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Context Clues
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Do you know the meaning of the word vital?
Look at the sentence and see if the context—the words surrounding the unfamiliar word—helps you figure out the meaning of the word.
What does vital mean? A. unimportant B. necessary C. surprising
All animals share the same vital needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Food, water, and shelter are necessary needs.
The context helps you figure out that vital means “necessary.”
What does vital mean? A. unimportant B. necessary C. surprising
Using context clues to understand the meaning of unfamiliar wordswill save you time when reading.
All animals share the same vital needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
Why are context clues important?
They help us define unfamiliar, difficult words in texts.
They help us to become better, perceptive readers.
They come in handy during tests when a dictionary or the internet is not
available to us.
Where are context clues found?
In the same sentence as the difficult, unfamiliar word.
In the same paragraph or passage as the unknown word. Context clues can be in the sentences
following the word, for example.
They are called context clues, because they are found in the “context” of the sentence or
passage.
Context Clue Number 1: Definition
The unfamiliar word is directly defined in the sentence in which it appears.
Definitions are usually set off by commas or dashes, and may include the use of the words, as, or, that is, and in other words.
Example: Apples, red fruits that grow on trees, are my teacher’s favorite food.
Definitions Cont’dIn this case a word is defined for you in the sentence. This usually happens right after the unfamiliar word appears and it is set off with commas.
Example:
The arbitrator, the neutral person chosen to settle the dispute, arrived at her decision.
We don’t know what arbitrator means, but luckily the definition is given to us in the sentence.
Context Clue Number 2: Antonym or Contrast
The unfamiliar word is defined by using the word’s opposite or
contrasting meaning.
This type of context clue usually includes the words: whereas, unlike, as opposed to, however, in contrast
to, but, on the other hand.
Example: Unlike Jen, who was easygoing, Jackie was fastidious.
Antonyms Cont’dThis is when an author gives the opposite of the unfamiliar word.
Example:
Unlike Jamaal’s room, which was immaculate, Jeffrey’s room was very messy.
The word unlike lets you know an antonym is coming.
Even though you may not know what immaculate means, you know it’s the opposite of “very messy”. Therefore it means something is very clean.
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Cartoon © Kevin Smith from www.CartoonStock.com.
Compatible means A. disappointingB. busyC. in agreement
Look at the cartoon below about the fighting couple who are visiting a marriage counselor. Can you figure out the meaning of the word compatible?
Antonyms
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Cartoon © Kevin Smith from www.CartoonStock.com.
Compatible means A. disappointingB. busyC. in agreement
Look at the cartoon below about the fighting couple who are visiting a marriage counselor. Can you figure out the meaning of the word compatible?
Antonyms
The antonym “combatible” helps you figure out that compatible means “in agreement.”
Context Clue Number 3: Synonym or Restatement
Words with similar meanings are used within the same sentence, or around the unfamiliar word
Example: Santa Clause was so portly that his doctor declared
him overweight.
Synonyms or Examples
An author might give examples of a word in order to give the reader an idea of what a word means.
For example:
The river was full of noxious materials such as cleaning agents from factories and pesticides from the nearby farms.
The words such as let us know an example is coming.
Even though you may not know what noxious means, the examples of “cleaning agents” and “pesticides” let you know that things that are noxious are dangerous and poisonous.
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon below about a pollster speaking to a citizen. Can you figure out the meaning of the word apathy?
Apathy means A. hatredB. lack of interest or careC. kindness
Synonyms
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon below about a pollster speaking to a citizen. Can you figure out the meaning of the word apathy?
Apathy means A. hatredB. lack of interest or careC. kindness
Synonyms
The synonym for apathy—expressed in the words of the citizen who says “I don’t care”—helps you understand that apathy means “a lack of interest or care.”
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon and see if the examples help you understand the meaning of the word alternative.
Cartoon © by Thaves. All rights reserved.
Examples
Frank and Ernest
Alternative means A. expensive B. useless C. other
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon and see if the examples help you understand the meaning of the word alternative.
Cartoon © by Thaves. All rights reserved.
Examples
Frank and Ernest
Alternative means A. expensive B. useless C. other
The examples of alternative energy sources—wind power and solar power—help you understand that alternative means “other.”
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
All animals share the same vital needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
Examples are often introduced with signal words and phrases like for example, for instance, including, and such as.
Examples
Example
Context Clue Number 4: Inference
Word meanings are not directly stated in the text, but definitions of unfamiliar words can be assumed by
both prior knowledge and the context in which the word sits.
Example: She was so famished that people felt sorry for her, and gave her
food to eat.
Inference Cont’dThis is probably the most difficult kind of context clue. You need to use the ideas in the sentence to figure it out.
Example:
Walt’s pugnacious behavior in the boxing ring made his opponent back down.
The whole sentence gives us clues to the meaning of the unfamiliar word.
We know Walt is boxing, and something about his behavior has made is opponent back down. What kind of behavior might a boxer exibit that would make the person he’s fighting back off?
Aggressive, strong, scary behavior might make an opponent back off. In fact, pugnacious means aggressive or ready to fight.
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Often, the context of a new word contains no examples, synonyms, or antonyms.
In such cases, you must become a detective and try to make a guess based on any clues provided.
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Hey, Context Clue! I remember you!
By using the acronym, SAID, you can remember the four types of context
clues.
SynonymAntonymInferenceDefinition
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Often, the context of a new word contains no examples, synonyms, or antonyms.
In such cases, you must become a detective and try to make a guess based on any clues provided.
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon below about the cavemen covering over drawings in their cave. Notice the caption, “First Graffiti Eradication Program.” Can you figure out the meaning of the word eradication?
Cartoon © Mike Twohy. All rights reserved. www.cartoonist.com.
Eradication means A. eliminationB. expansionC. teaching
That’s Life
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Look at the cartoon below about the cavemen covering over drawings in their cave. Notice the caption, “First Graffiti Eradication Program.” Can you figure out the meaning of the word eradication?
Cartoon © Mike Twohy. All rights reserved. www.cartoonist.com.
Eradication means A. eliminationB. expansionC. teaching
That’s Life
The image of drawings being painted over, which would remove them from sight, suggests that eradication means “elimination.”
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
The Context Clues Riddle Game
Read each sentence silently.
Think about what the highlighted word means, and the type of context
clue you used to arrive at your answer. You do not have to write
anything down.
You will have thirty seconds to answer each riddle.
Riddle Number 1
Since it was raining outside, I used my
bumbershoot to keep from getting wet.
Riddle Number 1: Answer
A bumbershoot is an umbrella.
Context clue: inference
Riddle Number 2
Unlike Kyle, who is a conformer and a
follower, Jeremy is a maverick.
Riddle Number 2: Answer
A maverick is a loner, someone who is
independent of the group.
Context clue: antonym or contrast
Riddle Number 3
The ranivorous hawk, an animal that eats frogs, is found in
central and eastern Africa.
Riddle Number 3: Answer
Ranivorous means frog-eating.
Context clue: definition
Riddle Number 4
In class, Julia was so cantankerous that her
grumpy behavior negatively affected
everyone.
Riddle Number 4: Answer
Cantankerous means grouchy, or ill-
tempered.
Context clue: synonym or restatement
How to Answer These Questions Correctly
1. It’s not really important to be able to label each type of context clue. You are highly unlikely to be tested on whether you can identify antonyms vs. inference.
2. It is important that you can find the context clues though. You need to be able to figure out what unfamiliar words mean…and be able to back up your conclusion.
3. Practice reading texts that contain some (but not too many) unfamiliar words. Test yourself, can you figure out what a word means? After you’ve made a guess, look it up in the dictionary. Practice will help you improve this skill!!
4. When taking a test and faced with a question about an unfamiliar word USE THE TEXT! Fall back on the words on the page to help you figure out what a word means. Context clues are a reader’s best friend.
