Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes Worksheets for Grade 5

Grade 5 English 12 Printable Worksheets 100% FREE

No Signup Required Free PDF Download Instant Access Answer Key Included

MainContent

p-top: 48 p-bot: 48 p-left: 32 p-right: 32 p-x: 32 m-bot: 24

Roots, prefixes, and suffixes are word-part tools that fifth graders use to unlock the meanings of unfamiliar words across all subjects. Students apply common prefixes such as re-, pre-, mis-, sub-, un-, and in-, use suffixes like -tion, -ment, -ful, -less, and -ous to understand how words change meaning and part of speech, and analyze Latin and Greek roots including port, rupt, vis, aud, bio, geo, and graph.

The main challenge is that students apply prefix and suffix meanings too rigidly — concluding that 'infamous' means 'not famous' when it means 'notorious,' or that 'fearless' means 'with fear' when it means 'without fear.' Students also struggle to combine multiple word parts to decode unfamiliar words. In Grade 4, students studied basic prefixes and suffixes; Grade 5 adds Latin and Greek roots and requires students to combine multiple word parts.

Our roots, prefixes, and suffixes worksheets give fifth graders structured practice correcting prefix misapplications, identifying suffix-driven part-of-speech changes, matching roots to their meanings in context, and combining prefixes, roots, and suffixes to decode multi-morpheme words they have never seen before.

Worksheet Preview

Browse all 12 printable worksheets below — click any card to open the full page.

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The prefix re- means "again," so to rebuild something means to

2. Adding the prefix pre- to the word "view" creates

3. The prefix mis- means "wrongly," so to

4. A

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The suffix -tion turns a verb into a noun, so "educate" becomes

2. Adding the suffix -ful to "hope" creates

3. The suffix -less means "without," so adding it to "care" makes

4. Adding the suffix -ment to "improve" creates the noun

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The prefix un- means "not," so if something is unclear, it is not

2. Adding the prefix dis- to "agree" creates

3. A

4. The prefix over- means "too much," so to

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Easy

Part A: Fix the Sentence

Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The prefix inter- means "between," so an

2. The prefix trans- means "across," so to

3. A

4. A

Part C: Short Answer

Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The Latin root port means "to carry," so to

2. A

3. The Latin root rupt means "to break," so a volcanic

4. When you

5. The Latin root vis means "to see," so something

6. A person with excellent

7. The Latin root aud means "to hear," so an

8. If a sound is

9. To

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

transport

→

break apart or throw into disorder

disrupt

→

a large room built for audiences to hear performances

evidence

→

carry across from one place to another

auditorium

→

something seen or observed that proves a fact

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The Greek root bio means "life," so

2. A

3. The Greek root geo means "earth," so

4. A

5. The Greek root graph means "write," so an

6. A

7. The Latin root scrib means "write," so to

8. A

9. The study of heat and energy deep inside the earth is called

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

inscription

→

a large community of living things in a climate zone

photograph

→

writing carved or engraved onto a surface

biome

→

a scientist who studies rocks and the earth

geologist

→

an image written by light onto film or a sensor

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The Latin root dict means "to say," so a

2. To

3. The Latin root cred means "to believe," so something

4. If a story sounds

5. The Latin root ject means "to throw," so to

6. A

7. The Latin root tract means "to pull," so to

8. A

9. To

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

dictate

→

belief or trust that someone will pay later

credit

→

to throw medicine into the body with a needle

inject

→

to pull a number away from another in math

subtract

→

to say words aloud for someone else to write down

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Medium

Part A: Fill in the Blank

Write the missing word or number on each line.

1. The Greek root tele means "far," so a

2. A

3. The Greek root phon means "sound," so

4. A

5. The Greek root path means "feeling," so

6. When you feel

7. The Greek root chron means "time," so to do things in

8. A

9. A

Part B: Matching

Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.

1. Match each item to its correct answer.

telescope

→

a lack of feeling or interest in something

symphony

→

to make things happen at the same time

apathy

→

a device for seeing objects that are very far away

synchronize

→

a musical work where many sounds play together in harmony

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. The word "invisible" contains the prefix in- (not) and the root vis (see). What does invisible most likely mean?

2. If the root struct means "build" and the prefix de- means "undo," what does the word "destruct" most likely mean?

3. The word "transcontinental" combines trans- (across) and a root from "continent." What does transcontinental mean?

4. If the root dict means "say" and the prefix pre- means "before," what does the word "predict" mean?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. The word "submarine" combines the prefix sub- (under) and the Latin root mare (sea), so it means a vessel that travels

2. Knowing that the root aud means "hear," you can figure out that an

3. The word "transportation" combines the root port (carry) with the prefix trans- (across) and the suffix -ation, meaning the act of

4. If graph means "write" and auto means "self," then an autobiography is a life story

5. The prefix inter- means "between," so an

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. The word "construct" is a verb meaning "to build." When you add the suffix -ion to make "construction," how does the word change?

2. Which pair of words shows a prefix changing a word to its opposite meaning?

3. The word "courage" is a noun. What part of speech is "courageous," and which suffix caused the change?

4. A student reads the unfamiliar word "unbreakable." Using prefix and suffix knowledge, what is the best definition?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. Adding the suffix -er to the verb "teach" creates the noun "teacher," meaning one who

2. The prefix un- reverses the meaning of a word, so "unfair" means not

3. When the suffix -able is added to "read," the new word "readable" means

4. The word "careless" is an adjective, but adding -ness creates "carelessness," which is a

5. Adding the prefix anti- to "social" creates "antisocial," meaning

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. The root mono means "one" and the root logue means "speech." What does monologue most likely mean?

2. A bicycle has the prefix bi- (two) and the root cycle (wheel/circle). What does a bilingual person have two of?

3. The prefix tri- means "three." Which word means a shape with three angles and three sides?

4. The root poly means "many" and the root gon means "angle." A polygon is a shape with many angles. What does polygraph most likely involve?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. A monopoly means one group has total control, because mono means

2. Binoculars help you see far away and have

3. A triathlon is a race with

4. A

5. If a monotone voice has only one tone, then

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

Hard

Part A: Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. The words "portable," "transport," "export," and "report" all share the Latin root port. What does the root port mean?

2. The words "spectacle," "inspect," "spectator," and "respect" share the root spect. Based on these words, what does spect most likely mean?

3. An author writes books, authority means power to command, and authorize means to give official permission. What root do they share and what does it mean?

4. Knowing that the root form means "shape," which sentence uses a form-family word incorrectly?

Part B: Fill in the Blank

Write the correct answer on each line.

1. The words describe, inscribe, prescribe, and subscribe all share the Latin root scrib or script, which means to

2. Conduct, produce, and introduce all share the root duct or duc, which means to

3. If the root mit or miss means "to send," then to transmit means to send

4. The root ven or vent means "to come." An

5. Knowing that the root mot or mov means "to move," a

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

What's Included in This Download

12 Printable Pages covering roots, prefixes & suffixes

Complete Answer Key for easy grading

Printer-Friendly Format in black & white

Variety of Activities to keep kids engaged

Common Core Aligned grade 5 standards

Instant PDF Download - no signup required

What You'll Learn

These roots, prefixes & suffixes worksheets help grade 5 students develop essential english skills through engaging activities.

Learning Objectives

Latin Roots: Identify roots like port, rupt, vis, and aud
Greek Roots: Use bio, geo, graph, and scrib to find meaning
Prefixes: Apply re-, pre-, mis-, sub-, inter-, and trans-
Suffixes: Use -tion, -ment, -ous, -ful, -less to build words
Word Analysis: Combine roots and affixes to infer unfamiliar word meanings

Skills Covered

RootsPrefixesSuffixesLatin RootsGreek RootsVocabularyWord Analysis

How to Use These Worksheets

Download & Print: Click the download button to get the PDF. Print on standard 8.5" x 11" paper.
Start Simple: Begin with easier pages before moving to more challenging activities.
Daily Practice: Dedicate 10-15 minutes each day for consistent learning.
Use Manipulatives: Pair worksheets with physical objects like blocks or counters.
Provide Encouragement: Celebrate progress and effort to build confidence.
Check Progress: Use the included answer key to review work together.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Misapplying prefix meanings — students know 'sub-' means 'under' but say a submarine flies above the clouds, or know 'mis-' means 'wrongly' but describe misunderstanding as following directions perfectly. Knowing a prefix definition does not guarantee correct application to a real word.
Confusing suffix effects on part of speech — students say adding '-ment' to 'enjoy' changes it from a noun to a verb, when it actually changes it from a verb to a noun. Suffixes like -tion, -ment, and -ness typically create nouns; -ful and -ous create adjectives; -ly creates adverbs.
Combining roots and affixes incorrectly when decoding — students know 'vis' means 'see' and 'in-' means 'not' but cannot connect them to conclude 'invisible' means 'not able to be seen.' Multi-part decoding requires applying each component in sequence to build a complete definition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common prefixes and what do they mean?

Re- means 'again' (rewrite — write again). Pre- means 'before' (preview — see beforehand). Mis- means 'wrongly' (misunderstand — understand incorrectly). Sub- means 'under' (submarine — under the sea). Un- and in- both mean 'not' (unhappy — not happy; invisible — not visible). Trans- means 'across' (transport — carry across). De- means 'undo' (defrost — undo the frost). Dis- means 'apart' or 'not' (disrupt — break apart; disagree — not agree). Knowing these prefixes helps decode thousands of English words.

How do suffixes change a word?

Suffixes change a word's meaning and often its part of speech. Adding -tion or -ment turns a verb into a noun: educate becomes education; enjoy becomes enjoyment. Adding -ful means 'full of': hope becomes hopeful. Adding -less means 'without': care becomes careless. Adding -ous turns a noun into an adjective: danger becomes dangerous. Adding -ness turns an adjective into a noun: happy becomes happiness. Adding -er to a verb names the person who does the action: teach becomes teacher. Recognizing these patterns speeds up vocabulary development across subjects.

What are some important Latin roots and their meanings?

Port means 'carry': import (carry in), transport (carry across), portable (able to be carried). Rupt means 'break': erupt (break out), disrupt (break apart), interrupt (break between). Vis means 'see': visible, invisible, vision, evidence. Aud means 'hear': auditorium (place to hear), audible (able to be heard), audition (a hearing). Struct means 'build': construct, destruct, instruct. Knowing Latin roots lets you decode science, social studies, and academic vocabulary words you have never encountered before.

What are some important Greek roots?

Bio means 'life': biology (study of life), biome (a life zone), biography (written account of a life). Geo means 'earth': geography, geology, geologist. Graph means 'write': photograph (written by light), autograph (self-written), biography (life-written). Scrib or script means 'write': inscription (writing engraved on a surface), describe, manuscript. Phone means 'sound': microphone, symphony, phonics. Greek roots appear frequently in science, mathematics, and academic vocabulary, making them especially valuable to learn.

How do I use multiple word parts together to decode an unknown word?

Break the word into its parts, define each part, then combine. For 'transcontinental': trans- means 'across,' continent is the root, and -al means 'relating to' — so 'transcontinental' means 'relating to or spanning across a continent.' For 'transportation': trans- (across) + port (carry) + -ation (act of) = the act of carrying across. Work from prefix to root to suffix and build the definition step by step. If one part is unfamiliar, use context clues from the sentence to confirm your guess.

Are these worksheets really free?

Yes! All our worksheets are 100% free to download and print. There's no subscription, no hidden fees, and no registration required.

Can I use these in my classroom?

Absolutely! Teachers are welcome to print and use these worksheets in their classrooms. Make as many copies as needed for your students.

Math

English

Handwriting

Science

Social Studies

Seasonal

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes Worksheets for Grade 5

Worksheet Preview

What's Included in This Download

What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

Skills Covered

How to Use These Worksheets

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Worksheets You Might Like

CodingInACoffeeShop

Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes Worksheets for Grade 5

Boost Your Development Workflow

Worksheet Preview

What's Included in This Download

What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

Skills Covered

How to Use These Worksheets

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Worksheets You Might Like

Author's Purpose

Theme in Literature

Argumentative Writing

Ready to Get Started?