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Binyanim are moulds for verbs. Mishkalim (מִשְׁקָלִים, "weights") are the same idea for nouns. A handful of moulds carry a category of meaning: this one makes professions, that one makes places, another makes tools, another makes abstract qualities. Once you recognize the mould, you can guess what kind of thing a new word is before you even know it, a person, a place, a machine, or an idea.
The four moulds that pay off most
Profession / doer
קַטָּל · _ַ_ְלָן
טַבָּח cook · צַיָּר painter · שַׂחְקָן actor · רַקְדָן dancer
Place
מִ_ְ_ָָ(ה)
מִסְעָדָה restaurant · מִשְׂרָד office · מִטְבָּח kitchen
Instrument / tool
מַ_ְ_ֵ_
מַפְתֵּחַ key · מַזְלֵג fork · מַחְשֵׁב computer
Abstract quality
_וּת
חֵרוּת freedom · עַצְמָאוּת independence · יַלְדוּת childhood
The reflex, מ on the front + e-vowels → probably a tool (מַפְתֵּחַ, מַזְלֵג). מ on the front + a place-feel → a place (מִסְעָדָה, מִטְבָּח). A doubled middle letter with -an or -a → a person who does X (טַבָּח, שׂחקן). An -ut tail → an abstract idea (אחריות, חירות). You will be right far more often than wrong.
Professions / doers: קַטָּל · _ַ_ְלָן
Places: מִ_ְ_ָָ(ה)
Instruments / tools: מַ_ְ_ֵ_
Abstract qualities: _וּת
Decode drill: guess the category
From the mould alone: is it a person, a place, a tool, or an idea? Then confirm the root.