Vocabulary in Context

Vocabulary in Context

By Vicky Pabilando

Sometimes when you read you see new words. You may not know what these word means. You need to look for the context clues. Context clues are other words or details that can help you find the meaning of a word you do not know. ​Context clue may come before or after the word you do not know.

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In the sentence below, look for a context clue to help you find the meaning of the word florist.

The florist sold us flowers. ​

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By Vicky Pabilando

CONTEXT CLUES

Open Ended

In the sentence below, look for a context clue to help you find the meaning of the word florist.

The florist sold us flowers. ​

Context clues sometimes come before or after signal words. ​Signal words tell you "look here for context clues". Below are some signal words you may see. ​

is, are, such as, means​, is like, including, for instance, for example, was, were, known as, or ​

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When you see a word you do not know, look for signal words. The signal words can help you find the important context clues.

By Vicky Pabilando

CONTEXT CLUES

Open Ended

In the sentence below, look for the context clue and signal word to help you find the meaning of the word mahogany.

The carpenter used woods such as oak and mahogany.

Multiple Choice

Sigrid was so fatigued from running that she had to stop and rest.

What does the word fatigued mean?

• fast

• tired

• lazy

• hungry

Multiple Choice

Jack brought provisions such as food, tents, warm clothes, and other gear.

What word in the sentence helps you understand what provisions means?

• Jack

• brought

• warm

• gear

Open Ended

Jack brought provisions such as food, tents, warm clothes, and other gear.

What do you think the word provisions means?

Multiple Choice

The prospector roamed throughout the state in search of gold.

From reading this sentence, you can tell that a prospector is?

• an object that people want to find

• a person who looks for something

• a large amount of land in an area

• a slow moving type of car

Multiple Choice

I was afraid that my cold was contagious, so I covered my mouth when I coughed.

The word contagious means

• easily spread

• loud

• easily frightened

• unclear

George found an old chair at a neighbor's yard sale. The chair was in very poor shape. Its pillows were torn, its legs were bent, and one arm was cracked. George decided to spend a few days mending the chair. He sewed a new pillow, straightened the chair legs, and fixed the broken pieces, When he was done, the chair looked great.

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In this paragraph, what does the word mending mean?

​Context clues

• The chair was in very poor shape.

• George decided to spend a few days mending the chair

• He sewed a new pillow, straightened that chair legs, and fixed the broken pieces .

• The chair​ looked great.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

George found an old chair at a neighbor's yard sale. The chair was in very poor shape. Its pillows were torn, its legs were bent, and one arm was cracked. George decided to spend a few days mending the chair. He sewed a new pillow, straightened the chair legs, and fixed the broken pieces, When he was done, the chair looked great.

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In this paragraph, what does the word mending mean?

Multiple Choice

Have you ever seen strange things on a summer day? Maybe you have seen what looks like water on the road when the road is actually dry. Sometimes heat and light can play tricks on people's eyes. People in hot places such as deserts often see these mirages. Sometimes these people think they see small lakes in the desert, when there are none.

Which words best describe what mirages are?

• small lakes

• summer days

• people in hot places

• tricks in the eye

Multiple Choice

Abdul studied hard for his English test last week. He read about words and sentences. He then studied the works of many famous writers. Some of them were poets, and other wrote stories. Abdul checked what he knew, and then he studied some more. He wanted to know the lessons like the back of his hand

The phrase like the back of his hand means--

• for only one test

• in complete way

• to meet a goal

• in an unusual way