Grade 3 · Spelling · Morphology

3rd Grade Suffixes worksheets

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Suffixes

Grade 3 Spelling Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the answer, or write the answer on the line.

1.
Which suffix turns "thought" into a word that means "thinking about others; kind"?
- -ion
- -able
- -ful
- -ment
2.
Add "-less" to "weight". Which word is spelled correctly?
- weight less
- weightable
- weightless
- weightles
3.
What does "brightness" mean?
- in a bright way
- how bright something is
- not bright
- getting brighter
4.
Take off the suffix. What base word is left in "excitement"?
- excite
- excit
- ment
- excitem
Add a suffix to "depend" to make a word that means "able to be trusted". Write the word.
6.
In which word is "-ion" a suffix added to a base word?
- lion
- invention
- region
- opinion
7.
Add "-ful" to "respect". Which word is spelled correctly?
- respect ful
- respectful
- respectness
- respectfull
8.
What does "harmless" mean?
- full of harm
- not able to hurt anyone
- harming again
- the act of harming
9.
Take off the suffix. What base word is left in "fitness"?
- ness
- fit
- fitn
- fi
Add a suffix to "amaze" to make a word that means "a feeling of great surprise". Write the word.

3rd Grade Suffixes worksheet 1 – printable PDF — Download PDF: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Suffixes in third grade move beyond simple endings such as -s and -ing. Students begin using derivational suffixes that change a word's meaning or role, including -ful, -less, -ness, -ment, -able, and -ion. Each one adds a meaning: full of, without, the state of being, the act of, able to be, or something done. This worksheet keeps suffix spelling and meaning together, using base words that do not change when the suffix is added, such as help, kind, collect, and depend.

Students tell a real suffix from an ending that only looks like one, add a suffix with the right spelling, choose the meaning of the longer word, find the base word, and match a meaning to the right word. Encourage your child to read the base word first, then ask what the ending adds. The answer should explain the longer word, not just spot letters at the end.

What your child will learn

Identify common derivational suffixes
Connect a suffix to its base word
Use suffix meaning to understand a longer word
Spell endings such as ful, less, ness, ment, able, and ion

Common Core standard: RF.3.3.A

Worked example

Readable uses read plus -able, so it means able to be read.

Common mistake

Looking only at the first part of the word and ignoring the ending.

Helpful hint

Read the base word, then explain what the suffix adds.

Next skill: Homophones Earlier: Prefixes

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with suffixes?

Looking only at the first part of the word and ignoring the ending.

How can I help my child with suffixes?

Read the base word, then explain what the suffix adds.

Are these 3rd grade spelling worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

More 3rd grade morphology

See all morphology

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