This document discusses vocabulary context clues, which are hints given in the text surrounding an unknown word that can help the reader understand its meaning. It identifies 5 main types of context clues: 1) restatement clues, 2) synonym clues, 3) antonym clues, 4) example clues, and 5) inference or general sense clues. Understanding these context clue types is important for developing reading comprehension skills.

1. Vocabulary Context Clues
Vocabulary understanding
is the best predictor of reading
comprehension.

3. Vocabulary 1. Context = what
Context Clues comes before and after
the word.
2. Context Clues= hints
given about word
meaning.

4. Types of 1. Restatement Clue =
Context Clues uses different words to
state same concept
Ex: Anya was indignant—
really, really angry—that the
bus left without
Ex: Please shred the
cabbage for the cole slaw
by cutting it into long strips

5. Types of 2. Synonym= a word or phrase
Context that means almost the same
Clues (cont.) as the unknown
• If you know the meaning of
one word or phrase, you can
guess the meaning of
the other.
Ex: Although the salesperson
tried to assuage the angry
customer, there was no way to
soothe her

6. Types of 3. Antonym= opposite ideas are given
Context
Clues Ex: Many politicians do not give
(cont.) succinct answers. They prefer long
ones that help them avoid the
succinct= brief; short
 Words with opposite meanings are
called antonyms.
Ex: cold/hot light/dark heavy/light

7. Types of 4. Example Clue = if you understand
Context the examples given, you may be
Clues able to figure out the word meaning.
(cont.)
Ex: Children who move to a foreign
country adapt more easily than their
parents, soon picking up the
language and customs of their new
home.
Adapt= adjust
Ex: Nocturnal creatures, such as
bats and owls, can function in the
dark.
Nocturnal= active at night

8. Types of 5. Inference or General Sense Clue =
Context figure out the meaning by reasoning
Clues from the information provided by the
context. An inference is an educated
(cont.) (use the information given) guess.
Ex: The car wash we organized we a
fiasco- it rained all day.
What is a fiasco?
What were the clues?
Ex: Tom doesn’t want to tell Sam
about the entire movie, so he just
have him the gist of the story.
What is gist mean?
What are the clues?

9. QUIZ
NAME 4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONTEXT CLUES?
1.
2.
3.
4.

10. Types of 1. Restatement Clue
Context Clues 2. Synonym Clue
Reviewed 3. Antonym Clue
4. Example Clue
5. Inference or General Sense
Clue

11. QUIZ
Read the sentence and 1. It was so gliff
predict the meaning of outside, I had to wear
the underlined word: two sweaters and a
jacket!
“Gliff” most likely
means:
A.Warm
B.cold
C.bright
D.dark

12. QUIZ
In the following 2. The sociology professor
sentence, what commented that the
does the italicized ideas in my paper were
word mean?, and too ambiguous, that is,
What type of vague or too general.
context clue did
you use?

13. QUIZ
In the following 3. Many species went
sentence, what extinct for unknown
does the italicized reasons. For example,
word mean?, and dinosaurs are no longer
What type of found on earth.
context clue did
you use?

14. QUIZ
In the following 4. In the earthquake, many
sentence, what victims were killed or
does the italicized injured and many
word mean?, and children became
What type of orphaned.
context clue did
you use?

15. QUIZ
In the following 5. In contrast to Mary’s
sentence, what joyfulness, John’s
does the italicized despondency really
word mean?, and worries his parents.
What type of
context clue did
you use?

16. The End!