Let’s go step by step to find the rhyming word for each boxed word.
Rhyming means two words end with the same sound — not necessarily the same spelling, but they should sound alike when you say them out loud.
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1. Boxed word: pen
Options: sail, hen
- “pen” sounds like /pɛn/
- “sail” sounds like /seɪl/ → doesn’t rhyme
- “hen” sounds like /hɛn/ → YES! Same ending sound as “pen”
✔ Rhyme:
hen
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2. Boxed word: gate
Options: mate, pink
- “gate” sounds like /ɡeɪt/
- “mate” sounds like /meɪt/ → YES! Same ending sound
- “pink” sounds like /pɪŋk/ → no match
✔ Rhyme:
mate
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3. Boxed word: dog
Options: mop, hog
- “dog” sounds like /dɒɡ/ or /dɔːɡ/ (depending on accent)
- “mop” sounds like /mɑːp/ → different ending
- “hog” sounds like /hɒɡ/ or /hɔːɡ/ → YES! Same ending sound as “dog”
✔ Rhyme:
hog
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4. Boxed word: net
Options: key, met
- “net” sounds like /nɛt/
- “key” sounds like /kiː/ → no
- “met” sounds like /mɛt/ → YES! Same ending sound
✔ Rhyme:
met
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5. Boxed word: whale
Options: snail, pot
- “whale” sounds like /weɪl/
- “snail” sounds like /sneɪl/ → YES! Same ending sound
- “pot” sounds like /pɑːt/ → no
✔ Rhyme:
snail
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6. Boxed word: pot
Options: cot, sat
- “pot” sounds like /pɑːt/
- “cot” sounds like /kɑːt/ → YES! Same ending sound
- “sat” sounds like /sæt/ → close, but vowel is different (/æ/ vs /ɑː/) — not a perfect rhyme in most standard English teaching contexts
✔ Rhyme:
cot
*(Note: In some accents, “pot” and “sat” might sound closer, but in early education, we usually teach exact vowel matches. “Cot” and “pot” both have the short ‘o’ sound.)*
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Final Answer:
pen → hen
gate → mate
dog → hog
net → met
whale → snail
pot → cot
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of rhyming word worksheet for first grade.
