Context clues are words in a sentence or paragraph that help the reader
deduce (reason out) the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
A. Types of Context Clues
There are five major types of context clues:
1. Synonym Clue: Sometimes an unfamiliar word is used as a synonym
(a word having either the same or similar meaning as another word).
You can infer (figure out) the meaning of the unfamiliar word by replacing
it with the familiar word.
Example: I feel completely satiated; in fact, I am so full that I could not
possibly eat another morsel of food.
“Full” is a synonym for “satiated.” We can conclude that the word “satiated”
means full or satisfied.
2. Comparison Clue: Sometimes an unfamiliar word is used in a comparison
with a familiar word or group of words.
Example: The children huddle around their teacher, like baby chicks
around a mother hen.
The children are being compared to baby chicks around a mother hen;
we can conclude, then, that “huddle” means “crowd together closely.”
Note: The phrase “like baby chicks around a mother hen” is a simile.
A simile is a literary device that uses the words “like” or “as” to describe
one thing by comparing it with another.
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Student Workbook: Word Analysis Strand
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3. Contrast Clue: Sometimes an unfamiliar word may be used in contrast
to a familiar word or group of words. You can infer the meaning of
the unfamiliar word by giving it the opposite meaning of the familiar word.
Example: Unlike Robin, who is full of life, Rachel is lackluster.
The opposite of “full of life” is “empty of life.” The word “lackluster”
is used to contrast Robin and Rachel. We can conclude, then,
that the word “lackluster” means “lacking liveliness.”
4. Explanation Clue: Sometimes an unfamiliar word may be followed
with an explanation, in which a familiar word or group of words is used.
Example: Marsha is insatiable; she can eat all day and never feel full.
Here, the second part of the sentence (“she can eat all day and never feel full”)
is used to explain the first part of the sentence (“Marsha is insatiable”).
We can conclude, then, that “insatiable” means “incapable of being full”
or “incapable of being satisfied.”
5. Example Clue: Sometimes an unfamiliar word may be followed by an example,
in which the familiar word is used.
Example: In college, you can choose courses from a broad range of academic
disciplines, such as history, economics, mathematics, and psychology.
You are probably familiar with the primary (first) meaning of the word
“discipline” - - control. But that doesn’t quite fit in the context of the
above sentence. The word “discipline” also has a secondary meaning;
we can use the context of the sentence to figure out this meaning.
The word is followed by several examples: history, economics, mathematics,
and psychology. (Note: The words “such as” let us know that examples
will follow.) We can conclude, then, that each of these subjects is
an example of a discipline and that the word “discipline” means
“a branch of instruction or learning.”