CONTE
XT
ON THE LOOSE!
CLUES
PREPARED BY:
Ms. Rocher Kate
Emaas
ON THE LOOS
E!
Learning new words is an exciting
challenge. If you're not sure what
a word means, it helps if you can
at least know the information
around the word. There are ways
of figuring out what a new or
unusual word means.
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Conte
1
xt
Clues
Context clues are bits of
information (clues) from
the text that, when
combined with prior
knowledge (what you
already know) allows you
to decide the meaning of
unknown words in the story
or article you are reading. 4
Using context clues means using
the information around the word
you don't know. These words help
you find what it means. You can
also use the information in the rest
of the paragraph to help you figure
out what the word means.
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There are a few things to watch for
when looking for context clues:
✗ Punctuation marks— a comma or dash may show you
something about the unknown words. They can also give
a clue to the new word's definition .
✗ Key words, such as "or", and "that is" may also give you a
hint that a definition is nearby. Sometimes words are
spelled alike but have different meanings. Knowing about
different types of words and their definitions is very
important to reading and writing. For example, a bank
can be a "place where money is stored," but a bank can
also be an "area along the side of a river (riverbank).
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specific context clues you
should look out for:
✗ Definitions ‐ The definition of the word is
sometimes restated in the context.
✗ Synonyms and Antonyms ‐ Sometimes a
synonym (similar meaning) or antonym
(opposite meaning) is given for the unfamiliar
word.
✗ Examples ‐ Examples of the unknown word can
sometimes help you decide its meaning. 7
specific context clues you
should look out for:
✗ Cause and Effect ‐ The unfamiliar word
might be the cause of something or
might be the result of a cause.
✗ Analogy ‐ You can sometimes puzzle out
a new word by determining how it is
related to other words
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CHECK
THIS
OUT!
Here are 5 steps you
can follow to find and
use context clues
effctively.
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Step 1:
Identify the word. Ask
yourself: Which word
or words are
unfamiliar?
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Step 2:
Use context. You can often
determine a word’s meaning from
the surrounding words, or
context. Look for more familiar
words, phrases, or sentences
surrounding a new or unfamiliar
word. 11
Step 3:
Look for restatement clues. In a
restatement clue, the writer says the
same thing in a different way. Signal
words for restatement clues include
‘this means’, ‘that is’, and ‘in other
words’. Punctuation marks that
signal a restatement include commas
and dashes. 12
Step 4:
Look for definition clues.
The context gives the word’s
meaning. Signal words for definition
clues include ‘is’, ‘are’, ‘defined as’,
and ‘meaning’. Punctuation marks
include commas, dashes,
parentheses, and colons. 13
Step 5:
Define the word. Using the
clues, and a dictionary if
necessary, write the word and
its definition in a special
notebook. Include a new
sentence, using the new word.
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“My father is a podiatrist,
or foot doctor.”
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“Fred showed some very
belligerent traits, such as
shouting at other drivers
and constantly getting into
fights.”
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ACTIV
ITY
TOO SOON?
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Tha
nks
Any questions?
! 20
