CONTEXT CLUES & MULTIPLE-MEANING

WORDS

CONTEXT CLUES

Context clues are the words, phrases, or sentences around or near an unfamiliar word that help you understand its meaning.

CONTEXT CLUES

EXAMPLE:Katie appeared infallible in math class

because she had never gotten a problem wrong.

What does infallible mean?a. wrongb. incorrectc. never wrongd. mistaken

CONTEXT CLUES

The correct answer is “c – never wrong.”

How did you come up with the correct answer?

Did you look at the context clues in the sentence?

Did you notice the words “had never gotten a problem wrong”?

CONTEXT CLUESLet’s try some more…..

The tornado annihilated the whole town to the point that nothing was left standing.

What does annihilated mean?a. constructedb. destroyedc. createdd. saved

CONTEXT CLUES

The correct answer is “b – destroyed.”

How did you come up with the correct answer?

Did you look at the context clues in the sentence?

Did you notice the words “to the point nothing was left standing”?

CONTEXT CLUES

The insidious burglar was able to sneak into the house without being seen or heard.

What does insidious mean?a. strongb. loudc. clumsyd. sneaky

CONTEXT CLUES

The correct answer is “d – sneaky.”

How did you come up with the correct answer?

Did you look at the context clues in the sentence?

Did you notice the words “to sneak into the house without being seen or heard”?

MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS

A multiple-meaning word is a word that has the same spelling as another word but a different meaning and sometimes a different pronunciation.

MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS

EXAMPLE:Jason records the number of repetitions he does on

a piece of exercise equipment and turns in his records to the coach at the end of the week.

What does the first records mean?Did you say “to write down”?

What does the second records mean?Did you say “written accounts of something”?

MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS

Let’s try some more…..

How can you use the word wind two different ways?

EXAMPLES:The wind blew the leaves on the tree.When my watch stopped, I had to wind it

again.

MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS

How can you use the word hide two different ways?

EXAMPLES:Kevin tried to find a place to hide his

money.The rug was made from the hide of a

buffalo.

MULTIPLE-MEANING WORDS

Can you think of more multiple-meaning words?