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Worksheet8th GradeLevel 3 · Challenge

Free 8th Grade Homophones: Principal or Principle, Capital or Capitol? Worksheet

Students master the homophones that trip up formal and civic writing: principal and principle, capital and capitol, stationary and stationery, complement and compliment, council and counsel, passed and past, led and lead, whose and who's, weather and whether, aisle and isle, and idle and idol. They match meanings, choose words in context, learn memory hooks, proofread a student news report about a field trip to Austin and write their own sentences.

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Grade
8th Grade
Subject
English
Topic
Homophones
Difficulty
Level 3 · Challenge
Estimated time
25 minutes
Curriculum
Texas grade levels (TEKS)
Questions
25
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practice

  • distinguishing principal from principle and capital from capitol
  • choosing homophones correctly in formal writing
  • using memory hooks for commonly confused words
  • proofreading for homophone errors that spell-checkers miss

Curriculum: Texas grade levels (TEKS). We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Homophones: Principal or Principle, Capital or Capitol?

Ready for more? Move on to 9th Grade English.

← Easier: Level 2 · Standard

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

8th Grade students (typically ages 13–14) working on homophones. It is pitched at level 3 · challenge; an easier version is linked above.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 25 minutes for 25 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Explore more 8th Grade english resources.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheets8th Grade · English · Homophones

Homophones: Principal or Principle, Capital or Capitol?

Name

Date

Score /

Homophones sound alike but differ in spelling and meaning. Use the memory hooks to choose correctly.

Part A: Know the difference

1.Match each word to its meaning.
  • principal
  • principle
  • capital
  • capitol
  • stationary
  • stationery
  • complement
  • compliment
  • writing paper and envelopes
  • the head of a school; or main, most important
  • a basic rule or belief
  • a city that is the seat of government; or an uppercase letter
  • not moving
  • a kind or admiring remark
  • something that completes or goes well with something else
  • the building where lawmakers meet

Part B: Choose the word

Circle the correct word. Read the memory hook in the answers when you check your work.

2.Austin is the (answer space) of Texas.
  1. Acapital
  2. Bcapitol
3.The Texas (answer space) building is topped by a dome.
  1. Acapital
  2. Bcapitol
4.Our (answer space) spoke at the start of the assembly.
  1. Aprincipal
  2. Bprinciple
5.Fairness is an important (answer space) in sports.
  1. Aprincipal
  2. Bprinciple
6.The (answer space) reason for the delay was a flat tire.
  1. Aprincipal
  2. Bprinciple
7.The truck remained (answer space) in the traffic jam for an hour.
  1. Astationary
  2. Bstationery
8.She wrote her thank-you notes on blue (answer space).
  1. Astationary
  2. Bstationery
9.My coach paid me a (answer space) on my free throws.
  1. Acomplement
  2. Bcompliment
10.The spicy salsa is a perfect (answer space) to the mild beans.
  1. Acomplement
  2. Bcompliment
11.The city (answer space) voted to build a new library.
  1. Acouncil
  2. Bcounsel
12.The school counselor offered wise (answer space).
  1. Acouncil
  2. Bcounsel
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.