Identifying Context Clues in Reading Passages

CONTEXT CLUES

by Karrolann Jervis

​Context clues are hints to the meaning of a word that are hidden in plain sight in sentences or reading passages.

​There are FOUR types of Context Clues:

​1) DEFINITIONS OR EXPLANATIONS

​2) RESTATEMENTS OR SYNONYMS

​3) CONTRASTS OR ANTONYMS

​4) GENERAL OR INFERENCE CLUES

In the EXPLANATION clue, the DEFINITION of the word is literally given to the reader in the form of an explanation. Sometimes you will see specific words such as "which means", or "that is". These are indicators that serve as hints.

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Eg: Every time Jamal went to the library, he tried to expand his understanding of the world, which means he tried to learn something new.

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​When an author uses a RESTATEMENT or SYNONYM, he or she will say the same thing twice; once with the more difficult word, and then again in a more simple way. Sometimes it can be in the same sentence, often times it is not.

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Eg: Miguel was very loquacious. He really loved to talk.

​The CONTRAST or ANTONYM gives us hints to the meaning of words by telling us what they’re not.

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Eg: The team felt victorious. They knew they would never lose again.

The GENERAL or INFERENCE context clues are a little more subtle. They usually require readers to look beyond the sentence they’re reading for understanding,

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Eg: Coyotes have a voracious appetite. They eat insects, lizards, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, grasses and even fruit.

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Multiple Choice

Again they searched meticulously, but no keys.  Where could they be?  They've looked EVERYWHERE! If you did something meticulously, you would be-

• feeling silly

• trying to finish quickly

• working very carefully

• trying to find something

Multiple Choice

In late 2006, apiarists in the U.S. began reporting that their honey bees were dying. Some of these beekeepers lost 90 percent of their hives. What is the best definition of apiarists?

• honeybees

• hives

• honey

• beekeepers