This document discusses context clues, a strategy for determining the meaning of unknown words when reading. It defines context clues as parts of text surrounding an unfamiliar word that provide hints about its meaning. The document outlines four types of context clues: definition clues, synonym clues, antonym clues, and inference clues. It emphasizes that context clues suggest rather than state the precise meaning of a word and are limited to how a word is used in a specific context. Examples are provided to illustrate each type of context clue.

1. L A L I N D A S T R E E T
P R I N C E G E O R G E ’ S C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E
UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURE:
ACTIVE READING

2. A V O C A B U L A R Y S T R A T E G Y
Context Clues

3. Context Clues Learning Objectives
 To learn techniques for vocabulary development
 To develop skill in using context clues
 To use word parts to expand your vocabulary
 To handle technical and specialized vocabulary

4. A W A Y T O F I G U R E O U T U N K N O W N W O R D S W H E N Y O U
A R E R E A D I N G
What are context clues

5. W H E N Y O U L E A R N H O W T O U S E T H E M W E L L , Y O U R
R E A D I N G S P E E D A N D C O M P R E H E N S I O N W I L L
I N C R E A S E
G O O D R E A D E R S U S E C O N T E X T C L U E S M O R E T H A N A N Y
O T H E R S T R A T E G Y , I N C L U D I N G T H E D I C T I O N A R Y , T O
F I G U R E O U T U N K N O W N W O R D S
Why you should use them:

6. F R O M T H E L A T I N C O N T E X T E R E - T O W E A V E O R J O I N
T O G E T H E R
C O N T E X T – ( N O U N ) T H E P A R T O F A T E X T O R
S T A T E M E N T T H A T S U R R O U N D S A P A R T I C U L A R W O R D
O R P H R A S E A N D D E T E R M I N E S I T S M E A N I N G
What is context?

7. W H A T D O E S I T M E A N I F S O M E O N E S A Y S ,
“ T H A T ’ S B A D ” ?
I T D E P E N D S O N T H E S I T U A T I O N , O R
C O N T E X T , R I G H T ?
We use context to figure out what
people mean when they speak
everyday.
Okay, that’s really bad!

8. W E U S E W O R D S A N D S E N T E N C E S A S W E L L A S O U R
K N O W L E D G E O F T H E W O R L D T O G I V E U S C L U E S A S T O
T H E S I T U A T I O N .
“ T H A T ’ S B A D , ” S H E S A I D A S S H E T H R E W A W A Y T H E
O L D M I L K F R O M T H E R E F R I G E R A T O R .
When we read, we use a
different kind of context to
weave together meaning.

9. “ T H A T ’ S E G R E G I O U S , ” S H E S A I D A S S H E T H R E W A W A Y
T H E O L D M I L K F R O M T H E R E F R I G E R A T O R .
Y E S , E G R E G I O U S M E A N S E X T R E M E L Y B A D O R
O F F E N S I V E .
C O U L D Y O U H A V E G U E S S E D T H A T F R O M T H E C O N T E X T
O F T H E S E N T E N C E ?
Now let’s switch to a word you may
not know and look at the context
clues.

10. Context Clues

11. I N O R D E R T O B E T T E R U N D E R S T A N D
C O N T E X T C L U E S A N D H O W T O U S E T H E M ,
W E A R E G O I N G T O E X A M I N E F O U R T Y P E S O F
C O N T E X T C L U E S :
If you think you could have guessed
what egregious means, you already
know how to use context clues.
Definition Clue
Synonym Clue
Antonym Clue
Inference Clue

12. A D E F I N I T I O N C L U E I S W H E N A N A U T H O R
D I R E C T L Y D E F I N E S A W O R D F O R Y O U I N A
P H R A S E O R S E N T E N C E .
T H I S T Y P E O F C L U E I S C O M M O N L Y F O U N D I N
T E X T B O O K S
F O R E X A M P L E :
Definition Clues
Mnemonic devices—memory aids that facilitate
learning—are useful for studying.

13. A S Y N O N Y M C L U E I S W H E N A N A U T H O R U S E S
A S Y N O N Y M F O R T H E W O R D I N T H E
S E N T E N C E O R I N S U R R O U N D I N G S E N T E N C E S .
A S Y N O N Y M I S A W O R D O R P H R A S E T H A T
M E A N S T H E S A M E T H I N G A S O R S O M E T H I N G
S I M I L A R T O A N O T H E R W O R D .
F O R E X A M P L E :
Synonym Clues
Retrieval, or recall, is a vital part of the memory and learning process.

14. A N A N T O N Y M C L U E I S W H E N T H E A U T H O R
U S E S A N A N T O N Y M I N T H E S E N T E N C E O R
S U R R O U N D I N G S E N T E N C E S .
A N A N T O N Y M I S A W O R D O R P H R A S E T H A T
M E A N S T H E O P P O S I T E O F A N O T H E R W O R D .
F O R E X A M P L E :
Antonym Clues
An instructor may give you tacit praise for study skills
instead of telling you how impressed he is.

15. A N I N F E R E N C E C L U E I S A C L U E W H E R E Y O U
C A N I N F E R , O R F I G U R E O U T , T H E M E A N I N G
O F A W O R D B A S E D O N B A C K G R O U N D
K N O W L E D G E , T H E S I T U A T I O N I N T H E T E X T ,
A N D L O G I C A L D E D U C T I O N .
F O R E X A M P L E :
Inference Clues
My long-term memory is abysmal. I forgot the date, the
details, and the process of our move.

16. T H E R E W I L L B E W O R D S F O R W H I C H T H E
C O N T E X T P R O V I D E S N O C L U E S .
C O N T E X T C L U E S G I V E A G E N E R A L S E N S E , N O T
T H E E X A C T O R C O M P L E T E D E F I N I T I O N .
C O N T E X T C L U E S S U G G E S T T H E M E A N I N G O F
T H E W O R D O N L Y A S I T I S U S E D I N A
P A R T I C U L A R C O N T E X T W H E R E A S W O R D S H A V E
M U L T I P L E M E A N I N G S .
Context Clues Limitations

17. D I R E C T I O N S :
C H O O S E T H E B E S T D E F I N I T I O N O F T H E
W O R D I N I T A L I C S B A S E D O N C O N T E X T
C L U E S .
B E R E A D Y T O T E L L W H A T K I N D O F C L U E
Y O U U S E D .
Let’s Practice
Using Context Clues