3rd Grade spelling
3rd Grade Words With the Prefix Re
Spelling words that start with the prefix re, usually meaning again, like rebuild, restart, replace and remove. Play hangman or print a worksheet.
Read the spelling list
The pattern: Re means again or back: rebuild is build again. Each word is re plus a real base word, pronounced ree.
The prefix re usually means again or back. Rebuild is to build again, restart is to start again, and replace is to put back. Like most prefixes, re is attached without changing the base word, so students who can spell build and start can spell rebuild and restart. The pronunciation on this list is always /ree/, which separates re words from ones like red or rest.
Every word is re plus a real word. Some are clear in meaning, such as rebuild, restart, remake and reset. Others have drifted a long way from again: review, resource, resolve, retreat and restrict still contain a base word, but the meaning has changed. A few are inflected forms of a base word, such as removed, removing, replaced and reviewed, which show that the suffix attaches after the prefix. Third graders are ready to look at both kinds, as long as you tell them that the meaning of re is a strong hint but not a guarantee.
30 entries. Our solver needed 1.1 wrong guesses on average: 22 easy, 8 medium and 0 hard. The toughest is removed (4 misses), the quickest reaction (0).
- review Easy · 1
- removed Medium · 4
- reaction Easy · 0
- remove Medium · 4
- replace Easy · 0
- reviews Easy · 0
- replaced Easy · 0
- recall Easy · 1
- resource Easy · 1
- remind Easy · 1
- removing Medium · 2
- reactions Easy · 0
- reviewed Easy · 0
- reminds Easy · 1
- resolve Easy · 0
- react Easy · 1
- retreat Easy · 1
- reunion Easy · 0
- reviewing Easy · 0
- rebuild Easy · 1
- reactor Medium · 2
- reset Easy · 1
- revision Easy · 0
- relying Medium · 2
- restrict Easy · 1
- remake Medium · 2
- removes Medium · 3
- rebuilding Easy · 1
- restart Medium · 2
- recalls Easy · 1
Words worth a closer look
- resourceRe plus source. The meaning is not do again but a supply, so it is a good example of drift.
- reviewRe plus view, or look again. One of the clearest examples after rebuild.
- retreatRe plus treat, but the meaning is to go back from a battle. Students often miss the double e in the middle.
- reactorReact plus or. A word with a prefix and a suffix.
- restrictRe plus strict. The meaning is to limit, so the again idea does not fit.
Teaching it
Start with the clear examples and let students test the rule by asking whether the word means to do something again. Then show the exceptions, such as recall and remind, where the meaning is closer to back. The spelling error is rarely about the prefix itself. It is usually a problem with the base word, for example writing replase or reveiw.
Hangman works if you give the meaning: to build again, to start again. Players can guess re first and work out the rest. Afterward, students pick three words and write sentences in which the again meaning is clear, then trade with a partner who has to find the base word.
Print a 3rd Grade Words With the Prefix Re worksheet
Eight puzzles on one US Letter page, with a clue, letter blanks, an empty frame to draw in, an alphabet strip to cross off and circles to count misses. Page two is the answer key.
Need another sheet?
Draw eight different words from this list, right here. Same layout, new answer key.
Keep going
- 3rd Grade Words With the Prefix UnSpelling words that start with the prefix un, meaning not, like unhappy, unfair, unsafe and unlucky. Play hangman or print a worksheet with an answer key.
- 3rd Grade Words With the Prefix DisSpelling words starting with the prefix dis, meaning not or the opposite of, like disagree, dislike, disappear and discount. Play hangman or print a list.
- 3rd Grade Words Ending in Ful and LessSpelling words ending in ful and less, like helpful, hopeful, careless and homeless. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet with an answer key.
- 3rd Grade Words Ending in LySpelling words ending in ly, like quickly, slowly, finally and friendly. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet with an answer key.
- 3rd Grade Words Ending in NessSpelling words ending in ness, like kindness, sadness, darkness and happiness. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet with an answer key.
- 3rd Grade Double Consonant WordsSpelling words with a doubled consonant in the middle, like rabbit, happy, little and funny. Play hangman with the list or print a worksheet.