Context Clues

Figuring out difficult vocabulary!

Direct definition context clues

No need for a dictionary with these words…the definition of the word is right in the text!

EXAMPLE:“I staggered, almost falling, coughing and sobbing for

breath.”In this sentence the words “almost falling” tell us that staggering means to walk in an unsteady way…almost falling over.Hint: the definition usually follows right after the word in a phrase set off by commas

Antonym context clues are words around a difficult word that mean the opposite or nearly

the opposite as the word.

EXAMPLE:“I guess that guy knew how close to hysterics I really was, for he talked to me in a low, soothing voice…”

In this sentence the words “for” and “soothing” indicates hysterics must mean someone needs to be soothed and the opposite of soothing is exciting. Hysterics means being so excited you are out of control emotionally.Hint: look for signal words at the beginnings of phrases that follow the unfamiliar word. Words like, “but,” “for,” “yet,” and “however” clue you in that they are going to talk about how something doesn’t seem right…how it’s the opposite of what was expected.

Example context clues are words around a difficult word that explain the meaning of the

word.

EXAMPLE:“…I had read the part about them riding into sure

death because they were gallant.”In this sentence the words “riding into sure death” provide an example of what it takes to be gallant…or brave!

Inference context clues are words around a difficult word that imply the meaning. The

reader must infer.

EXAMPLE:“I fought to get loose, and almost did for a second;

then they tightened up on me and the one on my chest slugged me a couple of times.”

In this sentence the words “fought,” “tightened up” and “one on my chest” give us an idea there is a fight or struggle going on…so we can infer that slugged means to punch or hit someone.

Prefix context clues are words that begin with a prefix that helps the reader infer the meaning of

the word.

EXAMPLE:Soda began sleeping with me and [the dream] stopped

recurring so often…”In this sentence, the word recurring includes the prefix “re.” If you know that “re” means “to do again,” you can guess something is happening again…in this case “occurring” again.

You TRY!•Look at your list of vocabulary from your reading log from Chapters 5/6 and 7.

•Pick the one that you’re most unsure of its meaning. Highlight the word in your log and then write it on a post-it and pass it to the person on your right.

•Then go back and look for context clues to see if you can make a better guess now. Don’t erase your old guess, write your new one in a different color or off to the side.

•Then look up the word on the post-it passed to you. Write the definition down and then pass it back.

•Compare your guess to the definition. Were you closer this time?

•Be prepared to share which type of context clue helped you and what words in the passage clued you in to the meaning.