Word Ladder: Pen to Nut
A printable word ladder puzzle (pen to nut) with clues and pictures. Kids change one letter at a time to climb from word to word; a yellow box marks the letter that changes. The answer key shows the full ladder: pen > pet > pot > hot > hut > nut.
- Size
- US Letter (8.5 × 11 in), fits A4
- 2 pages: the worksheet and its answer key
- Level
- Grade 1
- License
- Free for personal & classroom use
About this worksheet
A printable word ladder puzzle (pen to nut) with clues and pictures. Kids change one letter at a time to climb from word to word; a yellow box marks the letter that changes. The answer key shows the full ladder: pen > pet > pot > hot > hut > nut. First graders can read it on their own and ask for help only with the trickier words.
On this sheet
Start here! Change the last letter. A dog or cat that lives with you. Change the middle letter. You cook soup in it. Change the first letter. The opposite of cold. Change the middle letter. A small, simple house. Change the first letter. A squirrel eats it.
Tips for using it
- Read the clue first, then look at which letter has to change.
- Say the word with each possible new sound out loud until one makes sense.
- If a rung is hard, skip it and work back up from the next word.
Printing tips
Download the PDF and print at 100% (or “fit to page” on A4). Page 1 is the worksheet and page 2 is the answer key with the answers in red; print just page 1 if you want to keep the answers for checking. The PNG shows page 1 only. Free for personal, family and classroom use.
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