Free prefixes and suffixes worksheets

Knowing a dozen prefixes and suffixes unlocks thousands of words: a child who knows un-, re-, pre-, dis-, mis- and non-, and -ful, -less, -ness, -ly, -er, -est and -able, can work out unhelpful, replacement and unbreakable without a dictionary. These eight worksheets teach those thirteen word parts in the order third to fifth graders meet them: first the meanings (with reference tables to keep), then building words, then finding the root, then using the words in sentences, and finally taking long words apart. Every PDF has the answer key on page 2.

What's in this set

1. Prefixes and their meanings. A table of re-, un-, pre-, dis-, mis- and non- with meanings and examples, then ten words to match to their meanings. Key on page 2.
2. Suffixes and their meanings. A table of -ful, -less, -ness, -ly, -er, -est and -able, then ten matching items. Key.
3. Build a word. Sixteen root words with a prefix or suffix chip: write the new word and its meaning. Key.
4. Find the root word. Sixteen words: circle the affix and write the root. Key.
5. Prefix words in sentences. Twelve sentences completed from a bank (unlock, rewrite, preview, disappear, misplaced, nonstop...). Key.
6. Suffix words in sentences. Twelve more from a bank (careful, helpless, darkness, quietly, painter, longest...). Key.
7. Prefix or suffix? Sort twenty words by where the word part sits, then write the meaning of six word parts. Key.
8. Word detective. Eight long words (unhelpful, disagreement, preheated, unbreakable) to split into prefix, root and suffix boxes. Key.

Frequently asked questions

What grades are these prefixes and suffixes worksheets for?

Grades 3 to 5. Third grade standards (L.3.4b) ask children to use known affixes to work out word meanings; fourth and fifth graders (L.4.4b, L.5.4b) extend to Greek and Latin roots. Sheets 1 to 4 suit third grade; the sentence and detective sheets stretch to fifth.

Which prefixes and suffixes are covered?

Prefixes re-, un-, pre-, dis-, mis- and non-. Suffixes -ful, -less, -ness, -ly, -er, -est and -able, with -ment and -ing appearing on the word detective page. These are the most frequent affixes in grade-school text.

Do the worksheets have answer keys?

Yes, every PDF is two pages: the worksheet and the same page with the answers filled in. For the meaning questions, accept any wording that matches the table.

What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?

A prefix goes on the front of a root word (un + happy); a suffix goes on the end (happy + ness). Sheet 7 sorts twenty words by which one they have.

Can I use these in a classroom?

Yes. The PDFs are free for home and classroom use. The two table sheets work as anchor charts if printed large.

More word study

The synonyms and antonyms worksheets and context clues worksheets build vocabulary from the other direction, and the spelling worksheets cover the spelling changes that come with suffixes. For grammar in the same grade band, see the pronouns worksheets, homophones worksheets and contractions worksheets, and for reading practice the third grade reading comprehension worksheets.