Long a (ei, ey, eigh) Word Search - Free Printable
Educational worksheet: Long a (ei, ey, eigh) Word Search. Download and print for classroom or home learning activities.
JPG
420×594
70.3 KB
Free · Personal Use
Quality Assured by Worksheets Library Team
Reviewed for educational accuracy and age-appropriateness
ID: #1394103
⭐
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Long a (ei, ey, eigh) Word Search
▼
Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Long a (ei, ey, eigh) Word Search
Absolutely! Let’s solve this “Colour the Spelling” worksheet step by step.
---
Fill in each blank with the correct spelling — ‘ei’, ‘eight’, or ‘ey’ — to complete a word that makes the /ay/ sound (like in “day”, “say”, “play”).
The first one is done for you:
> 1. vein → uses ‘ei’
Let’s go through each one:
---
✔️ Already done. “Vein” = /vayn/ — uses ‘ei’.
---
→ weight
“Weight” = /wayt/ — uses ‘eight’.
✔ So, colour ‘eight’
---
→ veil
“Veil” = /vayl/ — uses ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
---
→ grey (or “gray” in American English, but here it’s spelled with ‘ey’)
“Grey” = /gray/ — uses ‘ey’.
✔ So, colour ‘ey’
---
→ neighbour (British spelling)
“Neighbour” = /nay-bur/ — uses ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
*(Note: In American English, it’s “neighbor” — still ‘ei’)*
---
→ beige? But that’s not on the list.
Wait — think again!
Actually, it’s “b______ge” — likely “beige”? But “beige” doesn’t use ei/eight/ey.
Hold on — maybe it’s “b______ge” as in “bridge”? No, that’s ‘i’.
Wait — let’s think of common /ay/ words with “b...ge”.
Ah! It’s “b______ge” → “beyge”? Not common.
Wait — perhaps it’s “b______ge” = “beige” — but that’s pronounced /bayzh/, and uses ‘ei’ — yes!
“Beige” is spelled b-e-i-g-e — so the blank is ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
*(Some might argue pronunciation varies, but in educational contexts, “beige” is often taught with ‘ei’ for /ay/ sound.)*
---
→ obey
“Obey” = /oh-bay/ — uses ‘ey’.
✔ So, colour ‘ey’
---
→ eight
“Eight” = /ayt/ — uses ‘eight’.
✔ So, colour ‘eight’
*(Note: The blank is at the start — so the whole word is “eight” — so choose ‘eight’)*
---
→ survey
“Survey” = /sur-vay/ — uses ‘ey’.
✔ So, colour ‘ey’
---
→ reign
“Reign” = /rayn/ — uses ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
---
## 🧾 Final Answers (What to Colour):
| Number | Word | Correct Spelling to Colour |
|--------|----------|-----------------------------|
| 1 | vein | ei |
| 2 | weight | eight |
| 3 | veil | ei |
| 4 | grey | ey |
| 5 | neighbour| ei |
| 6 | beige | ei |
| 7 | obey | ey |
| 8 | eight | eight |
| 9 | survey | ey |
| 10 | reign | ei |
---
## 💡 Teaching Tip:
This activity helps children recognize that different spellings can make the same sound (/ay/). Common patterns:
- ‘ei’ → vein, reign, neighbour, beige
- ‘eight’ → weight, eight
- ‘ey’ → grey, obey, survey
It’s a great way to build phonics awareness and spelling flexibility!
---
✔ All done! You can now colour in the correct boxes based on the answers above. 😊
---
🎯 Goal:
Fill in each blank with the correct spelling — ‘ei’, ‘eight’, or ‘ey’ — to complete a word that makes the /ay/ sound (like in “day”, “say”, “play”).
The first one is done for you:
> 1. vein → uses ‘ei’
Let’s go through each one:
---
✔ 1. vein → ei
✔️ Already done. “Vein” = /vayn/ — uses ‘ei’.
---
✔ 2. w______ → eight
→ weight
“Weight” = /wayt/ — uses ‘eight’.
✔ So, colour ‘eight’
---
✔ 3. v______l → ei
→ veil
“Veil” = /vayl/ — uses ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
---
✔ 4. gr______ → ey
→ grey (or “gray” in American English, but here it’s spelled with ‘ey’)
“Grey” = /gray/ — uses ‘ey’.
✔ So, colour ‘ey’
---
✔ 5. n______bour → ei
→ neighbour (British spelling)
“Neighbour” = /nay-bur/ — uses ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
*(Note: In American English, it’s “neighbor” — still ‘ei’)*
---
✔ 6. b______ge → ri? Wait — no, options are ei, eight, ey
→ beige? But that’s not on the list.
Wait — think again!
Actually, it’s “b______ge” — likely “beige”? But “beige” doesn’t use ei/eight/ey.
Hold on — maybe it’s “b______ge” as in “bridge”? No, that’s ‘i’.
Wait — let’s think of common /ay/ words with “b...ge”.
Ah! It’s “b______ge” → “beyge”? Not common.
Wait — perhaps it’s “b______ge” = “beige” — but that’s pronounced /bayzh/, and uses ‘ei’ — yes!
“Beige” is spelled b-e-i-g-e — so the blank is ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
*(Some might argue pronunciation varies, but in educational contexts, “beige” is often taught with ‘ei’ for /ay/ sound.)*
---
✔ 7. ob______ → ey
→ obey
“Obey” = /oh-bay/ — uses ‘ey’.
✔ So, colour ‘ey’
---
✔ 8. ______t → ei
→ eight
“Eight” = /ayt/ — uses ‘eight’.
✔ So, colour ‘eight’
*(Note: The blank is at the start — so the whole word is “eight” — so choose ‘eight’)*
---
✔ 9. surv______ → ey
→ survey
“Survey” = /sur-vay/ — uses ‘ey’.
✔ So, colour ‘ey’
---
✔ 10. r______gn → ei
→ reign
“Reign” = /rayn/ — uses ‘ei’.
✔ So, colour ‘ei’
---
## 🧾 Final Answers (What to Colour):
| Number | Word | Correct Spelling to Colour |
|--------|----------|-----------------------------|
| 1 | vein | ei |
| 2 | weight | eight |
| 3 | veil | ei |
| 4 | grey | ey |
| 5 | neighbour| ei |
| 6 | beige | ei |
| 7 | obey | ey |
| 8 | eight | eight |
| 9 | survey | ey |
| 10 | reign | ei |
---
## 💡 Teaching Tip:
This activity helps children recognize that different spellings can make the same sound (/ay/). Common patterns:
- ‘ei’ → vein, reign, neighbour, beige
- ‘eight’ → weight, eight
- ‘ey’ → grey, obey, survey
It’s a great way to build phonics awareness and spelling flexibility!
---
✔ All done! You can now colour in the correct boxes based on the answers above. 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of eigh worksheet.
