Compound Words worksheet for students to identify and write compound words from given sentences.

You're working on a compound words worksheet. A compound word is formed when two smaller words are joined together to make one new word (e.g., “dragon + fly = dragonfly”).

Let’s go through each sentence and identify the compound word:

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1. I enjoy watching sunrise.
→ sunrise = sun + rise ✔

2. There are many milkweed plants near the lake.
→ milkweed = milk + weed ✔

3. The gearshift on the tractor is broken.
→ gearshift = gear + shift ✔

4. Nancy lost her red eyeglasses.
→ eyeglasses = eye + glasses ✔
*(Note: “red” is not part of the compound — it’s describing the color.)*

5. We want to buy a houseboat.
→ houseboat = house + boat ✔

6. The milkman delivers milk to the hospital.
→ milkman = milk + man ✔

7. The overcoat was too big for Jon.
→ overcoat = over + coat ✔

8. The doorbell is not loud enough.
→ doorbell = door + bell ✔

9. Let’s go downtown this evening.
→ downtown = down + town ✔

10. That is a very beautiful butterfly.
→ butterfly = butter + fly ✔
*(This one is tricky — it doesn’t literally mean “butter that flies,” but historically it comes from these two words.)*

11. I ate too many pancakes this morning.
→ pancakes = pancake (singular) — but wait!
Actually, “pancake” is the compound word: pan + cake ✔
*(“Pancakes” is plural, but the base compound word is “pancake.”)*

12. My dog loves to sleep in the sunshine.
→ sunshine = sun + shine ✔

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✔ Final Answers (to write on the lines):

1. sunrise
2. milkweed
3. gearshift
4. eyeglasses
5. houseboat
6. milkman
7. overcoat
8. doorbell
9. downtown
10. butterfly
11. pancake *(or “pancakes” — but technically the root compound is “pancake”)*
12. sunshine

> 💡 *Tip for students:* Look for two small words stuck together that make sense as one thing or idea — like “doorknob,” “rainbow,” “notebook,” etc.

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✔ All done! You’ve successfully identified all 12 compound words. Great job!

*Worksheet source: ©2009 Comp Ed, Inc. — www.schoolexpress.com*