Context Clues
- Context Clues
Context is the text surrounding a word, including the other words in its sentence and the sentences nearby. Authors often provide context clues, which are hints that help readers determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word. Context clues also help readers choose the relevant meaning of a word that has several meanings.
Where to Look
Clues may appear within the sentence, right beside the word or several words away.
Clues may also appear beyond the sentence: in the sentences before or after it, elsewhere in the paragraph, or even in a later paragraph.
Kinds of Context Clues
Definition or restatement (signal words: or, that is, which means, in other words)
Many bears hibernate, or sleep deeply through the winter, in dens and caves.
Synonym (a nearby word or phrase with almost the same meaning)
The speech was lengthy. In fact, it was so long that several people in the audience fell asleep. Lengthy means long.
Antonym (signal words: but, although, unlike, instead, however)
Although the climb up the mountain was arduous, the walk back down was easy and relaxing. Arduous means very difficult.
Example (signal words: such as, for example, including)
Mia enjoys aquatic sports, including swimming, diving, and water polo. Aquatic means taking place in or on water.
Details (no signal words; the reader combines facts to make an inference)
The village was isolated. The nearest town was fifty miles away, and only one narrow dirt road led there. Isolated means far away from other places.
How to Use Context Clues
1. Find the unfamiliar word, and read its entire sentence.
2. Look for signal words that point to a clue.
3. If the sentence is not enough, read beyond it.
4. Combine the clues to decide on a meaning.
5. Substitute that meaning for the word, and reread to confirm that it fits every clue.
1. The unfamiliar word is diligent. It describes the volunteers.
2. Look within the sentence. The volunteers worked carefully, they worked for hours, and they kept going until every piece of trash was gone.
3. Combine the clues. People who work carefully and do not stop until a job is finished are hard-working.
4. Diligent means hard-working and careful. Substitute it: the volunteers were hard-working and careful. The meaning fits every clue.
1. The unfamiliar word is compromise. Its own sentence says only that the teams reached one after a long talk.
2. Read beyond the sentence. Before the word, the teams could not agree. After it, each team gave up one thing it wanted.
3. Combine the clues. The teams settled their disagreement because each side gave something up.
4. A compromise is an agreement in which each side gives up part of what it wants. The clues came from the sentences before and after the word.
- Multiple-Meaning Words
Many common words have several meanings, and a dictionary may list five or more of them. To find the relevant meaning, the one the author intends, read the context, list the meanings the word can have, and test each meaning against the clues.
1. Current can mean happening now, a flow of water or air, or a flow of electricity.
2. Look for clues. The current is in the river, it is strong, and it could pull them downstream.
3. Test each meaning. Happening now does not name a thing that can pull a swimmer, and a flow of electricity runs through wires, not down a river.
4. Here, current means a flow of water. It is the only meaning that fits every clue.
Next, practice using context clues to determine the meanings of unfamiliar and multiple-meaning words.
5th Grade Reading - Context Clues Lesson