Alphabetical Order Worksheets
Put letters or words in alphabetical order. Pick how many to sort and how tricky it should be.
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What is alphabetical order?
Alphabetical order, or ABC order, means arranging letters or words in the same order as the alphabet. It is a key skill for using dictionaries, glossaries, contact lists and library shelves. Children begin with letters and then move on to whole words.
How to use the generator
- Choose Letters or Words.
- Pick how many letters or words to put in order: two, three or four.
- Choose a level, then press Generate new worksheet and print or save as PDF. The answer key is added on its own page.
The three levels
- Easy uses letters or words that start with letters far apart in the alphabet, so the order is clear.
- Medium uses letters that are closer together, and words with different first letters.
- Hard uses neighbouring letters, and for words, groups that all start with the same letter, so children must look at the second letter, as in bag, bed, bug, bus.
Teaching tips
Keep an alphabet strip in view while children work. For words, ask them to underline the first letter, find it on the strip and put the words in order. When two words start with the same letter, look at the next one. Practise saying the alphabet from different starting points, for example, “What comes after M?”.
Who it is for
Letter ordering suits ages five and six. Sorting simple words suits ages six to eight, and same-first-letter words are a good challenge for the end of that range.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sort words instead of letters?
Yes. Choose Words. Easy and medium use words with different first letters; hard uses words that start with the same letter.
How many items can I sort at once?
Two, three or four in each question.
Does every worksheet have different questions?
Yes. Press Generate new worksheet for a new set. The answer key always matches the worksheet on screen.