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Unlocking Words: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

A Grade 10 ELA worksheet focusing on determining word meaning through analysis of roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Grade 10 ELA GrammarLanguage and VocabularyVocabularyDetermining Meaning Using Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
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Includes

Multiple ChoiceFill in the Blanks2 Short AnswerMatching

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.9-10.4.b

Topics

ELAVocabularyRootsPrefixesSuffixesGrade 10
7 sections · Free to use · Printable
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Unlocking Words: Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes

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Date:

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Read each question carefully and follow the instructions. Use your knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.

1. In the word 'benevolent', what does the prefix 'bene-' most likely mean?

a

bad

b

good

c

before

d

under

2. The word 'chronological' contains the root 'chron'. What does 'chron' refer to?

a

color

b

sound

c

time

d

light

3. The suffix '-ology' means the study of. Therefore, 'biology' is the study of  .

4. The prefix 'mal-' indicates something bad or evil. If a person is described as 'malnourished', it means they are  .

5. Explain how knowing the meaning of the prefix 'un-' and the suffix '-able' helps you understand the word 'unbelievable'.

Match the root/affix with its correct meaning.

6. 'auto-'

 

a. water

7. '-scribe'

 

b. write

8. 'hydro-'

 

c. self

9. 'omni-'

 

d. all

Read the following passage. Identify two words that contain a recognizable prefix, root, or suffix. For each word, break it down and explain how its parts contribute to its overall meaning in the context of the passage.

The expedition crew was deeply concerned about the unpredictable weather patterns in the Antarctic. They meticulously documented every anomaly, hoping to decipher the enigmatic shifts in temperature and precipitation. Their efforts were commendable, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to scientific discovery, despite the inherent dangers of such a remote and unforgiving environment.

Word 1:  

Word 2: