Root words (including some latin root words) - ESL worksheet by - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We need to match each prefix with the correct root word to make a real, meaningful English word. Then write that new word in the box below.

Here are the prefixes and roots:

Prefixes:
1. un
2. re
3. pre
4. mis
5. dis
6. im
7. in

Roots:
- known
- heat
- do
- pronounce
- perfect
- grown
- honest

Now let’s think about common words we know:

1. “un” + ? → “unknown” is a word (means not known) → so “un” goes with “known”

2. “re” + ? → “redo” means do again → so “re” goes with “do”

3. “pre” + ? → “preheat” means heat before cooking → so “pre” goes with “heat”

4. “mis” + ? → “mispronounce” means say wrong → so “mis” goes with “pronounce”

5. “dis” + ? → “dishonest” means not honest → wait, but “in” also can go with “honest”. Let’s check both.

Actually, “dishonest” is correct — it starts with “dis”, not “in”. But look at #7: “in” + “honest” = “inhonest”? That’s NOT a word. The correct word is “dishonest”.

Wait — maybe I made a mistake.

Let’s list all possible correct combinations:

- un + known = unknown ✔
- re + do = redo ✔
- pre + heat = preheat ✔
- mis + pronounce = mispronounce ✔
- dis + honest = dishonest ✔
- im + perfect = imperfect ✔
- in + grown = ingrown ✔ (like an ingrown toenail)

Yes! “ingrown” is a real word. So:

6. “im” + “perfect” = imperfect
7. “in” + “grown” = ingrown

But what about “dis” and “honest”? We have “dishonest” — that’s correct.

So let’s assign them properly:

Matching:

1. un → known → unknown
2. re → do → redo
3. pre → heat → preheat
4. mis → pronounce → mispronounce
5. dis → honest → dishonest
6. im → perfect → imperfect
7. in → grown → ingrown

That uses all 7 prefixes and all 7 roots correctly.

Now write the new words in order from 1 to 7:

1. unknown
2. redo
3. preheat
4. mispronounce
5. dishonest
6. imperfect
7. ingrown

Final Answer:
1. unknown
2. redo
3. preheat
4. mispronounce
5. dishonest
6. imperfect
7. ingrown