Context Clues

Context Clues
- are hints that the author gives to help define
a difficult or unusual word. The clue may
appear within the same sentence as the word
to which it refers, or it may follow in a
preceding sentence.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
Steps to Finding the Meaning of
Unfamiliar Words

Step 1. Read the sentence and note or

underline the unfamiliar word.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
Steps to Finding the Meaning of
Unfamiliar Words

Step 1. Read the sentence and note or

underline the unfamiliar word.
Step 2. Think about what is happening in
the text.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
Steps to Finding the Meaning of
Unfamiliar Words

Step 3. Find other clues or words that may

explain the meaning of the unknown word.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
Steps to Finding the Meaning of
Unfamiliar Words

Step 3. Find other clues or words that may

explain the meaning of the unknown word.
Step 4. Try different words in the sentence
to see if it makes sense in context.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
a. clear
b. dirty
c. flooded
After the heavy rains, the stream became
murky; in fact, the water is so cloudy you
couldn’t see the bottom.
a. clear
b. dirty
c. flooded
Expecting that his license would be
renewed, the pilot was surprised when it
was revoked instead.
a. repeat
b. cancel
c. continue
Expecting that his license would be
renewed, the pilot was surprised when it
was revoked instead.
a. repeat
b. cancel
c. continue
Although Alex usually looks unkempt, he had
a very neat appearance at his interview.
a. orderly
b. handsome
c. messy
Although Alex usually looks unkempt, he had
a very neat appearance at his interview.
a. orderly
b. handsome
c. messy
She showed great prowess in the
engineering competition and won first prize.
a. anxiety
b. patience
c. skill
She showed great prowess in the
engineering competition and won first prize.
a. anxiety
b. patience
c. skill
Types of Context Clues
Definition; Restatement or Synonym; Antonym or
Contrast
Definition
The unfamiliar word is directly or explicitly
defined in the sentence.
Clues to the definition include commas,
dashes, parentheses, is, are, is/are called,
is/are known as, is defined as, means, refers
to, and that is.
Definition
Martha is a curator, a person who is
responsible for looking after a museum’s
collection.
Definition
Martha is a curator, a person who is
responsible for looking after a museum’s
collection.
Definition
Martha is a curator, a person who is
responsible for looking after a museum’s
collection.
Definition
Martha is a curator, a person who is
responsible for looking after a museum’s
collection.
Definition
Archaeology is the scientific study of
prehistoric cultures by excavation of their
remains.
Definition
Entomology is the study of insects.
Synonym or Restatement
The unfamiliar word is defined through the use
of another word having the same meaning as
the term.
The clues to synonym or restatement include
commas, semicolon, dashes, parentheses, and
words such as “or,” “that is,” and “or in other
words.”
Synonym or Restatement
After seeing the picture of the starving
children, we all felt commiseration or pity
for their suffering.
Synonym or Restatement

After seeing the picture of the starving

children, we all felt commiseration or pity
for their suffering.
Synonym or Restatement
After seeing the picture of the starving
children, we all felt commiseration or pity
for their suffering.
Synonym or Restatement
After seeing the picture of the starving
children, we all felt commiseration or pity
for their suffering.
Synonym or Restatement

My best friend squandered all his money;

his drinking and gambling wasted all his
earnings.
Antonym or Contrast
The unfamiliar word is defined using another
word or phrase that means its opposite.
The words “but,” “however,” “although,”
“otherwise,” “unless,” “instead of,” “on the
contrary,” “on the other hand,” “while,” and
“unlike” are clues of antonym or contrast.
Antonym or Contrast
The gentleman was portly but his wife
was thin.
Antonym or Contrast
The gentleman was portly but his wife
was thin.
Antonym or Contrast
The gentleman was portly but his wife
was thin.
Antonym or Contrast
The gentleman was portly but his wife
was thin.
Antonym or Contrast
While Luis is hardworking, his indolent
brother spends most of the time watching
TV or sitting around with friends.
● Context Clues
● Steps to Finding
the Meaning of
Unfamiliar Words
● Types of Context
Clues
What is the
essence of
learning and
understanding
context clues?