Greek and Latin roots worksheets
Aligned with Common Core L.4.4b
Printable fourth-grade Greek and Latin roots worksheets: a roots chart, root meaning match, building words from roots and affixes, sorting words by root, finishing words with the right root, using roots to work out new words, root word webs and a color-by-root page.
The worksheets
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Greek and Latin Roots Chart
Ten Greek roots and ten Latin roots, each with its meaning and three example words, like port (carry) in portable, transport and export.
Root Meaning Match
Roots in one column and their meanings in the other, to match by letter. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10 roots. Includes an answer key.
Build a Word
Clues like "to break out" to build into words like erupt from a box of roots, prefixes and suffixes. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 9 words. Includes an answer key.
Root Sort
A word box to sort into columns by root. Fewer, Standard or More give 3, 4 or 5 roots. Includes an answer key.
Which Root?
Sentences with a long word missing its root, like "Workers will con___ a new school," with three roots to choose from. Fewer, Standard or More give 6, 8 or 10 sentences. Includes an answer key.
Guess the Meaning
Harder words like auditorium, rupture and biography in real sentences, with a root clue to figure out each meaning. Fewer, Standard or More give 3, 4 or 5 words. Includes an answer key.
Root Word Web
A root in the middle with six lines for words that use it, and a line for a sentence. Fewer, Standard or More give 1, 2 or 3 webs.
Color by Root
A hidden picture made of words like export, erupt, inspect and tractor, colored by their Latin root. Includes an answer key.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
A root is the part of a word that carries its main meaning. Many longer English words are built on Greek and Latin roots, like port (carry) in transport and portable, or spect (look) in inspect and spectator. Knowing a handful of roots helps a reader figure out words they have never seen before.
What comes next
The 3rd grade Prefixes, suffixes and roots topic covers the most common prefixes and suffixes, if your student needs a refresher.
How to teach it
- Teach in order or jump to whatever your student needs. A student may know some roots well and still be building others.
- Learn a few roots at a time, with their meanings and two or three example words.
- Take long words apart together. Find the root first, then the prefix and suffix around it.
- When a new word comes up in reading, ask what its root might mean.
Common mistakes
- Thinking every word with the same letters shares a root. A root needs to carry its meaning, so check that the word makes sense.
- Guessing from the root alone. Check that the meaning fits the sentence too.
- Stopping at the root. The prefix and suffix change the meaning too, like in export and import.