Context Clues

Context Clues

5 Types and how to use them to define unfamilar words

Definition Context Clue

• determing the meaning of a word by defining the unfamiliar word before or after the unknown word. Usually offset by a comma.

• Common signal words: is, or, which is, who is, that is, in other words

• Example: His emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like appearance, was frightening to see.

• “Skeleton-like appearance” is the definition of “emaciation.”

Example Context Clue

• determining a word's meaning through an example or examples that help to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word

• Common signal words: for example, for instance, such, as, one kind, especially, and other, like, including

• Example: Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated man through the centuries.

•  “Celestial” objects are those in the sky or heavens.

Comparison Context Clue

• determining a word's meaning based on how it is like something else (i.e. another word or phrase) in the text

• Common signal words: (just) like, (just) as, similar to, in the same way

• Example sentence: The mountain pass was a tortuous road, winding and twisting like a snake around the trees of the mountainside. 

• In this example, “tortuous” means “winding and twisting." Like the snake it was compared to.

Contrast Context Clue

• determining a word's meaning based on how it is unlike something else (i.e. another word or phrase) in the text

• Common signal words: but, although, however, unlike, on the contrary, instead, on the other hand

• Example sentence: The children were as different as day and night. He was a lively conversationalist, but she was reserved and taciturn. 

• “Taciturn” means the opposite of a “lively conversationalist.”

Cause-and-Effect Context Clue

• determining a word's meaning by using the word as the result of something else that happens in the text or as a reason for why something else happened

• Common signal words: because, since, therefore, thus, so, etc.

• Example sentence: She wanted to impress all her dinner guests with the food she served, so she carefully studied the necessary culinary arts.

• “Culinary” means “food preparation.” 

Multiple Choice

Use the definition context clue to choose the correct definition of the underlined word: The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is found in Irish folk tales.

• a short-stemmed clay pipe

• an irish folk tale

• short-stemmed

Multiple Choice

Use the example context clue to choose the correct definition of the underlined word: In the course of man’s evolution, certain organs have atrophied. The appendix, for example, has wasted away from disuse.

• an organ

• wasted away from disuse

• the appendix

Multiple Choice

Use the comparison context clue to choose the correct definition of the underlined word: 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.

• the focus of all attention

• the spotlight

• eyes

Multiple Choice

Use the contrast context clue to choose the correct definition of the underlined word: When the light brightens, the pupils of the eyes get smaller, or contract; however, when it grows darker, they dilate.

• get smaller

• open

• get bigger

Multiple Choice

Use the cause-and-effect context clue to determine the meaning of the underlined word: Mary left her umbrella at her friends house, so she got drenched during the rainstorm on her way home.

• lost

• very wet

• an umbrella