Free printable · 3rd grade reading

Word parts: un-, re-, -ful and -less

Four small word parts that unlock hundreds of words. Your child builds six words and says what each means, then uses them in sentences.

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How to use this in 5 minutes

  1. Teach the four parts. Say, “A prefix like un or re starts a word. Un means not, and re means again. A suffix like ful or less ends it. Ful means full of, and less means without.”
  2. Build and explain. Say, “Put the parts together. Then tell me what the new word means, using the meaning of the part.”
  3. Use them. Say, “Read each sentence and pick the word that fits. Then write the word that matches each clue.”

Tip. Ask for the meaning with the part in it, so careless means without care. That one habit helps your child work out words they have never seen.

The sheet and its answer key

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3rd grade · Reading

Word parts: un-, re-, -ful and -less

For youHow to use this in 5 minutes

  1. Teach the four parts. Say: “A prefix like un or re starts a word. Un means not, and re means again. A suffix like ful or less ends it. Ful means full of, and less means without.”
  2. Build and explain. Say: “Put the parts together. Then tell me what the new word means, using the meaning of the part.”
  3. Use them. Say: “Read each sentence and pick the word that fits. Then write the word that matches each clue.”

Tip. Ask for the meaning with the part in it, so careless means without care. That one habit helps your child work out words they have never seen.

The word parts

  • un-meansnot
  • re-meansagain
  • -fulmeansfull of
  • -lessmeanswithout

Build the word. Write what it means.

  1. un + kind =means
  2. re + read =means
  3. hope + ful =means
  4. fear + less =means
  5. un + safe =means
  6. re + paint =means

Circle the word that fits

  1. The ice was thin, so skating on it was unsafeunkind.
  2. The fence was peeling, so we had to rereadrepaint it.
  3. I was hopefulcareless that we would find the lost puppy.

Write the word that matches the clue

full of color
not happy
without help
fill again
Made by Arbor, which plans your child’s whole homeschool year and lays out every lesson for you to teach.Page 1 · arborhomeschool.com
Free printableFor the grown-up

3rd grade · Reading

Answer key

Word parts: un-, re-, -ful and -less

Build the word. Write what it means.

  • unkind: not kind
  • reread: read again
  • hopeful: full of hope
  • fearless: without fear
  • unsafe: not safe
  • repaint: paint again

Circle the word that fits

  • The ice was thin, so skating on it was unsafe.
  • The fence was peeling, so we had to repaint it.
  • I was hopeful that we would find the lost puppy.

Write the word that matches the clue

  • full of color: colorful
  • not happy: unhappy
  • without help: helpless
  • fill again: refill

If it’s hard

  • If a meaning is hard to put in words, point to the key: un plus kind is not kind.
  • Hunt for more in a favorite book. Every un, re, ful and less you find together is a small win.
Made by Arbor, which plans your child’s whole homeschool year and lays out every lesson for you to teach.Page 2 · arborhomeschool.com

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