KS3 spelling words beginning at mu

Spelling Quiz - Words beginning with mu... (Questions)

Explore KS3 spellings that begin with mu-. Spot links between music words, practise word families and build confidence using these patterns in homework, tests and everyday writing.

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Fascinating Fact:

Music, musical and musician all share musi-. Learn mu-sic first, then add -cal or -cian without changing the mu- beginning.

In KS3 English spelling, students study how word families are built from a base form. Looking at words beginning with mu- helps you see how endings change meaning while the start often stays the same.

Key Terms

Word family: A set of related words that share a base spelling or root and are learned together to strengthen spelling and vocabulary.
Suffix: A group of letters added to the end of a word to change its form or meaning, such as making adjectives or nouns.
Root word: The simplest form of a word that carries the main meaning before any prefixes or suffixes are added.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

Does the mu- beginning have a special meaning in English?

In English spelling, mu- is not a prefix with its own meaning. It is simply a common starting pattern in words. You learn each word’s meaning rather than one fixed meaning for mu-.

How can I remember spellings of music, musical and musician?

Use music as your base word. For musical, think of music plus al. For musician, say the ending as shun and remember the ci spelling that makes the sh sound in the middle.

What is a good way to revise KS3 words beginning with mu-?

Group mu- words into families, write them in spelling lists and create short example sentences. Saying each word in syllables while you write it helps fix the letter patterns in memory.

Try These Related Quizzes

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
'The m------------- of four times three equals twelve'

[ ]	multiplacation
[ ]	multiplercation
[ ]	multurplication
[ ]	multiplication

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
To find the product of two or more numbers

[ ]	multaply
[ ]	multerply
[ ]	multiply
[ ]	multoply

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Low or indistinct sounds or speech

[ ]	murmer
[ ]	murrmer
[ ]	murrmur
[ ]	murmur

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A contractile form of tissue which animals use to cause movement

[ ]	mussle
[ ]	muscle
[ ]	mussel
[ ]	muscel

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A play or film interspersed with singing and dancing

[ ]	musicle
[ ]	musical
[ ]	musicale
[ ]	musiccal

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A person who performs or writes music

[ ]	musician
[ ]	musiciun
[ ]	musicien
[ ]	musishian

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A person who is a follower and believer of the Islamic faith

[ ]	Muzlem
[ ]	Musliem
[ ]	Muslem
[ ]	Muslim

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Something that baffles understanding

[ ]	mistary
[ ]	mystary
[ ]	mistery
[ ]	mystery

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A story told to explain a phenomenon, often with reference to the supernatural

[ ]	mythe
[ ]	myth
[ ]	mithe
[ ]	mith

10.

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The recitation of an event or series of events

[ ]	narrative
[ ]	narrertive
[ ]	narrutive
[ ]	narrittive

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Spelling

Spelling Quiz - Words beginning with mu... (Answers)

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
'The m------------- of four times three equals twelve'

[ ]	multiplacation
[ ]	multiplercation
[ ]	multurplication
[x]	multiplication

The words "multiply" and "multiplication" are related

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
To find the product of two or more numbers

[ ]	multaply
[ ]	multerply
[x]	multiply
[ ]	multoply

If you can spell "multiple" and "multiplication", you should have no difficulty with "multiply"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Low or indistinct sounds or speech

[ ]	murmer
[ ]	murrmer
[ ]	murrmur
[x]	murmur

Having both syllables spelled identically makes "murmur" fairly easy to spell!

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A contractile form of tissue which animals use to cause movement

[ ]	mussle
[x]	muscle
[ ]	mussel
[ ]	muscel

Don't forget the c of "muscle"! Did you know the word "muscle" derives from mus, the Latin word for "mouse"?

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A play or film interspersed with singing and dancing

[ ]	musicle
[x]	musical
[ ]	musicale
[ ]	musiccal

Remember that the ending of the word is spelled -al

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A person who performs or writes music

[x]	musician
[ ]	musiciun
[ ]	musicien
[ ]	musishian

Add -ian to "music" to get "musician"

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
A person who is a follower and believer of the Islamic faith

[ ]	Muzlem
[ ]	Musliem
[ ]	Muslem
[x]	Muslim

Remember to capitalise "Muslim", since the word is a proper noun

Click the correct answer for the following definition.
Something that baffles understanding

[ ]	mistary
[ ]	mystary
[ ]	mistery
[x]	mystery

The letter y appears twice in "mystery"