Context Clues

In identifying the meaning of a vocabulary

What are Context Clues?

hints found within a sentence,

paragraph, or passage that a
reader can use to understand
the meanings of new or
unfamiliar words.
 Why Context
Clues are
Important?
a. b. c.
Understanding how various types helpful when you're working to directly or indirectly helps the
of context clues work can help you determine the main idea of a reader to understand the meaning
to understand difficult vocabulary passage or struggling to make of the paragraph. This provide
words, even those brand new to inferences about meaning because insights into the specific portion of
you. unknown words can help connect the text that is generally difficult
the dots in incredibly useful ways to understand
Five Types of
Context Clues
1. Punctuation or
Font clues
In this type of context clues, the clues itself
are hidden in the capitalization,
italicization, quotation marks, and even
parentheses. With these, you can
understand that the clues tell the reader
that the word could be a name, a book title,
or even the word is being defined for us.
 Examples:
1 2 3
Jack's duplicity—crafty
dishonesty—enabled
him to steal his The ancient clock
Terri retained –
coworker's pensions by only rang once in a
kept – the keys to
funneling their money millennium (a
the old mansion.
into an offshore thousand years).
account.
 2. Synonym or
Restatement Clues
In this type of context clue, the author is
conveying the same thing twice. Initially, in a
difficult way and then in a simple way. This
can often happen in the same sentence itself.
In case you do not understand a particular
word then you just keep reading it one or more
times to understand the flow of the sentence.
 Examples:
1 2 3

The rambunctious
Miguel was very kids ran out to the It was a frigid
loquacious. He bus and climbed on winter night; even
really loved to talk. board. They jumped the lake was frozen
and yelled and just solid.
couldn’t settle down.
3. Antonym or
Contrast Clues
In this type of context clue, the author
provides the hints of the meaning of the words
or paragraphs and tries to explain what it is
about. Generally, the word “but” will be used in
the sentence that will show the opposite
thought and how it is presented.
 Examples:
1 2 3

This painting of the The feral cat would She acted nonchalant
landscape is not let us pet him, about the exam, but
picturesque, while unlike our friendly she was actually
one of the old cat. quite concerned.
houses is just plain
ugly.
 4. Definition or
Explanation Clues
This is the simplest form of context clue, where
the literal meaning of the word is given to the
reader but in the form of explanation.
Sometimes the author will add very specific
words to tell us an explanation is upcoming.
These can include phrases like “which means”
or “that is” or “in other words.”
 Examples:
1 2 3

The dates are listed The doctor’s writing He called her a menace
in chronological was utterly illegible; because of her risky,
order; they start at no one could read unreliable, and
the beginning and those scribbles. unpredictable nature.
end with the last
event.
5. Inference/General
Context Clues
Sometimes a word or phrase is not immediately
clarified within the same sentence.
Relationships, which are not directly apparent,
are inferred or implied. The reader must
look for clues within, before, and after the
sentence in which the word is used.
 Examples:
1 2 3

“The haberdashery was We took off our

sandals and walked on
Winning first prize
Lou’s favorite place. made him feel
He loved shopping for the sand. Once we
found a good spot, we elated, and he
nice suits.
The people who each placed our flannel couldn’t wait to tell
worked there were so on the sand, and sat on his parents.
kind and helpful.” it while we put on our
sunscreen.
Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
1

Our baseball team's pitcher has a few eccentric habits, such as throwing exactly
thirteen warm-up pitches and never wearing socks.

a. Normal
b. Strange
c. Messy
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
2

After the heavy rains, the stream became murky; in fact, the water was so hazy
you couldn't see the bottom.

a. cloudy
b. bottomless
c. clear
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
3

The debris on the stadium floor included numerous paper cups, ticket stubs, and
cigarette butts.

a. products
b. papers
c. trash
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
4

The coach takes every opportunity to censure his players, yet he ignores every
opportunity to praise them.

a. Approve of
b. criticize
c. choose
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
5

The newlyweds agreed to be very frugal in their shopping because they wanted
to save enough money to buy a house.

a. economical
b. wasteful
c. interested
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
6

Although Alex usually looks unkempt, he had a very neat appearance at his job
interview.

a. orderly
b. handsome
c. messy
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
7
No matter where you go, the Internet is following you. Almost every portable device
is being made with an Internet connection. Most new TVs and many other appliances
come with Internet connections as well. The Internet is truly ubiquitous.

a. it is fuzzy and will bite you

b. it is everywhere
c. it costs too much money
d. it causes rashes
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
7
In the early 1600s, a dangerous trip across the Atlantic Ocean was a daunting idea.
The Europeans, who would someday be known as the Pilgrims, must have been a very
determined and brave group of settlers.

a. Tickle
b. Amuse
c. lose or misplace
d. frighten or intimidate
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
8
I just can’t beat Paula when we play chess! Every time I make a move that should
lead me to victory, she makes a better move that thwarts my plan.
If you thwart a robbery, you…………

a. commit a crime
b. stop a crime from happening
c. imagine a theft
d. give warts to a thief
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
9
The owner of the restaurant wouldn’t allow Samantha to walk through the door. “I’m
sorry,” she said, “but you started a food fight the last time you were here. You may
not have ingress to my restaurant!”

a. a kind of bird that lives by the sea

b. any food that can be thrown
c. a good price for a meal
d. the right to enter
 Identify the meaning of the
underlined word
10
Amy was feeling low. Every business she tried lost money or made only pennies a
day. Her newest idea was selling chocolate covered baby shoes. She was convinced
that it would be a lucrative business. Her friends tried to warn her that it was not a
certain road to riches.

a. tasting great with vanilla ice cream

b. helping young feet to grow correctly
c. showing no careful thought
d. bringing in a lot of money, or profit
END
THANKS!