Context
Clues
3RW1.6: use sentence and
word context to find the
meaning of unknown words
(4 questions on CST)
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What are context clues?
 Just
about every word you hear or see
has a context. It is in a sentence or a
passage.
 The context of a word means the group of
words that surrounds it.
 Using the context clues will help you figure
out the meaning of unfamiliar words.
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How to use context clues
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Read the sentence carefully and focus on
the overall meaning.
Look for clues in nearby words.
Try to figure out what part of speech the
word is. (noun, verb, adjective, etc.)
Guess the meaning of the unfamiliar word.
Reread the sentence and see whether your
guess seems to make sense.
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Franklin watched a Word War II
documentary on TV with his dad last
night.
What does the word documentary mean in this
sentence?
(A) a movie about real events
(B) a newspaper article
(C) a television set
(D) a war
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If we can elevate those shelves up,
there will be more room underneath
them.
What does the word elevate mean in this
sentence?
(A) to throw something away
(B) to read
(C) to lift something up
(D) a piece of furniture
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The gourmet cook made excellent
food.
What does the word gourmet mean in this
sentence?
(A) a restaurant
(B) a type of bread
(C) to cook
(D) an expert on food
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Sarah caught a halibut on the deep
sea fishing trip.
What does the word halibut mean in this
sentence?
(A) a boat used for fishing
(B) a type of fish found in the ocean
(C) a type of net used for fishing
(D) to get sea sick
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The dog used it’s keen sense of smell
to find the hidden drugs.
What does the word keen mean in this
sentence?
(A) a special type of dog
(B) strong
(C) a police officer
(D) to bark loudly
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