The document provides examples of different types of context clues that can help determine the meaning of unknown words, including definitions, synonyms, antonyms, examples, and information about a word's relationship to other words. It also discusses signal words that often indicate the type of context clue being used. The context clues and examples are intended to help students learn how to use the surrounding context of a word to figure out its definition when encountered while reading.

2. 
 Leave the page I am passing out upside down until I
give the signal. When the signal is given, you and
your partner will fill in the missing blanks on the
page. You will have only two minutes to complete as
many blanks as possible. The group with the most
correctly filled in blanks will be the class champions.
Hook

3. Two Minute Timer

4. 
 How can I use context clues to understand unknown
words?
Essential Question

5. 
Skill -
Lesson
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade
Lesson 1
Context
Clues to
Determine
Meanings
of Words
CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.L.6.4a
Use context (e.g., the
overall meaning of a
sentence or
paragraph; a word’s
position or function in
a sentence) as a clue to
the meaning of a word
or phrase.
CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.L.7.4a
Use context (e.g., the
overall meaning of a
sentence or
paragraph; a word’s
position or function in
a sentence) as a clue to
the meaning of a word
or phrase.
CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.L.8.4a
Use context (e.g., the
overall meaning of a
sentence or
paragraph; a word’s
position or function in
a sentence) as a clue to
the meaning of a word
or phrase.
Common Core

6. 
 An explanation of a word is given in the text. This is
often in an appositive. That is is a signal to the reader
that a definition is coming.
Definition
Context Clue
The longest line of latitude circling the earth, called the equator, is also the
warmest location on the earth.
The American Civil War, the war between the Northern States and the
Southern States, lasted for four years.
Parallel lines means that the two lines lie in the same plane and are the
same distance apart over their entire length so that they never intersect.

7. 
 A synonym for the word is given in the text. Some
clue words to show a synonym is given is sometimes,
that is, in other words.
Repeated or Synonym
Context Clue
Relocating information from the spherical, or ball-shaped, surface of
Earth onto a flat piece of paper is called projection.
Tiffany wanted her frankfurter with chili and mustard, but Dalton
said he liked his hotdog with just ketchup.
Words that are mirror images of each other such as ANNA, OTTO,
MADAM, NOON and MOM are called palindromes.

8. 
 An antonym for the word is given in the text. Words
like although, however, and not ____ but may signal
contrast clues.
Contrast or Antonym
Context Clue
When a person enters a brightly lit room the pupils of the eyes contract;
however when they enter a dark room the pupils dilated.
The twins were as different as night and day. One was outgoing and
talkative; the other was shy and a loner.
While on a strict diet the man said he couldn’t each deep-fried chicken;
it must be baked.

9. 
 Information is given to help figure out the meaning
to the word.
Association Context
Clue
The dog gave a startled bark when he saw himself in the mirror for the
first time.
Logan threw the basketball through the net to score a three pointer.
The humpback whale squirted water from its blow hole located on
the top of its head before taking a deep breath and submerging back
into the ocean.

10. 
 Example context clues often use words like including,
such as, and for example to point out an example.
Example Context Clue
Heavenly (Celestial) bodies including the sun, moon, and the stars are
fascinating to study.
Imaginary (Made-up, Make-believe, Fictional) creatures, such as
unicorns, mermaids, and dragons, are in fantasy stories.
Toxic (Deadly, Lethal, Noxious, Contaminated) materials such as
pesticides, plastics, detergents, oil, and gasoline pollute the Mississippi
River.

11. 
 An unfamiliar word is included as part of a series or
list of related words to help the reader understand
the word’s meaning.
Series Context Clue
Winning members of the Super Bowl received a cash bonus of $88,000
and a ring.
African’s top five big game animals include the rhino, leopard, lion,
buffalo, and of course the elephants.
At the birthday party, Stephanie served nuts, candy, ice cream, and
cake.

12. 
 The reader finds a clue based on the general mood or
tone of the passage.
Tone and Setting
Context Clue
During the circus the young girl chuckled when she saw the dog act,
yet when the clowns came into the ring she let out a large laugh
(giggle chortle snicker hoot).
During her grandmother’s funeral the girl’s shoulders shook, tears
flowed down her cheeks, and her legs trembled.
The mother tenderly kissed her newborn child on his forehead.

13. 
 A cause and effect situation is what happened and
why or the result.
Cause and Effect
Context Clue
The mountainous road between Mountain City and Abingdon was so
full of twists and turns than many students became car sick (queasy,
troubled with motion sickness) on the field trip to Barter Theatre.
Meg wanted to impress everyone with the southern dish of shrimp and
grits that she had learned how to prepare when she went to culinary
(cooking) school in Charleston, South Carolina.
Joe picked up the steaming slice of pizza and yowled as he burned the
roof of his mouth.

14. 
 How did you know which words should go in the
missing blanks?
 What clues did you use to help determine which words
belonged in the blank spaces?
 Were all the clue words the same type of clue? For
example, in some sentences a definition was stated in the
sentence. Was this true for all sentences?
 The process you just went through to determine the
missing words is the same as when you come to a word
that you do not know while reading. You must use
context clues in the sentence to determine the meaning of
the word. We will study this process in more detail in
today’s lesson.
Discussion

15. 
 Graphic Organizer
Activity 1

16. 
 Handout Instructions
For each boldfaced word, underline the clue words and
circle any signal words or punctuation marks that you
find. Then write a definition of the word.
Activity 2

17. 
 Page 1 - Occasionally, when supplies were delivered by
cargo planes to the landing field across the river, the
children rode their bicycles to the riverbank and watched,
intrigued, the unloading and then the takeoff directed to
the west, always away from the community.
 Intrigued means
Problem #1
children rode their bicycles to the riverbank and watched
fascinated, interested, captivated.
You are able to determine from context clues that the
children must me fascinated by the cargo planes if they were
willing to ride their bikes just to watch them.

18. 
Skill -
Lesson
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade
Lesson 1
Context
Clues to
Determine
Meanings
of Words
CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.L.6.4a
Use context (e.g., the
overall meaning of a
sentence or
paragraph; a word’s
position or function in
a sentence) as a clue to
the meaning of a word
or phrase.
CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.L.7.4a
Use context (e.g., the
overall meaning of a
sentence or
paragraph; a word’s
position or function in
a sentence) as a clue to
the meaning of a word
or phrase.
CCSS.ELA-
Literacy.L.8.4a
Use context (e.g., the
overall meaning of a
sentence or
paragraph; a word’s
position or function in
a sentence) as a clue to
the meaning of a word
or phrase.
Common Core

19. 
 How can I use context clues to understand unknown
words?
Essential Question