Roots and Affixes is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on reading an unfamiliar word by the meaning of its parts, aligned to Common Core standard RF.4.3. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.You meet "submarine". What do its parts tell you?
A.Under the sea
B.Made of metal
C.Very fast
2."Spectator" and "inspect" share a root. What does it mean?
A.listen
B.build
C.look
3.Which word contains a root meaning "life"?
A.biology
B.portable
C.geology
4.What does the root "scope" mean?
A.look at
B.hear
C.carry
5."Autobiography" is made of which roots?
A.auto + bio + graphy
B.autob + iogra + phy
C.au + tobi + ography
6.How does knowing roots help you read a word you have never met?
A.It makes the word shorter
B.The parts carry meaning, so you can work out both the sound and the sense
C.It tells you the spelling rule
7."Transportation" breaks into which parts?
A.transp + ort + ation
B.tran + sport + ation
C.trans + port + ation
8.What does the prefix "tele" mean?
A.far off
B.under
C.against
LessonPrint · RF.4.3 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Roots and Affixes
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.Under the sea
2.look
3.biology
4.look at
5.auto + bio + graphy
6.The parts carry meaning, so you can work out both the sound and the sense
7.trans + port + ation
8.far off
Questions about Roots and Affixes
What does the Roots and Affixes worksheet cover?
It practises reading an unfamiliar word by the meaning of its parts — 8 questions for Grade 4, all on Common Core RF.4.3: Use roots and affixes to read unfamiliar multisyllable words out loud and in context. The instruction to pupils is “Tick the right answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Roots and Affixes practise?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.4.3 — RF.4.3, in the Reading: Foundational Skills domain for Grade 4. The published standard reads: “Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Roots and Affixes is written for Grade 4, typically ages 9-10. It is one of the sheets on RF.4.3, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Roots and Affixes come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Roots and Affixes can I print?
25 — one per pupil, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Roots and Affixes free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Roots and Affixes, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
Is there a lesson plan to teach RF.4.3?
Yes — “Morphology in Unfamiliar Words” is a 40-minute Grade 4 plan for RF.4.3, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Roots and Affixes is the practice that follows it.
More practice for RF.4.3
Use roots and affixes to read unfamiliar multisyllable words out loud and in context.