I thought “sun” → shine, which is correct.

Let’s redo entire matching carefully:

Left words:
rain
out
some
lady
home
pan
side
sun
moon
fire

Right words:
walk
bug
bow
side
light
thing
run
flies
cake
shine

Step-by-step matching:

1. rain + bow = rainbow → ✔
2. out + side = outside → ✔
3. some + thing = something → ✔
4. lady + bug = ladybug → ✔
5. pan + cake = pancake → ✔
6. side + walk = sidewalk → ✔
7. sun + shine = sunshine → ✔
8. moon + light = moonlight → ✔
9. fire + flies = fireflies → ✔
10. home + run = home run → ✔

Perfect! All matched.

Final Answer:
rain — bow
out — side
some — thing
lady — bug
home — run
pan — cake
side — walk
sun — shine
moon — light
fire — flies