A word-study game for the language arts block. Cards are filled with real prefixes — un-, re-, pre-, dis- — and players mark each one as you read a clue or a word built from it.
Free to design and print · edit any square · 3×3, 4×4, or 5×5
Prefix bingo turns a vocabulary lesson into a game the whole class can play at once. Call out a word like "rebuild" or "unhappy" and students hunt for the matching prefix on their grid, building the habit of breaking longer words into parts they already know.
Because every card is shuffled from the same square list, no two students get the same grid, so the class can play together while each reader scans for their own prefixes and nobody copies a neighbor.
These are just a starting point — swap in your own words in the editor before you print.
Read a word, not the prefix
Call out a full word like "preview" or "disagree" so students have to find the prefix themselves, which is the skill you actually want them to build.
Make it a meaning round
For a harder game, read the meaning ("not" or "again") and let students mark the prefix that carries it, linking each part to what it does to a word.
Print a class set or play live
Print a card for every desk, or share one link and a QR code so a tablet cart or a remote group can all play the same round together.
Edit every square. Open the card in the editor, keep the suggested squares or replace them with your own words, emoji, or photos, and pick a theme that fits the day.
Print a whole set at once. Each card is shuffled from the same square list, so every player gets a unique grid. Print to standard letter or A4 paper on any home printer — or order professionally printed cards shipped to your door.
Or play live. Share one link and a QR code and the whole room plays from their phones, in person or over video.
How do I make prefix bingo cards for free?
Open the editor, pick the schoolhouse theme, keep the suggested prefixes or type your own list, and print. You can design and print a basic set without paying.
Which prefixes should I put on the cards?
Start with high-frequency ones like un-, re-, and pre-, then add the prefixes from your current unit so the game matches the words your class is studying.
Can younger students play this?
Yes. Switch to a 3x3 or 4x4 grid in the editor and use only a handful of common prefixes so early readers can finish a round quickly and stay engaged.
How many cards do I need?
One per student. Each card is randomly shuffled from the same prefix list, so a class of any size can play and still get unique grids.