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Grade 3 Word Building Worksheet

A worksheet for third graders to practice word building skills through prefixes, suffixes, and compound words.

Grade 3 ELA GrammarLanguage and VocabularyWord Building
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Includes

TextMultiple ChoiceFill in the BlanksShort Answer

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.bCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.4.c

Topics

ELAGrade 3Word BuildingVocabularyPrefixesSuffixesCompound Words
6 sections · Free to use · Printable
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Word Building Adventures

Name:

Date:

Score:

Read the instructions for each section carefully and answer all questions.

Prefix Power!

A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. For example, 're-' means again, so 'redo' means to do again.

1. What does the word 'unhappy' mean? (Hint: 'un-' means not)

2. Add the prefix 'pre-' (meaning before) to the word 'heat' to make a new word. What does the new word mean?

Suffix Superstars!

A suffix is a word part added to the end of a word to change its meaning. For example, '-ful' means full of, so 'helpful' means full of help.

3. Which word means 'full of joy'?

a

joyless

b

enjoy

c

joyful

d

rejoice

4. Which suffix would you add to 'quick' to mean 'in a quick way'?

a

-ing

b

-ly

c

-er

d

-ness

Compound Word Challenge!

A compound word is made when two smaller words are joined together to make a new word. For example, 'sun' + 'flower' = 'sunflower'.

5. What compound word can you make from 'rain' and 'bow'?  

6. Fill in the blank to complete the compound word: 'pan' + ' ' = 'pancake'.

Word Building Story!

7. Write two sentences using at least one word with a prefix and one word with a suffix. Underline the word with the prefix and circle the word with the suffix.