Wild Words Word List
Structured Literacy • Phonics Reference
Wild Words Word List
Two-Syllable Words with Closed Syllable Exceptions
Part 1: Long /ī/ Patterns
The Rule: Closed Syllable Exceptions ("Wild Old Words")
A closed syllable usually has a short vowel (rab•bit, muf•fin). However, when vowels I or O are closed in by certain consonant clusters (-ind, -ild, -old, -olt, -ost, -oll), the vowel makes its long vowel sound instead of the expected short sound!
Syllable Anatomy in Two-Syllable Words ● = syllable divider
Prefix + Exception
re • mind
Open (lōng e) + Exception (lōng i)
Exception + Closed
wild • cat
Exception (lōng i) + Closed (shŏrt a)
Compound Exception
blind • fold
Two exceptions in one word!
-IND Family Long /ī/ Sound (14 Two-Syllable Words)
Vowel: /ī/
Prefix + Base
re • mind remind
be • hind behind
un • kind unkind
un • bind unbind
re • wind rewind
Base + Suffix
mind • ful mindful
kind • ness kindness
blind • ly blindly
find • er finder
bind • er binder
Compound / Root
man • kind mankind
blind • fold blindfold
grind • stone grindstone
wind • up windup
bind • weed bindweed
-ILD Family Long /ī/ Sound (8 Two-Syllable Words)
Vowel: /ī/
wild • life wildlife (compound)
child • hood childhood (suffix)
grand • child grandchild (compound)
child • like childlike (suffix)
wild • cat wildcat (compound)
wild • fire wildfire (compound)
mild • ness mildness (suffix)
child • less childless (suffix)
Teacher Phonics Tip: Watch out for words like wilderness (3 syllables, shŏrt /ĭ/) or children (shŏrt /ĭ/). In these words, phonetic shifts turn the vowel back into a normal short closed syllable!
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Part 2: Long /ō/ Patterns & Fluency
Wild Words Word List
Patterns: -OLD, -OLT, -OLL, and -OST in Two-Syllable Words
30 Additional Words
-OLD Family Long /ō/ Sound (14 Two-Syllable Words)
Vowel: /ō/
Prefix + Base
un • told
be • hold
en • fold
fore • told
with • hold
Compound Words
house • hold
strong • hold
gold • fish
blind • fold
Base + Suffix
fold • er
mold • y
cold • ly
scold • ing
old • est
-OLT & -OLL Families /ō/
re • volt revolt
un • bolt unbolt
bolt • ing bolting
jolt • ed jolted
en • roll enroll
un • roll unroll
pay • roll payroll
toll • booth tollbooth
-OST Family /ō/
post • age postage
post • card postcard
host • ess hostess
most • ly mostly
out • post outpost
post • pone postpone
lamp • post lamppost
bed • post bedpost
Decodable Fluency Practice
Read aloud smoothly
-
- The wildcat left the quiet outpost to hunt in the cold night.
-
- Please remind the hostess to withhold the extra postage.
-
- His grandchild showed great kindness when helping him unroll the mat.
-
- We must postpone the payroll review until they unbolt the office door.
Phonics Coding Method: Scoop syllables, mark vowel with a macron (¯), and label syllable type c-ex (closed exception).
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Wild Words Worksheet
Wild Words Practice
Two-Syllable Closed Syllable Exceptions
Name:
Date:
Exception Rule: Consonant clusters -ind, -ild, -old, -olt, -ost, -oll make long vowels (/ī/ or /ō/). Part 1 & 2
1
Syllable Detective: Divide & Analyze
Break the word into 2 syllables and name the exception chunk
Target Word
First Syllable
Second Syllable
Exception Chunk
1. remind
2. goldfish
3. wildlife
4. unbolt
5. postage
6. blindfold
2
Pattern Sorter
Sort the 8 words from the Word Bank into their matching family box.
Word Bank:
unkind household revolt postpone childhood behold payroll outpost
-IND & -ILD Long /ī/
-OLD Family Long /ō/
-OLT & -OLL Long /ō/
-OST Family Long /ō/
Wild Words Decoding • Unit Practice Worksheet Page 1 of 2
Wild Words Application
Context Clues, Morphology & Sentence Construction
Page 2
3
Context Clues: Complete the Sentences
Choose the best word from the box
kindness postcards scolding wildlife withhold
- We spotted deer, foxes, and other beautiful
in the national forest.
- During our trip out west, we mailed colorful
to our grandparents.
- Showing genuine
to a new student makes them feel welcome immediately.
- The teacher gave a gentle
when students forgot to put away their art tools.
- The judge warned the witness not to
any facts from the jury.
4
Compound Word Builder
Combine the two words into a single compound word.
gold + fish =
wild + cat =
out + post =
toll + booth =
5
Sentence Writing Challenge
Underline your two exception words!
Write one complete, detailed sentence that includes two different words with closed syllable exceptions from your word list.
Your Sentence:
Capital letter End mark (. ! ?) 2 wild exception words