This document discusses different strategies for determining the meaning of unknown words using context clues. It identifies four main types of context clues: examples, synonyms, antonyms, and general sense of the passage. For each type, it provides a definition and examples to illustrate how to identify these clues in a text. It also encourages readers to test their understanding of context clues and defines what identifying context clues means.

2. Smart: Read with a
Dictionary

3. Smarter: Identify Context
Clues
The context is what
surrounds the word
(or sentence or idea)
that you don’t
understand.

4. Why Context Clues Are Cool
THEY SAVE YOU TIME
THE WORD MAY BECOME PART OF
YOUR OWN VOCAB
YOU GET A SENSE OF HOW TO USE THE
WORD

5. TRY THIS
What is the definition of the word: languid?
Try it in a sentence:
After Thanksgiving dinner, my husband and I were
too languid to clear the table or serve dessert.
It was scorching hot outside; the athlete languidly
crossed the marathon finish line.

6. The Answer
LANGUID: sluggish in character;
lacking force or strength; drooping from
exhaustion.
Were you close? Why? How’d you
figure it out?

7. 4 Types of Context Clues
1. Examples
2. Synonyms
3. Antonyms
4. General sense of passage

8. Examples
Look for clues that suggest there will be a list or further
explanation:
SUCH AS
FOR EXAMPLE
FOR INSTANCE
INCLUDING
Now check your understanding on page 19 in your textbook!

9. Synonyms
A synonym is a word that is similar to the word you
don’t know.
Example: A synonym for languid is sluggish or lazy
Look for words that are similar in the sentence
surrounding the word.
Now check your understanding on page 22 in your textbook!

10. Antonyms
An antonym is a word opposite of the word you don’t know.
Example: An antonym for languid is energetic
Look for words that are similar in the sentence surrounding
the word.
Now check understanding on page 25 in your textbook!

11. General Sense
LOOK FOR OTHER CLUES SUCH AS:
UNDERSTAND THE MAIN IDEA
ASK QUESTIONS
Now check understanding
on page 28 in your textbook!

12. Another Strategy
Sometimes you won’t need to use context clues to
determine the meaning of a word.
In your textbooks, you might often find that important
words are in bold or italicized and then followed by
the definition.

13. TEST YOURSELF
1. What does it mean to identify context
clues?
2. What are four types of context clues to
look for? Can you provide an example of
each?
3. What can you look for in textbooks that
signifies an important word?