Context

Clues
Context Clues
are words that appear
in sentences to help
understand the
meanings of difficult
words.
Context clues are of
different types:
by Definition
the unfamiliar word is defined in a sentence

Example:
A treasure hunter is a person who searches for
treasures from sunken ships and ancient tombs to
obtain valuable relics and artifacts. (definition: a
person who searches for treasures)
by Definition
Diane was lethargic; she didn't have the energy to
get out of bed.
The dates are listed in chronological order; they
start at the beginning and end with the last event.
She heard the cry of the banshee, a spirit that
alludes to the death of a family member.
by Synonym
a similar word is placed in the same sentence to know
the meaning of the unfamiliar word

examples:
She hums continuously, or all the time, and it
annoys me.
by Synonym
His animosity, or hatred, of his sister divided the
family.
This situation is a conundrum, a puzzle that’s
difficult to solve.
Bill felt remorse, or shame, for his harsh words.
by Antonym
an opposite word is placed in the same sentence

Examples:
Marty is gregarious, unlike his brother who is quiet
and shy.
This painting of the landscape is picturesque, while
the one of the old house is just plain ugly.
by Antonym
The feral cat would not let us pet him, unlike our
friendly cat.
Our sweltering summer days were quickly replaced
by the cold flashes of fall.
She was virtuous, unlike her evil and conniving
brother.
by Comparison
a similar word with the same meaning of the unfamiliar
word is placed with an object to be compared (signal
words: "too", "like", "as", "similar to", "in the same way"

Examples:
The auditorium, like the stadium, has impresive
acoustics.
Kari's happy face was luminuos, like the rays of the
sun.
by Example
samples are provided in the sentence to understand
the meaning of the unfamiliar word (signal words: like,
including, such as, and, for example)

Example:
Lionhearted persons like firemen, policemen, and
soldiers are willing to serve the country 24/7.
by Example
I know when grandpa gets nostalgic. For example,
he looks at his old photographs and talks about his
past.
Souvenirs such as T-shirts, key chains, and postcards
are fun ways to remember trips
In ancient times, some of our forefathers believed in
amulets, such as pearl of the crocodile, pearl of the
ax, bullet necklace, and bag of herbs to protect
them from harm.
by Explanation
a description is given to understand the meaning of the
unfamiliar word

Examples:
The patient is so somnolent that she requires
medication to help her stay awake for more than a
short time.
by Cause-Effect
the meaning of the difficult word depends on the
cause-effect relationship of other words as expressed
in the sentence (signal words: because, so, hence, due
to, as a result, cause, as such, so that.)

Examples:
We can see things through a piece of glass because
it is transparent
by List or Series of Clues
to understand the meaning of the unknown word, it is
included in a series of words given in a sentence

Examples:
After the program, the rubbish left were souvenir
programs, flyers, leaflets plastic bottles, and food
wrappings.
by Inference
to understand the meaning of the unknown word, one
has to make a guess based on the description given in
the sentence

When one shows belligerence, harsh words,

disruptive actions, and offensive behaviors can be
observed.