Preview the Word Meaning

Do you know how to figure out the meaning of a word even if you’ve never seen it before? In the Preview the Word Meaning playsheet, you’ll practice using clues like prefixes, roots, suffixes, and context to predict what a word means. This skill makes you a more confident and independent reader.

As you complete the activities, you’ll see how breaking words into parts can help. For example, in unhappiness, the prefix un- means “not,” the root happy shows the main idea, and the suffix -ness changes it into a noun. Together, the word means “the state of not being happy.”

Each challenge guides you to look for word parts, study surrounding sentences for context, and choose the best possible meaning. You’ll also practice explaining how you found the meaning, which strengthens both vocabulary and critical thinking. These tasks help you unlock new words quickly and with confidence.