Spelling rules worksheet focusing on "I Before E" with multiple-choice word pairs for practice.

Let’s go through each word pair and pick the correct spelling based on the “I before E” rule — but remember, there are exceptions!

The rule says:
- Usually, “i” comes before “e” (like in *believe*).
- Except after “c” (like in *receive*).
- Or when it sounds like “a” (like in *neighbor* or *weigh*).

Now let’s check each one:

1. field vs feild → “ie” is normal here → field
2. ceiling vs cieling → after “c”, so “ei” → ceiling
3. movie vs movei → ends with “ie”, common pattern → movie
4. eight vs ieight → sounds like “a” (ayt), so “ei” → eight
5. believe vs beleive → “i before e” → believe
6. thief vs theif → “ie” → thief
7. piece vs peice → after “c”? No, but still “ie” → piece
8. sleigh vs sliegh → sounds like “a” (slay), so “ei” → sleigh
9. lie vs lei → short word, “ie” → lie
10. receive vs recieve → after “c”, so “ei” → receive

Now the second column:

11. thief vs theif → same as #6 → thief
12. prairie vs prairei → ends with “ie”, and it’s a known spelling → prairie
13. weight vs wieght → sounds like “a” (wayt), so “ei” → weight
14. yield vs yeild → “ie” → yield
15. vein vs vien → sounds like “a” (vane), so “ei” → vein
16. perceive vs perceiv → after “c”, so “ei” → perceive
17. chief vs cheif → “ie” → chief
18. veil vs viel → sounds like “a” (vayl), so “ei” → veil
19. friend vs freind → exception! It’s “ie” even though it doesn’t follow the rule perfectly → friend
20. conceit vs conceilt → after “c”, so “ei” → conceit

Wait — let me double-check #19: “friend” is spelled F-R-I-E-N-D. Yes, that’s right — it’s an exception to the rule, but we just have to memorize it.

Also #20: “conceit” — C-O-N-C-E-I-T → yes, after “c”, so “ei”.

All done!

Final Answer:
1. field
2. ceiling
3. movie
4. eight
5. believe
6. thief
7. piece
8. sleigh
9. lie
10. receive
11. thief
12. prairie
13. weight
14. yield
15. vein
16. perceive
17. chief
18. veil
19. friend
20. conceit