Understanding Words with the Prefix “Re-“

A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. One common prefix is re-, which means again or back. When you add re- to a word, it usually means you are doing something again.

Rule: The prefix “re-” means “again” or “back”

Knowing that re- means again helps you understand many words. For example, if you know that re- means “again,” then the word rewrite means “to write again.”

Examples of Words with the Prefix “Re-“

  1. Rewrite
  • Meaning: To write something again.
  • Example: “I made some mistakes, so I need to rewrite my essay.”
  1. Recycle
  • Meaning: To process something again so it can be used.
  • Example: “We should recycle paper and plastic to help the environment.”
  1. Replay
  • Meaning: To play something again, like a video or song.
  • Example: “I loved that song, so I’m going to replay it.”
  1. Redo
  • Meaning: To do something again.
  • Example: “I didn’t like my drawing, so I decided to redo it.”
  1. Return
  • Meaning: To give something back.
  • Example: “I need to return this book to the library.”

Tips & Tricks

  • When you see the prefix re-, remember it means again or back.
  • Adding re- to a base word means you’re doing the action again or reversing something.

Common Words with “Re-“

  • Rebuild: To build something again.
  • Reopen: To open something again, like a store or door.
  • Revisit: To visit a place again.
  • Relearn: To learn something again after forgetting it.
  • Recheck: To check something again to make sure it’s correct.

Questions for Students

Easy Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. What does the prefix re- mean?
  2. What does rewrite mean?
  3. Fill in the blank: “If you make a mistake, you can __ your work.”
  4. What does redo mean?
  5. Fill in the blank: “When you finish using something, you can __ it to the library.”
  6. What does replay mean?
  7. What does recycle mean?
  8. Fill in the blank: “If the store is closed, they might __ it tomorrow.”
  9. What does return mean?
  10. Fill in the blank: “If you forget something, you might need to __ it.”
  11. What does rebuild mean?
  12. Fill in the blank: “If a video stops, you can __ it.”
  13. What does reopen mean?
  14. Fill in the blank: “To help the environment, we should __ plastic and paper.”
  15. What does recheck mean?
  16. Fill in the blank: “When the rules change, we need to __ them.”
  17. What does relearn mean?
  18. Fill in the blank: “If you want to visit a place again, you will __ it.”
  19. What does revisit mean?
  20. What does reheat mean?

Medium Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. What is the meaning of reopen?
  2. Fill in the blank: “If you make a mistake on your test, you should __ it before submitting.”
  3. What does recycle mean in terms of helping the environment?
  4. What does rewrite mean in relation to writing essays?
  5. Fill in the blank: “If you break a toy, you might have to __ it.”
  6. What does rebuild mean in relation to a house?
  7. Fill in the blank: “When you forget something you learned, you can __ it.”
  8. What does relearn mean?
  9. What does return mean in relation to a borrowed item?
  10. Fill in the blank: “When I forget the rules, I have to __ them.”
  11. What does revisit mean in relation to places?
  12. Fill in the blank: “If a door closes, you might need to __ it.”
  13. What does recheck mean in terms of checking work?
  14. Fill in the blank: “If you want to read the book again, you can __ it.”
  15. What does redo mean when fixing a mistake?
  16. Fill in the blank: “If you didn’t hear the instructions, the teacher might __ them.”
  17. What does replay mean in terms of music or videos?
  18. Fill in the blank: “If you didn’t understand a lesson, you might have to __ it.”
  19. What does relearn mean in terms of skills?
  20. Fill in the blank: “You might have to __ your clothes if they didn’t dry properly.”

High Difficulty (20 Questions)

  1. What does rediscover mean in relation to finding something again?
  2. Fill in the blank: “If something happens again, you can say it was __.”
  3. What is the difference between rebuild and recreate?
  4. Fill in the blank: “After a storm, workers had to __ the bridge.”
  5. What does reconstruct mean in relation to buildings?
  6. What is the meaning of reconsider in decision-making?
  7. Fill in the blank: “When people want to change their plans, they might __ them.”
  8. What does reassess mean in relation to reviewing something?
  9. What does reintroduce mean in terms of bringing something back?
  10. Fill in the blank: “To make sure the work is correct, you might need to __ it.”
  11. What is the difference between rearrange and redo?
  12. Fill in the blank: “When you need to take a second look at something, you can __ it.”
  13. What does reconsider mean in terms of changing your mind?
  14. What does reexamine mean in terms of investigations?
  15. Fill in the blank: “After many years, scientists were able to __ the lost species.”
  16. What does reintroduce mean in terms of bringing back animals to the wild?
  17. Fill in the blank: “If you need to re-evaluate a decision, you might have to __ it.”
  18. What does reassess mean in terms of reviewing plans?
  19. What is the meaning of reconstruct in historical studies?
  20. Fill in the blank: “When something is done again for accuracy, it is __.”