Vowel Digraphs & Diphthongs — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which spelling is correct for the fluffy thing in the sky?
A) cloud
B) clowd
C) claud
D) clowed
Cloud uses ou in the middle. Ou is the common Grade 2 spelling for this diphthong inside a word.
2. Which spelling is correct for a sharp tip or to show with a finger?
A) poynt
B) pount
C) point
D) poent
Point uses oi because the diphthong is in the middle of the word, following the Grade 2 placement rule.
3. Which spelling is correct for the round object in the night sky?
A) mun
B) moon
C) moun
D) mown
Moon uses oo, the Grade 2 digraph for the long oo sound heard in zoo and food.
4. Which spelling is correct for a cat's sharp nail?
A) claw
B) claa
C) clau
D) clow
Claw ends in aw. The aw digraph spells this open vowel sound at the end of words.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. The paper made a loud sound when I crumpled it.
Sound uses ou to spell the diphthong before the final nd, a Grade 2 pattern.
2. A shiny coin rolled under the couch.
Coin uses oi in the middle because the diphthong sits inside the word in Grade 2 spelling.
3. The farmer heard the cow moo in the barn.
Cow ends in ow to spell the gliding diphthong sound at the end of the word.
4. Please do not crawl on the wet floor.
Crawl uses aw to spell the open vowel sound, a Grade 2 digraph.
5. The baby bird just flew from the nest.
Flew uses ew to spell the long u sound, a Grade 2 digraph at the end of words.