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Word Builders: un-, re-, dis-, -ful and -less — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 4th Grade vocabulary worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet4th Grade · English · Vocabulary

Word Builders: un-, re-, dis-, -ful and -less — Answers

Part A: Pick the prefix

A prefix goes at the start of a word. un- and dis- mean not or the opposite. re- means again. Circle the prefix.

1.Which prefix makes the opposite of kind?
  1. Aun
  2. Bdis
  3. Cre

Answer: un

Unkind means not kind. Diskind and rekind are not words.

2.Which prefix makes the opposite of obey?
  1. Aun
  2. Bdis
  3. Cre

Answer: dis

Disobey means not obey. Unobey is not a word.

3.Which prefix makes the opposite of appear?
  1. Aun
  2. Bdis
  3. Cre

Answer: dis

Disappear means stop being seen, the opposite of appear.

4.Which prefix makes the opposite of lock?
  1. Aun
  2. Bdis
  3. Cre

Answer: un

Unlock is the opposite of lock. (Relock means lock again, which is not the opposite.)

5.Which prefix means again?
  1. Aun
  2. Bdis
  3. Cre

Answer: re

Re- means again: refill, reread, rebuild.

6.Which prefix makes the opposite of honest?
  1. Aun
  2. Bdis
  3. Cre

Answer: dis

Dishonest means not honest.

Part B: -ful or -less?

A suffix goes at the end of a word. -ful means full of. -less means without. Circle the word that fits.

7.The lifeguard told us to be (answer space) near the deep water.
  1. Acareful
  2. Bcareless

Answer: careful

Careful means full of care. The lifeguard wants us to take care.

8.The snake is (answer space). It has no venom and cannot hurt you.
  1. Aharmful
  2. Bharmless

Answer: harmless

Harmless means without harm.

9.A pencil with a broken tip is (answer space) until you sharpen it.
  1. Auseful
  2. Buseless

Answer: useless

Useless means without use. You cannot write with it yet.

10.The injection was quick and (answer space). I hardly felt it.
  1. Apainful
  2. Bpainless

Answer: painless

Painless means without pain.

11.We are (answer space) that the sun will come out for the picnic.
  1. Ahopeful
  2. Bhopeless

Answer: hopeful

Hopeful means full of hope.

12.I made a (answer space) mistake and forgot to write my name.
  1. Acareful
  2. Bcareless

Answer: careless

Careless means without care.

Part C: Build the word

13.re + fill = (answer space)

Answer: refill

14.dis + like = (answer space)

Answer: dislike

15.un + pack = (answer space)

Answer: unpack

16.fear + less = (answer space)

Answer: fearless

17.joy + ful = (answer space)

Answer: joyful

18.re + build = (answer space)

Answer: rebuild

Part D: What does it mean?

Use the meaning of the prefix or suffix to explain each word.

19.What does unsafe mean?

Answer: not safe

20.What does reread mean?

Answer: read again

21.What does fearless mean?

Answer: without fear

  1. Also correct: having no fear, brave.
22.What does joyful mean?

Answer: full of joy

  1. Also correct: very happy.
23.What does disagree mean?

Answer: not agree

  1. Also correct: have a different opinion.

Part E: Match them up

24.Match each word to its meaning.
  • untidy
  • reheat
  • helpful
  • spotless
  • disconnect
  • heat again
  • without a spot
  • not tidy
  • undo a connection
  • full of help

Answer: untidy → not tidy; reheat → heat again; helpful → full of help; spotless → without a spot; disconnect → undo a connection

Part F: Your turn

25.Your turn: write three sentences. Use a word with un- or dis- in the first, a word with re- in the second, and a word with -ful or -less in the third. Underline the word you built.

Model answer: My little brother was unhappy when his tower fell. He had to rebuild it from the bottom. He was careful not to bump it again.

Success criteria:

  • Three complete sentences
  • One un- or dis- word, one re- word and one -ful or -less word
  • Each built word is used with the right meaning
  • Built words underlined
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