Context Clues
By
Mr. Gonzalez
Language Arts and Reading Teacher
Hey…What does that word mean?!?
• When you read, do you occasionally come across a
word you do not know?
• How would you figure out the meaning of a word?
• What if you did not have a dictionary?
What are Context Clues?
• Context clues are words in the same sentence or
passage that gives you clues to what an unfamiliar
word means.
• These clues will help you understand the meaning of
the unknown word in a story or passage.
Five Types of Context Clues
There are five types of context clues:
1. Definition context clues
2. Synonym context clues
3. Antonym context clues
4. Description or Example context clues
5. Visual context clues
Definition Context Clues
• The author includes a definition to help the reader
understand the meaning of a word.
• The verbs “is,” “are,” or “to be” are signals indicating
that the definition of the word can be found within the
sentence.
• These verb forms are usually found between the
unknown word and its definition.
Definition Context Clues
Example:
The Eskimo was having difficulty climbing up the
pingo, or Artic hill.
• In this example, the author gave the definition of a
pingo, which is an Artic hill.
Synonym Context Clues
• When the author includes a synonym (a word that
means the same or about the same) for the unknown
word.
• The word “like” or “or” can be a signal words
indicating a synonym context clue within the
sentence. Signal words are not always used, so don’t
rely on them.
Synonym Context Clues
Example:
After seeing the picture of the starving children, we
all felt compassion or pity for their suffering.
• In the example, the author gives you the word “pity,”
which is a synonym for “compassion.”
Antonym Context Clues
• An antonym context clue is when the author gives an
antonym (a word that means the opposite) for the
unknown word.
• The words “not” or “but” are signal words indicating
that the antonym of the word can be found within the
sentence.
Antonym Context Clues
Example:
Most birds are herbivores, not meat eaters.
• Because the sentence uses an obvious antonym, a
good reader will understand that herbivores eat plants
instead of meat.
Description or Example Context Clues
• The author includes one or more examples or
descriptions to help the reader understand the
unknown word.
• Look for words and phrases like “such as,”
“including,” “for example,” and “consists of.”
• Colons (:) and dashes (-) are also signal descriptions
or examples.
Description or Example Context Clues
Example:
The Native American gave the wounded soldier a
cardamom potion. The herb’s strong smell was
enough to cure the hurt man.
• You can gather from the second sentence that
cardamom must be an herb used for medicine.
Visual Context Clues
• The author includes a picture, drawing, chart, graph,
or other type of visual to help the reader understand
the meaning of a word.
• Always read the sentence first, then look at the photo,
drawing, chart, or graph for a clue to the unknown
word.
Visual Context Clues
Example:
Peggy had an exultant look on her face.
• You can tell by the picture that exultant
means happy.
Context Clues and Meanings …
• Our Girl Scout troop took an excursion, a short
journey, to a museum.
• What type of context clue is being used?
An example context clue is being used.
• What does “excursion” mean?
A. Trip
B. Class
C. Paintings
D. Lunch
Context Clues and Meanings …
• Our Girl Scout troop took an excursion, a short
journey, to a museum.
• What type of context clue is being used?
An example context clue is being used.
• What does “excursion” mean?
A. Trip
B. Class
C. Paintings
D. Lunch
Context Clues and Meanings …
• Jerry is very clumsy, but his sister Jenny is adroit.
• What type of context clue is being used?
An antonym context clue is being used.
• What does “adroit” mean?
A. Pretty
B. Robot
C. Graceful
D. Smart
Context Clues and Meanings …
• Jerry is very clumsy, but his sister Jenny is adroit.
• What type of context clue is being used?
An antonym context clue is being used.
• What does “adroit” mean?
A. Pretty
B. Robot
C. Graceful
D. Smart
Context Clues and Meanings …
• The harlequin, like the circus clown, is a clown who
likes to perform.
• What type of context clue is being used?
A synonym context clue is being used.
• What does “harlequin” mean?
A. Book
B. Clown
C. Shadow
D. Animal
Context Clues and Meanings …
• The harlequin, like the circus clown, is a clown who
likes to perform.
• What type of context clue is being used?
A synonym context clue is being used.
• What does “harlequin” mean?
A. Book
B. Clown
C. Shadow
D. Animal
Context Clues and Meanings …
• The infuriated man could not figure
out his laptop computer.
• What type of context clue is being used?
A visual context clue is being used.
• What does “infuriated” mean?
A. Sad
B. Confused
C. Happy
D. Angry
Context Clues and Meanings …
• The infuriated man could not figure
out his laptop computer.
• What type of context clue is being used?
A visual context clue is being used.
• What does “infuriated” mean?
A. Sad
B. Confused
C. Happy
D. Angry