TTile Streak

How the list and the board work

This page has a vocabulary list for 2nd grade, with definitions for every word. Each entry shows how to say the word, its part of speech, what it means and a short example sentence. Tap Play this list and the board serves words from this same list, so a word your child reads here shows up again in the game.

This list is still being built from documented sources, and it keeps growing. It's not an official state list, and it's not labeled Common Core aligned. It's a working set of words that fit where a second grader's reading and writing usually are.

A few words from the list

These four words show the format. The list has more words than this, and we're adding to it as we go.

WordPronunciationPart of speechMeaning
curiousKYOOR-ee-usadjectiveeager to know or learn something
wiggleWIG-ulverbmove with small, quick side to side motions
gentleJEN-tuladjectivemild and kind, not rough
puddlePUD-ulnouna small pool of water on the ground

A few example sentences:

  • "The curious cat kept sniffing at the new box."
  • "The little fish began to wiggle free of the net."
  • "Grandpa gave the puppy a gentle pat on the head."
  • "Her boots splashed right through the puddle."

These four are just examples, not today's answer. The board draws from the whole list, so what shows up there will differ.

A few ideas for using it together

Talk about the word before the game. A quick chat about what curious or gentle means in real life makes the word easier to spot later.

Let your child use the word their own way. A sentence about their own dog wiggling is worth more than repeating ours.

Meaning first, spelling second. At this age, understanding what a word means and being able to use it matters more than spelling it perfectly on the first try.

Keep sessions short. A few minutes with three or four words holds a second grader's attention better than working through a long list at once.

For teachers and parents

This list works well as a quick warm-up before a reading group, or a five-minute activity while waiting for the rest of the class to settle. It prints cleanly for a take-home sheet or a small group handout.

Because it isn't tied to one curriculum, it sits alongside whatever reading program a classroom already uses. There's no pressure and no ranking built in: a child who is confident with a handful of these words is building real vocabulary, at their own pace.

More words to explore

See 1st grade vocabulary for a step earlier, or the elementary vocabulary list for a wider set. For matching words to meanings as a game, try vocabulary matching.

The list

WordSay itPart of speechWhat it means
ADULT/əˈdʌlt/adjFully developed.
AFRAID/əˈfreɪd/adjFilled with fear or apprehension.
ALLOW/əˈlaʊ/verbMake it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen.
ALONE/əˈloʊn/adjIsolated from others.
ALWAYS/ˈɔlˌweɪz/advAt all times; all the time and on every occasion.
ANSWER/ˈænsɚ/nounA statement (either spoken or written) that is made to reply to a question or request or criticism or accusation.
AROUND/ɚˈaʊnd/advIn the area or vicinity.
BADGE/bædʒ/nounAn emblem (a small piece of plastic or cloth or metal) that signifies your status (rank or membership or affiliation etc.).
BAKE/beɪk/verbCook and make edible by putting in a hot oven.
BEAD/bid/verbDecorate by sewing beads onto.
BEFORE/bɪˈfɔr/advEarlier in time; previously.
BEGIN/bɪˈɡɪn/verbSet in motion, cause to start.
BELT/bɛlt/nounAn elongated region where a specific condition or characteristic is found.
BORING/ˈbɔrɪŋ/adjSo lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness.
BOTH/boʊθ/adjTwo considered together; the two.
BRIGHT/braɪt/adjEmitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts.
BUILDING/ˈbɪldɪŋ/nounA structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place.
BUY/baɪ/nounAn advantageous purchase.
CALL/kɔl/nounA method of contacting a person by phone.
CARD/kɑrd/nounA card certifying the identity of the bearer.
CHANGE/tʃeɪndʒ/nounAn event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another.
CHEWY/ˈtʃui/adjRequiring chewing.
CHURCH/tʃɝtʃ/nounA place for public (especially Christian) worship.
CLEVER/ˈklɛvɚ/adjShowing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others.
CLIMB/klaɪm/nounThe act of climbing something.
CLOSE/kloʊs/nounThe temporal end; the concluding time.
CLOTH/klɔθ/nounArtifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers.
COMB/koʊm/verbSmoothen and neaten with or as with a comb.
COPY/ˈkɑpi/nounA thing made to be similar or identical to another thing.
COSTUME/kɑˈstum/nounThe attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball.
CRASH/kræʃ/nounA serious accident (usually involving one or more vehicles).
CROSS/krɔs/adjExtending or lying across; in a crosswise direction; at right angles to the long axis.
CRUMB/krʌm/nounA very small quantity of something.
CUTE/kjut/adjAttractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness.
DARKNESS/ˈdɑrknəs/nounAn unilluminated area.
DEAD/dɛd/nounPeople who are no longer living.
DEAR/dɪr/adjWith or in a close or intimate relationship.
DIE/daɪ/verbSuffer or face the pain of death.
DREAM/drim/nounA series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep.
DUMMY/ˈdʌmi/verbMake a dummy of.
EMPTY/ˈɛmpti/adjHolding or containing nothing.
ENDING/ˈɛndɪŋ/nounThe end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme).
ENJOY/ˌɛnˈdʒɔɪ/verbHave benefit from.
EVEN/ˈivɪn/verbBecome even or more even.
EXCITING/ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/adjCreating or arousing excitement.
FAIR/fɛr/nounA competitive exhibition of farm products.
FAT/fæt/nounA soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue and consisting of a mixture of lipids (mostly triglycerides).
FEW/fju/nounA small elite group.
FIELD/fild/nounA piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed.
FIGHT/faɪt/nounThe act of fighting; any contest or struggle.
FIGHTING/ˈfaɪtɪŋ/nounThe act of fighting; any contest or struggle.
FILL/fɪl/nounA quantity sufficient to satisfy.
FILM/fɪlm/nounA form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement.
FOLLOW/ˈfɑloʊ/verbTo travel behind, go after, come after.
FOUND/faʊnd/nounFood and lodging provided in addition to money.
FREE/fri/nounPeople who are free.
FRIENDLY/ˈfrɛndli/adjCharacteristic of or befitting a friend.
FROZEN/ˈfroʊzən/adjTurned into ice; affected by freezing or by long and severe cold.
FURRY/ˈfɝi/adjCovered with a dense coat of fine silky hairs.
GLAD/ɡlæd/adjShowing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy.
GLASS/ɡlæs/verbEnclose with glass.
GOLD/ɡoʊld/nounA deep yellow color.
GRAB/ɡræb/nounThe act of catching an object with the hands.
GREAT/ɡreɪt/adjRelatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind.
GROUND/ɡraʊnd/nounThe solid part of the earth's surface.
HAMMER/ˈhæmɚ/verbBeat with or as if with a hammer.
HAPPILY/ˈhæpəli/advIn an unexpectedly lucky way.
HATE/heɪt/verbDislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards.
HEARING/ˈhirɪŋ/nounAn opportunity to state your case and be heard.
HEEL/hil/verbTilt to one side.
HIDDEN/ˈhɪdən/adjNot accessible to view.
HOLIDAY/ˈhɑləˌdeɪ/nounLeisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure.
HOUR/ˈaʊɚ/nounA period of time equal to 1/24th of a day.
HUMAN/ˈhjumən/adjRelating to a person.
HURRY/ˈhɝi/nounA condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry.
HUSH/hʌʃ/verbBecome quiet or still; fall silent.
ITCHY/ˈɪtʃi/adjCausing an irritating cutaneous sensation; being affect with an itch.
JAM/dʒæm/verbCrush or bruise.
JOKE/dʒoʊk/nounA humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter.
JUG/dʒʌɡ/verbStew in an earthenware jug.
JUMPER/ˈdʒʌmpɚ/nounA person who jumps.
KIND/kaɪnd/adjHaving or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior.
KNOCK/nɑk/nounA vigorous blow.
LAND/lænd/nounThe land on which real estate is located.
LARGE/lɑrdʒ/adjAbove average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent.
LAZY/ˈleɪzi/adjMoving slowly and gently.
LETTER/ˈlɛtɚ/nounA written message addressed to a person or organization.
LIFE/laɪf/nounThe experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities.
LIFT/lɪft/verbTake hold of something and move it to a different location.
LIST/lɪst/nounThe property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical.
LOG/lɔɡ/nounA written record of messages sent or received.
LOVING/ˈlʌvɪŋ/adjFeeling or showing love and affection.
LUCK/lʌk/nounYour overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you).
MADE/meɪd/adjProduced by a manufacturing process.
MARRIED/ˈmɛrid/adjJoined in matrimony.
MASK/mæsk/nounActivity that tries to conceal something.
MEAN/min/verbMean or intend to express or convey.
MEET/mit/adjBeing precisely fitting and right.
MONEY/ˈmʌni/nounThe most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender.
NAIL/neɪl/verbAttach something somewhere by means of nails.
OFF/ɔf/adjNot in operation or operational.
PART/pɑrt/nounSomething determined in relation to something that includes it.
PATH/pæθ/nounA course of conduct.
PIANO/piˈænoʊ/adjSoft; in a quiet, subdued tone.
PIN/pɪn/verbAttach or fasten with pins.
PINCH/pɪntʃ/nounA painful or straitened circumstance.
PLAIN/pleɪn/nounExtensive tract of level open land.
PLUG/plʌɡ/verbPersist in working hard.
PLUM/plʌm/advCompletely; used as intensifiers.
POND/pɑnd/nounA small lake.
POOL/pul/nounAn organization of people or resources that can be shared.
POOR/pur/nounPeople without possessions or wealth (considered as a group).
POST/poʊst/nounThe position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand.
POUND/paʊnd/verbStrike or drive against with a heavy impact.
PRAY/preɪ/verbAddress a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer.
PRESENT/ˈprɛzənt/nounThe period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech.
PRIMARY/ˈpraɪˌmɛri/adjMost important element.
PRIZE/praɪz/nounSomething given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery.
QUICK/kwɪk/adjAccomplished rapidly and without delay.
RICH/rɪtʃ/nounPeople who have possessions and wealth (considered as a group).
RING/rɪŋ/nounA characteristic sound.
RIVER/ˈrɪvɚ/nounA large natural stream of water (larger than a creek).
ROOF/ruf/nounThe inner top surface of a covered area or hollow space.
RUNNER/ˈrʌnɚ/nounA person who is employed to deliver messages or documents.
SECOND/ˈsɛkənd/verbGive support or one's approval to.
SEED/sid/verbGo to seed; shed seeds.
SEND/sɛnd/verbCause to be directed or transmitted to another place.
SET/sɛt/nounA group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used.
SHARK/ʃɑrk/nounA person who is unusually skilled in certain ways.
SHARP/ʃɑrp/adjClearly defined.
SHINY/ˈʃaɪni/adjReflecting light.
SHY/ʃaɪ/nounA quick throw.
SILENT/ˈsaɪlənt/adjFailing to speak or communicate etc. when expected to.
SINK/sɪŋk/nounA process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system.
SLIMY/ˈslaɪmi/adjCovered with or resembling slime.
SPARKLE/ˈspɑrkəl/nounMerriment expressed by a brightness or gleam or animation of countenance.
SPELL/spɛl/nounA time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else).
SPIN/spɪn/nounThe act of rotating rapidly.
SPONGE/spʌndʒ/nounSomeone able to acquire new knowledge and skills rapidly and easily.
SPRING/sprɪŋ/nounThe season of growth; spring; the beginning of spring.
SQUEEZE/skwiz/nounThe act of gripping and pressing firmly.
STAND/stænd/nounA growth of similar plants (usually trees) in a particular area.
STING/stɪŋ/nounA kind of pain; something as sudden and painful as being stung.
STOMACH/ˈstʌmək/nounAn inclination or liking for things involving conflict or difficulty or unpleasantness.
STONE/stoʊn/nounBuilding material consisting of a piece of rock hewn in a definite shape for a special purpose.
STRING/strɪŋ/verbThread on or as if on a string.
STUCK/stʌk/adjCaught or fixed.
STUPID/ˈstupəd/adjIn a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock.
SWIMMER/ˈswɪmɚ/nounA trained athlete who participates in swimming meets.
SWIMMING/ˈswɪmɪŋ/nounThe act of swimming.
TASTY/ˈteɪsti/adjPleasing to the sense of taste.
TELEPHONE/ˈtɛləˌfoʊn/nounElectronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds.
TELL/tɛl/verbExpress in words.
THIN/θɪn/adjOf relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite or in cross section.
THIRD/θɝd/nounOne of three equal parts of a divisible whole.
THIRST/θɝst/nounStrong desire for something (not food or drink).
THOUGHT/θɔt/nounThe content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about.
THROAT/θroʊt/nounA passage resembling a throat in shape or function.
TIDY/ˈtaɪdi/verbPut (things or places) in order.
TIE/taɪ/nounNeckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front.
TOWER/ˈtaʊɚ/nounAnything that approximates the shape of a column or tower.
TREASURE/ˈtrɛʒɚ/nounAccumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.
TRUTH/truθ/nounA fact that has been verified.
TWIN/twɪn/verbGrow as twins.
UGLY/ˈʌɡli/adjInclined to anger or bad feelings with overtones of menace.
UNHAPPY/ənˈhæpi/adjExperiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent.
UPSET/əpˈsɛt/nounAn unhappy and worried mental state.
USED/juzd/adjEmployed in accomplishing something.
VERY/ˈvɛri/adjPrecisely as stated.
VISIT/ˈvɪzɪt/nounThe act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time.
WAKE/weɪk/nounThe consequences of an event (especially a catastrophic event).
WASH/wɑʃ/verbCleanse with a cleaning agent, such as soap, and water.
WATCH/wɑtʃ/verbLook attentively.
WEEK/wik/nounAny period of seven consecutive days.
WHOLE/hoʊl/nounAll of something including all its component elements or parts.
WORK/wɝk/nounActivity directed toward making or doing something.
WRITE/raɪt/verbContact in writing.
YOUNG/jʌŋ/nounYoung people collectively.
ZERO/ˈzɪroʊ/adjHaving no measurable or otherwise determinable value.

179 words. Every meaning comes from Open English WordNet.

Questions

Is this an official state or Common Core word list?

No. This is a Tile Streak vocabulary list built from documented sources to fit second-grade reading. It is not an official state list, and it is not labeled Common Core aligned.

How many words are on the list?

We're still adding to it, so we don't publish an exact count. It grows as we check and add more words over time.

What does each word show?

How to say it, its part of speech, a plain meaning and a short example sentence, all together in one place.

How does the play this list board work?

It's a game version of the same list. The board serves words from this list, so a word read here can show up again when your child plays.

Is this list the right level for my child?

The words fit where second-grade reading and writing usually are. Some children will know most of them already, others will meet several for the first time, and both are fine.

Can I print the list?

Yes. It's plain text and a simple table, so it prints cleanly for a take-home sheet or a small group handout.