Vocabulary Context Clues
Vocabulary understanding
is the best predictor of reading
comprehension.
Vocabulary
Context Clues
1. Context = what
comes before and after
the word.
2. Context Clues= hints
given about word
meaning.
Types of
1. Restatement Clue =
Context Clues uses different words to
state same concept
Ex: Anya was indignant—
really, really angry—that the
bus left without
Ex: Please shred the
cabbage for the cole slaw by
cutting it into long strips
Types of
Context
Clues (cont.)
2. Synonym= a word or phrase
that means almost the same
as the unknown
•
If you know the meaning of
one word or phrase, you can
guess the meaning of
the other.
Ex: Although the salesperson
tried to assuage the angry
customer, there was no way to
soothe her
Types of
Context
Clues
(cont.)
3. Antonym= opposite ideas are given
Ex: Many politicians do not give
succinct answers. They prefer long
ones that help them avoid the
succinct= brief; short
 Words with opposite meanings are
called antonyms.
Ex: cold/hot
light/dark
heavy/light
Types of
Context
Clues
(cont.)
4. Example Clue = if you understand
the examples given, you may be
able to figure out the word meaning.
Ex: Children who move to a foreign
country adapt more easily than their
parents, soon picking up the
language and customs of their new
home.
Adapt= adjust
Ex: Nocturnal creatures, such as
bats and owls, can function in the
dark.
Nocturnal= active at night
Types of
Context
Clues
(cont.)
5. Inference or General Sense Clue =
figure out the meaning by reasoning
from the information provided by the
context. An inference is an educated
(use the information given) guess.
Ex: The car wash we organized we a
fiasco- it rained all day.
What is a fiasco?
What were the clues?
Ex: Tom doesn’t want to tell Sam
about the entire movie, so he just
have him the gist of the story.
What is gist mean?
What are the clues?
QUIZ
NAME 4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONTEXT CLUES?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Types of
Context Clues
Reviewed
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Restatement Clue
Synonym Clue
Antonym Clue
Example Clue
Inference or General Sense
Clue
QUIZ
Read the sentence and
predict the meaning of
the underlined word:
1. It was so gliff
outside, I had to wear
two sweaters and a
jacket!
“Gliff” most likely
means:
A.Warm
B.cold
C.bright
D.dark
QUIZ
In the following
2. The sociology professor
sentence, what
commented that the
does the italicized
ideas in my paper were
word mean?, and
too ambiguous, that is,
What type of
vague or too general.
context clue did
you use?
QUIZ
In the following
sentence, what
does the italicized
word mean?, and
What type of
context clue did
you use?
3. Many species went
extinct for unknown
reasons. For example,
dinosaurs are no longer
found on earth.
QUIZ
In the following
sentence, what
does the italicized
word mean?, and
What type of
context clue did
you use?
4. In the earthquake, many
victims were killed or
injured and many
children became
orphaned.
QUIZ
In the following
sentence, what
does the italicized
word mean?, and
What type of
context clue did
you use?
5. In contrast to Mary’s
joyfulness, John’s
despondency really
worries his parents.
The End!