English · Spelling and vocabulary worksheet
Prefixes un-, dis-, mis- and re-: Free KS2 Worksheet
A prefix is a group of letters added to the start of a word to change its meaning. In Years 3 and 4, children learn a small set of common prefixes, including un-, dis-, mis- and re-, and use them to build new words such as unhappy, disagree, misbehave and rebuild.
This free printable worksheet gives your child focused practice at choosing the correct prefix to add to a root word, then checking whether the new word makes sense. It links directly to the National Curriculum spelling objectives for Lower Key Stage 2 and prints neatly onto a single A4 page, with answers provided below for quick marking.
Prefixes: un-, dis-, mis- and re-
Free English worksheet · Ages 7 to 9
Add the correct prefix
A prefix is added to the start of a word to change its meaning. Add un-, dis-, mis- or re- to each root word so it makes a real word. Write the whole new word on the line. Use the word bank to help if you get stuck.
___ + happy → a word meaning not happy
___ + agree → a word meaning to not agree
___ + behave → a word meaning to behave badly
___ + build → a word meaning to build again
___ + lock → a word meaning to undo a lock
___ + spell → a word meaning to spell wrongly
___ + honest → a word meaning not honest
___ + write → a word meaning to write again
Tick the real words
Read each word made with a prefix. Tick the box only if the prefix has been added correctly to make a real word.
- unkind
- dishappy
- return
- misunderstand
- reun
- disappear
Prefixes: un-, dis-, mis- and re-owee.worldAnswer key
- ___ + happy → a word meaning not happy — unhappy
- ___ + agree → a word meaning to not agree — disagree
- ___ + behave → a word meaning to behave badly — misbehave
- ___ + build → a word meaning to build again — rebuild
- ___ + lock → a word meaning to undo a lock — unlock
- ___ + spell → a word meaning to spell wrongly — misspell
- ___ + honest → a word meaning not honest — dishonest
- ___ + write → a word meaning to write again — rewrite
- unkind — tick
- return — tick
- misunderstand — tick
- disappear — tick
What is a prefix?
A prefix is a meaningful group of letters fixed to the front of a root word. Unlike a suffix, which is added to the end, a prefix changes a word's meaning without usually changing how the rest of the word is spelled, so the root word stays whole: un- + kind simply becomes unkind. Helping a child notice the join between the prefix and the root word makes longer words far less daunting to read and to spell, because they can break the word into recognisable parts.
What un-, dis-, mis- and re- mean
Each of these four prefixes carries a fairly reliable meaning, which is why they are taught together. un- and dis- often reverse or negate a word, giving the opposite meaning: unlock, unhappy, disagree, dishonest. mis- usually means 'wrongly' or 'badly': misbehave, misspell, misunderstand. re- generally means 'again' or 'back': rebuild, rewrite, return. Talking about these meanings, rather than only memorising spellings, helps children predict the meaning of unfamiliar words they meet in their reading.
How to use this worksheet at home or in class
Read each root word aloud together and try it with the prefix from the brief, saying the new word and asking whether it makes sense. Encourage your child to say the meaning, not just the spelling, for example 'rewrite means to write it again'. The ticking activity then checks understanding by asking whether each finished word has been built correctly. For a quick extension, ask your child to use two or three of the new words in spoken sentences, or to find more re- and mis- words in a favourite book.
Common mix-ups to watch for
A few sensible-looking spellings are wrong, and noticing them is good learning. Children sometimes write misspell with one 's', but because mis- joins to spell, both s's are kept. They may also try dis- where standard English uses un- (for example unhappy, not dishappy), which is a useful reminder that meaning and convention both matter. Reassure your child that trying a prefix and then checking whether the word is real is exactly the right strategy, and that a dictionary is a sensible place to confirm.
Frequently asked questions
What are the prefixes taught in Years 3 and 4?
The National Curriculum lists the prefixes un-, dis-, mis-, in- and re- for Lower Key Stage 2 spelling. This worksheet focuses on un-, dis-, mis- and re-, which are the most common and the easiest to use when changing the meaning of everyday root words.
What does each prefix mean?
un- and dis- usually give the opposite meaning, as in unhappy and disagree. mis- means 'wrongly' or 'badly', as in misbehave. re- means 'again' or 'back', as in rebuild and return. Knowing these meanings helps children work out unfamiliar words while reading.
What is the difference between a prefix and a suffix?
A prefix is added to the start of a word and a suffix is added to the end. For example, in 'unhelpful', un- is the prefix and -ful is the suffix, while 'help' is the root word in the middle.
Why is misspell spelled with two s's?
The prefix mis- ends in an s and joins to the root word spell, which begins with an s, so both letters are kept: mis + spell = misspell. Pointing this out helps children see how prefixes attach to whole root words.
How can I help my child practise prefixes at home?
Read root words aloud and try adding a prefix, asking your child to say the new word and what it means. Spotting un-, dis-, mis- and re- words in story books, and using a few in spoken sentences, builds confidence alongside this worksheet.
Curriculum links
- English Appendix 2 (Years 3 to 4, spelling): use of the prefixes un-, dis-, mis-, in- and re-.
- English, Year 3 and Year 4 word reading: apply a growing knowledge of root words, prefixes and suffixes (etymology and morphology) to read aloud and understand the meaning of new words.
- English, Years 3 and 4 spelling: spell further homophones and learn to spell words with prefixes correctly, understanding how prefixes are added to root words.
- English, lower KS2 vocabulary, grammar and punctuation: understand and use the grammatical terminology, including the word 'prefix'.
Made by The Owee education team. Updated 02/06/2026. Free to print and share.
More learning, made playful
Owee turns topics like this into age-right quizzes for children aged 5 to 10, with a treehouse that grows as they learn. Three subjects are free, forever.
Get Owee free