Using context clues to know the meanings of unfamiliar words.

1. Context Clues
Look for the Clues

2. What does context mean?
A word’s context is the words, phrases, and
sentences that surround it. If you look closely
at the context of an unknown word, you often get
clues about that words meaning.
Look for:
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Definitions
• Examples
• Read Surrounding Sentences
• When ALL ELSE FAILS use a Dictionary

3. Look for Definitions
Watch for definitions defined near a word.
Sometimes you’ll see words and phrases – such as
or, that is, and in other words – with a definition
right after it in parentheses.
From “Census Surprise!” from Junior Scholastic:
What does census mean?
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a census (people
count) every ten years. Since 1960, the
population growth rate had been slowing down.
But no longer.
Notice that the meaning of the word census is
given right after it in parentheses.

4. Look for Examples
Watch for examples that explain what a word
means. Examples often follow words or phrases,
such as for example, such as, like, and especially.
From “Boys Against Girls” by Phyllis Reynolds
Naylor: What is an abaguchie?
Actually, nobody knew if there was an abaguchie in
Buckman at all, and if there was, just what kind of
creature it was. For several years various people in
Upshur County claimed to have seen a large animal,
something like a cat, lurking around in the shadows,
running along the edge of the woods, or even
crawling about under somebody’s window.
The word abaguchie is unfamiliar, but you soon
learn that it’s a “creature,” “a large animal,
something like a cat.”

5. What to do when context clue
strategies don’t help?
Sometimes we still don’t understand the
meaning of a word even after looking for
synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples, and
reading surrounding sentences.
When ALL of these
strategies fail – use a
dictionary.

6. Practice
Give the meaning and the type of context clue
used to find the meaning of the red word(s).
A Vicarious Journey
By Menkeli Kanaa, 2003
I would like to take you on a vicarious trip, a trip
I want you to experience through my
description, to Tanzania. I visited Tanzania with
five other teachers this summer, and I can truly
claim that it was the most memorable summer
I’ve had. I doubt I will ever forget it.
Word: vicarious
Type: Definition
Meaning: experience through
a description, not personal
experience
Word: memorable
Type: Definition
Meaning: never forget; stay
in memory

7. Practice
Give the meaning and the type of context clue
used to find the meaning of the red word(s).
• The old Maasai told us stories that teach
many things about life and death, bravery and
fear, vengeance and forgiveness.
• When going to an event you should show your
best decorum by dressing your best, drinking
and eating moderately, and thanking your
host before you leave.
Type: Antonym
Meaning: revenge; punish
someone
Type: Example
Meaning: using good
manners

8. Practice
Give the meaning and the type of context clue
used to find the meaning of the red word(s).
• The snake slithered through the grass. The
grass parted as he hunted.
Type: Read Surrounding Sentence
Meaning: moved; slide from side to side