Context Clues

2. Context
Clues
Context Clues are hints that the author gives 
to help define a difficult or unusual word. The 
clue may appear within the same sentence as 
the word to which it refers, or it may follow in a 
preceding sentence. 
The context is simply the words or ideas 
around your unknown word. 

3. How to understand new words using 
Context Clues?

4. Four Types of Context Clues
1. Definition / Explanation
2. Restatement / Synonym
3. Contrast / Antonym
4. Inference / General Context Clues

5. Types of Context Clues
1. Definition / Explanation
The new term may be formally defined, or sufficient 
explanation may be given within the sentence or in the 
following sentence.
Clues to definition include “that is,” commas, 
dashes, and parentheses. 

6. Context Clue: Definition / Explanation
Let’s have an example: (1)
The arbitrator,

,
What could be the definition of arbitrator
in this sentence ?
the neutral person
chosen to settle the dispute arrived at her decision.
- the neutral person chosen
to settle the dispute
arrived at her decision.
arbitrator

7. Context Clue: Definition / Explanation
Fluoroscopy, examination with a fluoroscope, has
become a common practice. oxmmlexooxlsxlnox
$oclmslnsx#n xlxdeao%xasnx
nxn oxosnsxx$dea"%
The commas before and after
“examination with a fluoroscope” point
out the definition of “fluoroscopy.”
Let’s have an example: (2)
What could be the meaning of the word
fluoroscopy?
Fluoroscopy – an examination with a fluoroscope

8. Context Clue: Definition / Explanation
Now, you try!
The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is
found in Irish folk tales.
What could be the definition of dudeen in this
sentence?
dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe oxle oexeonns'xx$ lxe n enommoxdl"x
aao %xasnxnxn oxosnsxx$oos%
The dashes setting off “a short-stemmed clay
pipe” point out the definition of “dudeen.”

9. Types of Context Clues
2. Restatement / Synonyms
The meaning is usually right after the unfamiliar word
and often separated from the rest of the sentence with
commas, dashes, or parenthesis; sometimes or, that
is or in other words is used.

10. Context clue: Restatement / Synonyms
Let’s have an example: (3)
The mountain pass was a tortuous road, winding and twisting
like a snake around the trees of the mountainside.
What could be the definition of tortuous
in this sentence?$ ne%xmolsex$ #ss'xlsxn#ens' %
“Tortuous” means “winding and twisting.”

11. Context clue: Restatement / Synonyms
Let’s have an example: (4)
Flooded with spotlights – the focus of all attention – the new
Miss America began her year-long reign. She was the cynosure
of all eyes for the rest of the evening.
What could be the definition of the word
cynosure in this sentence?' (!seo)xmolsex' n oxexxlddxlnnosns #)
“Cynosure” means “the focus of all attention.”

12. Context clue: Restatement / Synonyms
Now, you try!
The young girl was very aloof. She always
seemed .

What does the word aloof mean in this
sentence?
unsociable and uninterested
Aloof -

13. Types of Context Clues
3. Contrast / Antonym
An opposite meaning context clue contrasts the
meaning of an unfamiliar word with the meaning
of a familiar term.
but, however, although, otherwise, unless,
instead, on the other hand, while, never, no, or
not may be used to signal the contrast.

14. Context clue: contrast / antonym
He tried to smile because the mood of the party was not somber, but happy. /x0sxn lnxem oxmenxmolsx
emon sxn lnxexn oxaaenoxx
laa!#x1sxln+xnxmolsex elxxol! #x
You know that somber must mean
something that is the opposite of
happy. In fact, it means sad or dreary.
David was very outgoing as opposed to his coy older sister.
Hint word(!xmenxmolsx e ! ,
Coy must mean shy!
Let’s have an example: (5, 6)

15. Context clue: antonyms and contrast
Now, you try!
Joe was reluctant to take the job of captain of the team. He
was afraid that the time it would take would hurt his grades.
On the other hand, Billy was eager for the chance to be the
team captain.
What does the word reluctant mean in this paragraph?1sxn exeosnosoxn oxex'sxn oxn ox
ls)xlsx'olo)xnoddxexn lnx8dd!xoodex
n oxaaenoxx5o+xn ooo+xodnlsnx
molsex sonlsxxlne #
In this sentence the words “on the other
hand” and “eager” tell us that Billy feels
the opposite of Joe, therefore, reluctant
means uncertain or cautious.

16. Types of Context Clues
4. Inference/General Context Clues
The meaning of an unfamiliar word can be
inferred from the description of a situation or
experience

17. Context Clues: inference/ general
Dementia almost overcame Lou when she stepped
off the train at Rainwater Ridge and felt as crazy as
a Betsy bug as she realized how different her new
life would be.Conotex ld tloloxtol cl oxtl
xtc to lod pcoleola col clda l cl l
oeclplxtxd eoclxtc txe
Dementia can be defined as being
insane because the phrase "as crazy as a
Betsy bug" indicates insanity.
Let’s have an example: (7)

18. Context Clues: inference/ general
Let’s have an example: (8)
She told her friend, “I’m through with blind dates forever. What
a dull evening! I was bored every minute. The conversation was
absolutely vapid.” +olco -oalr cleouuxtle elcol l lpuulomotxtl tle el
colr clsaol elomoalnxtpeolsleoldstmoac exstlcol l
rxel laxotll
The speaker was telling that she had a dull evening and that
she was bored at every minute of the conversation she had
with a friend.
What could the word vapid means? +olnscelusxd ulpocclrspulol ptxteoaocext
The most logical guess would be uninteresting.

19. Context Clues: inference/ general
Now, you try!
The nurse in Wish You Well states that she would "...require a free
reign in overseeing the children. These two need discipline, and I
intend to provide it."+olxxsn exdla co&l laoolaoxt&ld tloloxtol
luss-xtlsaldupoclxtleolcodstlcoteotdo
The idiomatic phrase, "a free reign," can be defined
by looking for clues in the second sentence.+oltpacolr tecleol aoosn leslxcdxuxtoleolersl
dxuaotloalr lod pcolcol cltsexdolsrl
ptxcdxuxtoleol uao l ao&l tlcolxcl
oeoanxtoleslasmxolxel uulloacou
The nurse wants the freedom to discipline the two
children her way because she has noticed how
undisciplined they already are, and she is
determined to provide it all by herself.

20. References:
http://wserver.scc.losrios.edu/~langlit/reading/contextclues/intro1.htm
www.clintweb.net/ctw/Context_Clues.ppt
www.sinclair.edu/.../learning_words_from_context_clues.pdf
www.ucclermont.edu/content/.../Vocabulary_in_Context.ppt
http://www-sjths.stjohns.k12.fl.us/teachers/beckw2/0EAF7E84-
0118C716.2/CONTEXT%20CLUESrev8192(3).pdf
http://languageartsreading.dadeschools.net/pdf/ElementaryDocument
s/Intermediate/ContextCluesChart.pdf