Matching Moon Phases Worksheet - WordMint - Free Printable

Let’s solve this “Matching Moon Phases” worksheet step by step. We’ll match each numbered description (1–10) to the correct lettered moon phase (A–J) based on astronomical knowledge of lunar phases.

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🔍 Step-by-step Matching:

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1. Moon is almost directly between the sun and Earth. (start of cycle)
→ This is the New Moon — the moon is not visible because its dark side faces Earth. It marks the beginning of the lunar cycle.
✔ Match: G. New Moon

*(Note: Option E is also “New Moon” — likely a typo in the worksheet. Since G is listed as “New Moon”, we’ll use G. If forced to choose one, G is correct.)*

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2. Moon is almost directly between the sun and Earth. (cycle starts again)
→ Same as #1 — this is also describing the New Moon, which restarts the cycle.
✔ Match: G. New Moon (or E, but G is listed as “New Moon”)

*(This seems like a duplicate or error in the worksheet — both 1 and 2 describe the same phase. We’ll assign both to G for consistency.)*

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3. A bit of the sunlit side of the moon shows, with the sunlit side being on the right.
→ This describes the Waxing Crescent Moon — after New Moon, a thin sliver appears on the right (in the Northern Hemisphere).
✔ Match: I. Waxing Crescent Moon

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4. Two weeks have passed since the new moon. We see the entire face of the moon shining.
→ That’s the Full Moon — exactly halfway through the cycle, opposite the Sun.
✔ Match: H. Full Moon

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5. The moon is three-quarters of its way around Earth
→ This means it’s 3/4 of the way from New Moon → next New Moon → that’s the Last Quarter Moon (also called Third Quarter).
✔ Match: B. Last Quarter Moon

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6. The moon is a quarter of its way around Earth
→ One-quarter of the orbit from New Moon → that’s the First Quarter Moon.
✔ Match: C. First Quarter Moon

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7. A bit of the sunlit side of the moon shows with the light side being on the left
→ This is the Waning Crescent Moon — after Full Moon, the light decreases, and the sliver is on the left.
✔ Match: D. Waning Crescent Moon

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8. The moon is between full moon and last quarter.
→ After Full Moon, before Last Quarter → that’s the Waning Gibbous Moon (more than half lit, but decreasing).
✔ Match: F. Waning Gibbous Moon

*(Note: Option A is “Waxing Gibbous Moon” — that’s before Full Moon. So F is correct.)*

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9. The moon is increasing in light between a first quarter moon and a full moon
→ That’s the Waxing Gibbous Moon — growing from half to full.
✔ Match: A. Waxing Gibbous Moon

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10. The moon is decreasing in light between a full moon and a last quarter moon.
→ Again, this is the Waning Gibbous Moon — same as #8. But wait — #8 already used F. Let’s check.

Actually, #8 and #10 are describing the same phase! Both say “between full moon and last quarter” — that’s Waning Gibbous.

But the worksheet has only one “Waning Gibbous” option — F.

So either:
- There’s a mistake in the worksheet (duplicate description), OR
- #10 might be intended to be “between last quarter and new moon” — which would be Waning Crescent.

But as written:
> 10. The moon is decreasing in light between a full moon and a last quarter moon.

That’s Waning Gibbous — so F again.

However, since we can’t reuse F, and #8 already took it, let’s re-read #10 carefully.

Wait — maybe #10 is meant to be “between last quarter and new moon”? Because if it’s “between full moon and last quarter,” it’s still gibbous.

But in standard terminology:

- Full → Last Quarter = Waning Gibbous
- Last Quarter → New Moon = Waning Crescent

So perhaps #10 should say “between last quarter and new moon” — but it doesn’t.

Given the wording, it must be Waning Gibbous → F

But since #8 already matched to F, and we can’t reuse, there’s likely an error.

Alternatively, check if “D. Waning Crescent Moon” was misassigned.

Let’s double-check #7:
> 7. A bit of the sunlit side... light side on the left → Waning Crescent → D ✔

#10: Decreasing between Full and Last Quarter → Waning Gibbous → F ✔

So unless the worksheet allows duplicate matches (unlikely), perhaps #10 is a trick — but no.

Another possibility: Maybe #10 is meant to be “after last quarter” — but it says “between full moon and last quarter”.

We’ll proceed with logical matching, even if it means two items point to the same phase — but since the worksheet expects unique matches, let’s assume #10 is misphrased and should be “between last quarter and new moon” — which is Waning Crescent.

But that conflicts with #7.

Wait — #7 is “a bit of sunlit side... light on left” — that’s Waning Crescent.

#10 is “decreasing between full and last quarter” — that’s Waning Gibbous.

So they are different.

Perhaps the worksheet has a typo, and #10 should say “between last quarter and new moon”.

In many curricula, #10 is often meant to be Waning Crescent.

But strictly by text: #10 = Waning Gibbous = F

Since #8 is also F, and we can’t repeat, we must conclude that #10 is incorrectly worded, or perhaps it’s meant to be “between last quarter and new moon”.

Looking at common matching worksheets, #10 usually refers to Waning Crescent.

Also, note that option J is Waning Crescent Moon — and we haven’t used J yet!

Wait — in our earlier assignment, we assigned #7 to D (Waning Crescent Moon), but D is actually labeled “Waning Gibbous Moon” in the list? Let’s check the original:

> D. Waning Gibbous Moon
> J. Waning Crescent Moon

Ah! Here’s the key!

In the original image/text:

- D. Waning Gibbous Moon
- J. Waning Crescent Moon

We mistakenly assigned #7 to D, but #7 is “a bit of sunlit side... on the left” → that’s Waning Crescent → J

And #8 and #10 are both “between full and last quarter” → Waning Gibbous → D

So let’s fix that:

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✔ Corrected Matching:

1. Moon between Sun and Earth (start) → G. New Moon
2. Moon between Sun and Earth (cycle restarts) → G. New Moon *(duplicate, but correct)*
3. Bit of sunlit side, right → I. Waxing Crescent Moon
4. Two weeks after new moon, full face → H. Full Moon
5. Three-quarters around → B. Last Quarter Moon
6. Quarter way around → C. First Quarter Moon
7. Bit of sunlit side, left → J. Waning Crescent Moon *(not D!)*
8. Between full and last quarter → D. Waning Gibbous Moon
9. Increasing between first quarter and full → A. Waxing Gibbous Moon
10. Decreasing between full and last quarter → D. Waning Gibbous Moon ← Wait, conflict!

Still conflict between #8 and #10.

Unless... perhaps #10 is meant to be “between last quarter and new moon” — which is Waning Crescent → J

But #7 is already J.

Alternative: Maybe #10 is “decreasing between full and last quarter” — same as #8 — so both should be D.

But worksheet likely intends unique matches.

Let’s look at the options again:

Available letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J

Used so far:

1 → G
2 → G (duplicate)
3 → I
4 → H
5 → B
6 → C
7 → J
8 → D
9 → A
10 → ???

Left: E, F

E is “New Moon” — already used.

F is “Waxing Gibbous Moon” — already used for #9.

So all options are taken except E and F, which are duplicates.

This suggests the worksheet has an error — probably #2 should not be “New Moon” again, or #10 is misworded.

In many versions of this worksheet, #10 is:

> “The moon is decreasing in light between a last quarter moon and a new moon.” → Waning Crescent → J

And #7 is sometimes “just after new moon” → Waxing Crescent.

But here, #7 says “light side on the left” — that’s definitely Waning Crescent.

Perhaps #10 is intended to be Waning Gibbous, and #8 is something else — but #8 clearly says “between full and last quarter” — Waning Gibbous.

Given the constraints, the most reasonable fix is to assume #10 is a typo and should read “between last quarter and new moon” — making it Waning Crescent → J

But then #7 and #10 both go to J — not allowed.

Alternatively, swap #7 and #10:

- #7: “light on left” → could be interpreted as Waxing Crescent if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, but typically in educational materials, “right” = waxing, “left” = waning.

Standard convention (Northern Hemisphere):

- Waxing: right side lit
- Waning: left side lit

So #3: right → Waxing Crescent → I
#7: left → Waning Crescent → J

#8: between full and last quarter → Waning Gibbous → D
#10: same as #8 → D — conflict.

Perhaps the worksheet meant for #10 to be “between last quarter and new moon” — which is Waning Crescent → J

Then #7 would need to be something else — but it can’t.

Final decision: Since #8 and #10 are identical in description, and the worksheet likely has a mistake, we'll assign:

- #8 → D. Waning Gibbous Moon
- #10 → J. Waning Crescent Moon *(assuming it's meant to be after last quarter)*

Even though #7 is also J, we'll have to live with it or assume #7 is misassigned.

But let's check the original text again:

> 7. A bit of the sunlit side of the moon shows with the light side being on the left
> 10. The moon is decreasing in light between a full moon and a last quarter moon.

These are different phases!

#7 = Waning Crescent (small sliver on left)
#10 = Waning Gibbous (large portion lit, decreasing, between full and last quarter)

So both are valid, and should map to J and D respectively.

But then #8 is also D.

Unless #8 is meant to be something else.

Perhaps #8 is "between full moon and last quarter" — that's Waning Gibbous — D

#10 is "decreasing between full moon and last quarter" — same thing.

So perhaps the worksheet has a duplicate question.

To resolve, I will assume that #10 is intended to be "between last quarter and new moon" — which is Waning Crescent — and assign it to J, and leave #7 as is.

But then #7 and #10 both want J.

This is a flaw in the worksheet.

For the sake of completing the task, I'll make the following assignments, noting the issue:

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📝 Final Answer Key:

1. G. New Moon
2. G. New Moon *(duplicate, but accurate)*
3. I. Waxing Crescent Moon
4. H. Full Moon
5. B. Last Quarter Moon
6. C. First Quarter Moon
7. J. Waning Crescent Moon
8. D. Waning Gibbous Moon
9. A. Waxing Gibbous Moon
10. F. Waning Gibbous Moon *(but F is "Waxing Gibbous Moon" — wait, no!)*

Wait — in the list:

> F. Waxing Gibbous Moon — that's for #9

> D. Waning Gibbous Moon — for #8 and #10

But there's no other option for #10.

Perhaps the answer is:

10. D. Waning Gibbous Moon — and accept that #8 and #10 are the same.

Or, more likely, the worksheet has a typo in #10, and it should be "between last quarter and new moon" → J. Waning Crescent Moon

And #7 is correctly J, so both 7 and 10 would be J — not ideal.

Given the options, the best fit is:

✔ Official Matching (with minor adjustment for #10):

| # | Description | Match |
|----|-------------|-------|
| 1 | Moon between Sun and Earth (start) | G. New Moon |
| 2 | Moon between Sun and Earth (restart) | G. New Moon |
| 3 | Bit of sunlit side, right | I. Waxing Crescent Moon |
| 4 | Two weeks after new moon, full face | H. Full Moon |
| 5 | Three-quarters around | B. Last Quarter Moon |
| 6 | Quarter way around | C. First Quarter Moon |
| 7 | Bit of sunlit side, left | J. Waning Crescent Moon |
| 8 | Between full and last quarter | D. Waning Gibbous Moon |
| 9 | Increasing between first quarter and full | A. Waxing Gibbous Moon |
| 10 | Decreasing between full and last quarter | D. Waning Gibbous Moon | ← *same as #8*

Since this is likely an error, in practice, teachers might accept #10 as D, or recognize the duplicate.

Alternatively, if we must use unique letters, then #10 could be F, but F is "Waxing Gibbous" — incorrect.

So, I'll provide the scientifically accurate matches, even if #8 and #10 both map to D.

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🌙 Final Answer:

1. G
2. G
3. I
4. H
5. B
6. C
7. J
8. D
9. A
10. D *(Note: This is a duplicate; worksheet may have an error)*

If the worksheet requires unique answers, then #10 might be intended to be J (Waning Crescent), and #7 should be reconsidered — but based on standard interpretation, #7 is J, #10 is D.

To avoid duplication, some sources might have #10 as "between last quarter and new moon" — then it would be J.

Given the ambiguity, I'll box the matches as per strict reading:

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✔ Boxed Answer:

1. G
2. G
3. I
4. H
5. B
6. C
7. J
8. D
9. A
10. D

*(With note: #8 and #10 both describe Waning Gibbous Moon, so both match D. Worksheet may contain a duplicate or typo.)*