1,314 FREE Reading Comprehension Worksheets, Games and Tests
BusyTeacher Home » Reading Comprehension

FREE Reading Comprehension Worksheets

Reading is a very important part of learning a language. It's considered a receptive skill, otherwise known as a passive skill, which means that students don’t necessarily have to produce language - just receive it. But more often than not, students have difficulty reading because of vocabulary and/or the context involved. BusyTeacher.org offers 1,314 reading comprehension worksheets that are sure to help your students stay engaged in their reading, by providing interesting stories and effective exercises.

We as teachers don’t always have the time to make up our own stories, or go through books to pick out excerpts to present in our lessons. The reading worksheets on BusyTeacher.org offer a variety of different stories and texts in different categories and genres to help your students improve their reading ability and learn the language, all the while enjoying the stories they're reading. Depending on what you're aiming to teach, you can use these worksheets in a whole variety of different ways in the classroom. If a worksheet has a story that contains dialogue, you could assign roles to students and have them act out what the characters say. You can also use the stories on the worksheets to create comprehension questions. Some worksheets can even make for classroom discussion topics. After reading a passage, you can present a question to students, and ask them to give their opinions of where the story is going. These are just some of the many things you can do to make use of these worksheets in the classroom.

Whether you're teaching scanning, skimming, critical thinking, or reading for gist, BusyTeacher.org has the worksheet(s) you need for your lessons. There are worksheets on just about any topic you can think of - sports, business, history, and holidays to name a few. Another handy feature on BusyTeacher.org is that each worksheet has the level shown in the description, which makes it easy for you to find an appropriate worksheet for your students. The thumbnail can be opened to full page view, so you can check if the worksheet is right for your lesson. Some worksheets you'll find here are appropriate for several - or even for all levels, which means they're reusable for a future lessons with students at different levels.

No registration or subscription is necessary to download our worksheets. They’re all free to download, copy, and use in your lessons. Plus, all of them were created and uploaded by fellow ESL teachers from all around the globe, and have helped other ESL teachers in their lessons. In addition, if you have a worksheet you've created and would like to submit it to this site, you can do so by clicking the “Submit a worksheet” link at the bottom of this page. Join thousands of other ESL teachers using BusyTeacher.org, and bookmark us as your number-one stop for worksheets to use in your lessons daily! With 1,314 reading worksheets, planning your lessons has never been easier. Get started by checking out the most popular worksheets below. Try downloading one and using it in your lesson today!

Filter by Level
NEW
  • Complete Beginner (84)
  • Elementary (604)
  • Pre-Intermediate (473)
  • Intermediate (521)
  • Upper-Intermediate Advanced (330)
  • Exam Level (103)
  • Suitable for All Levels (20)
Clear filters
Filter
Dramatically improve the way you teach:




Make A Word Search:

Create awesome-looking custom word searches in seconds!

Make A Word Scramble:

Instantly create custom word/sentence scrambles for your class!

Make A Double Puzzle:

Generate double puzzles your students will love - hours of fun!

ESL Articles
Rate this Category
4.1 out of 5, rated by 53 teachers




Sort by: Most Recent | Most Viewed | Rating
Reading Comprehension: Ollie the Octopus

Reading Comprehension: Ollie the Octopus

, , Reading Comprehension
This English worksheet was created for early readers. Having strong reading comprehension skills will also help in other subjects. Students read the text about an octopus called Ollie and answer t ...
5 Views 26,326 Elem
Reading Comprehension: The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Reading Comprehension: The Tale of Peter Rabbit

, , Reading Comprehension
Kids will love this comprehension that includes a piece of writing taken from the famous book 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' by Beatrix Potter. Students are asked to read the text and answer the accom ...
6 Views 42,029 Elem
Reading Comprehension: Getting Ready for School

Reading Comprehension: Getting Ready for School

, Reading Comprehension
Students are asked to read a short story about a boy who gets ready for school. They are asked to put the sentences in order from 1 - 5 and then answer the accompanying questions. This worksheet w ...
8 Views 49,691 Elem
Song Worksheet: Fairytale of New York by Christy Moore

Song Worksheet: Fairytale of New York by Christy Moore

Paul Rooney
The song is a cover of the Christmas classic by the Pogues, performed by Christy Moore on the Jools Holland show. The song begins and ends with a short anecdote giving some background to how the s ...
2 Views 25,524 Pre-IntIntAdv
Christmas Worksheet: Reindeer - Reading Comprehension

Christmas Worksheet: Reindeer - Reading Comprehension

, , Reading Comprehension,
This Christmas worksheet includes facts about reindeer. It can be handed out to students as as an extra resource when teaching kids about Christmas. Students are asked to read through the text and ...
4 Views 42,611 Elem
Put BusyTeacher in your inbox

Sign up for the BusyTeacher Weekly and be the first to get direct links to our latest teaching articles, worksheets and lesson plans. Goes out to 323,134 subscribers every Wednesday.
See last week's issue.

Ukrainian Cuisine

Ukrainian Cuisine

Liusia
, , Reading Comprehension
The worksheet describes two popular dishes of Ukrainian cuisine. Vocabulary used in it can be helpful in tasks requiring the description of cooking processes. Students can use the phrases from the ...
6 Views 20,791 IntAdv
Christmas in the UK - Reading Comprehension

Christmas in the UK - Reading Comprehension

, , Reading Comprehension,
What happens in the UK at Christmas? This worksheet includes some interesting facts about how families celebrate Christmas in the UK. How do you celebrate Christmas? Do you have a Christmas tree? ...
7 Views 58,573 Elem
Christmas in the USA - Reading Comprehension

Christmas in the USA - Reading Comprehension

, , Reading Comprehension,
What statues are sometimes used to decorate the outside of houses? Where is the famous Rockefeller Center? Find out some interesting facts about Christmas in the USA. Students read through the tex ...
12 Views 47,305 Elem
Christmas in Poland - Reading Comprehension

Christmas in Poland - Reading Comprehension

, Reading Comprehension,
What is Advent? In Poland, what is normally placed on the top of a Christmas tree? Find out some interesting facts about how people in Poland spend their Christmas. Students read through the text ...
4 Views 20,309 Elem
Dog Breeds

Dog Breeds

Tatiana
I used this worksheet with adult students that study veterinary medicine. 1)  You divide your group into 3 groups ( text a,b,c). 2) Each student gets a table, which he needs to complete ...
4 Views 19,380 IntAdv
Pets- B1/ISE 1 Style Reading Exercise

Pets- B1/ISE 1 Style Reading Exercise

Yva
, Reading Comprehension
Easy B1/ ISE 1 style reading exercise (only 2 texts + 1 graphic). It includes reading for gist, true/false questions and gap fill. 
5 Views 15,355 ElemPre-Int
B1/ISE 1 Style Reading Exercise - Holidays with Kids

B1/ISE 1 Style Reading Exercise - Holidays with Kids

Yva
, , , Reading Comprehension
ISE 1/ Trinity Style multiple text reading exercise on the theme of travel. It includes gap fill, true or false statements and paragraph titles. A PDF with the answers can be found on this pa ...
3 Views 21,786 Pre-Int
A Tongue Twister Reading

A Tongue Twister Reading

Reading Comprehension
My worksheet illustrates the use of some indefinite compound nouns such as some, any, no, every +body in a short reading text using each of them as if they were actually real people ( I personif ...
4 Views 21,970 Int
Reactions to US Elections Results: Trump's Victory

Reactions to US Elections Results: Trump's Victory

Chocolate addict
, , , Reading Comprehension
This worksheet includes a video about the reasons of Trump's victory and a short article from the New York Times (a reaction by a contributing opinion writer). We are not supposed to discuss our p ...
18 Views 21,080 IntAdv
Halloween/ Reading

Halloween/ Reading

, Reading Comprehension
This worksheet includes a reading task for Halloween. It is about the history of Halloween and what children usually do on this special day. It is designed for elementary and pre-intermediate stud ...
11 Views 76,569 ElemPre-Int
KS2 Reading Comprehension - Mosquitoes

KS2 Reading Comprehension - Mosquitoes

, , Reading Comprehension
This reading comprehension was created for primary/elementary students. The resource includes a passage with some interesting facts about the mosquito. Children read the text and then answer the q ...
6 Views 23,146 Elem
KS2 Reading Comprehension - Tarantulas

KS2 Reading Comprehension - Tarantulas

, , Reading Comprehension
This reading comprehension was created for primary/elementary students. The resource includes a passage with some interesting facts about the tarantula. Children read the text and then answer the ...
5 Views 16,056 Elem
KS2 Reading Comprehension - Scorpions

KS2 Reading Comprehension - Scorpions

, , Reading Comprehension
This reading comprehension was created for primary/elementary students. The resource includes a passage with some interesting facts about the scorpion. Children read the text and then answer the q ...
3 Views 15,297 Elem
The Yearling, Chapter 2

The Yearling, Chapter 2

Reading Comprehension
I have designed this PPT based on the second chapter of the story book, The Yearling (Penguin Active Reading). It includes 3 parts. First, have the students answer some questions based on the firs ...
3 Views 7,812 Pre-IntInt
The Yearling

The Yearling

, Reading Comprehension
This PowerPoint is designed based on the story book, The Yearling/ Penguin Active Reading. It is based on the first chapter of the story book. It includes four parts. First, it contains some gener ...
4 Views 15,117 Pre-Int
Cats Rule: an ESL Unit

Cats Rule: an ESL Unit

, Reading Comprehension
A free-to-use ESL unit on the topic of cats, suitable for pre-intermediate level learners. This unit includes speaking, reading, listening, vocabulary and grammar practice. Links are provided for ...
9 Views 18,136 Pre-Int
The Landlady

The Landlady

Hoffert Corinne
, Reading Comprehension
Reading worksheet for extensive reading of the famous short story by Roahl Dahl that you can find on the internet or in the book . Grammar exercise about tenses revision + 2 writing tasks ...
5 Views 18,764 IntAdv
Comprehension - Autumn Is the Time of Year

Comprehension - Autumn Is the Time of Year

, Reading Comprehension,
This poem is all about autumn and can be used as an extra resource when teaching primary/elementary aged pupils. Students are asked to read through the poem and answer the accompanying study quest ...
11 Views 40,011 Elem
Movie Worksheet: US Elections 2016

Movie Worksheet: US Elections 2016

Ellen
Worksheet about the US elections in November 2016. Includes speaking, reading, vocabulary, listening based on Trump and Clinton's post Orlando speeches and a writing prompt about global risks.&nbs ...
29 Views 20,058 Pre-Int
Trash Trivia (How Much Waste Do We Produce?)

Trash Trivia (How Much Waste Do We Produce?)

Daria
It's a reading and speaking activity which is very good to introduce (or enhance) the topic of pollution, environmental protection, etc. It's based on real statistics. It also provides some inform ...
8 Views 26,740 Int

Got a great worksheet on Reading Comprehension? Tell us about it and become a BusyTeacher contributor!

Submit a Worksheet