2nd grade prefixes worksheets
A prefix is a word part attached to the front of a base word that changes what it means. Second graders work with the heavy hitters: un- (not), re- (again), dis- (opposite of), mis- (wrongly), and pre- (before).
Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.2.4.b.
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The kind of sentences you'll get
Circle the letter of the word with the correct prefix.
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I’m sorry I you; please say it again.
misheard · unheard · preheard
Answer: misheard
- If you your ticket, you cannot ride. unplace · misplace · preplace
- The muddy dog was on the clean rug. prewelcome · rewelcome · unwelcome
Every print pulls a fresh set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Choose the word. Circle the letter of the word with the correct prefix. 8 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Teach each prefix as a tiny machine with one job: un- flips things off or backward, re- runs them again. Build words physically with two cards (un + lock) and slide them together. When your child meets a wrong option like "relock the door I can't open," ask what the sentence wants the word to do.
Watch for: A prefix changes meaning, not spelling: the base word keeps all its letters (re + read = reread). Not every word that starts with those letters has a prefix. Uncle isn't un + cle.
Common questions about prefixes
- Which prefixes should a 2nd grader know?
- Un-, re-, dis-, mis-, and pre- cover most of what 2nd graders meet: unhappy, reread, disagree, misplace, preheat. Each has one plain meaning, and once a child knows un- means not, they can decode dozens of new words without help.
- How do I explain what a prefix does?
- Call it a meaning changer glued to the front. Lock is something you do with a key; unlock is the reverse; relock means do it again. The base word never changes its spelling, which is why prefixes are such dependable clues.
Related worksheets
- 3rd grade prefixes A step harder, same skill
- 4th grade prefixes A step harder, same skill
- 2nd grade antonyms Same grade, nearby skill
- 2nd grade compound words Same grade, nearby skill
- 2nd grade homophones Same grade, nearby skill
- Prefixes, all grades The full progression
- All 2nd grade English worksheets Every skill at this level
- All 2nd grade worksheets Everything at this level
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Aligned to Common Core L.2.4.b. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 137, updated August 2026.
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