Context Clues for Definitions Practice

Based on the context clues in the sentence below, obsolete means:

Typewriters became obsolete with the development of personal computers.

• popular

• out-dated

• careful

• round

Based on the context clues in the sentence below, ecstatic means:

They were ecstatic at the birth of their baby.  They couldn't stop smiling for days. 

• Nervous
• Discouraged
• Exciting
• Relieved

Based on context clues in the passage below, truncated means:

I was upset that the ebook file was truncated because I couldn't find out how the story ended.

• Finished

• Cut short

• Boring

• Too long

Based on context clues in the passage below, trifle means:

Her cat was dying, and she worried about a trifle like her torn dress!

• Little

• Giant

• Everything

• Hopeful

Based on context clues in the passage below, impudent means:

The impudent boy was rude to the policeman.

• friendly

• careful

• poor

• disrespectful

Based on context clues in the passage below, dismal means:

Cold rain fell all day making it a dismal Saturday afternoon.

• gloomy

• adventurous

• bright

• busy

Based on context clues in the passage below, meticulously means:

Again they searched meticulously, but no keys. Where could they be? They've looked everywhere!

• feeling silly.

• working very carefully.

• trying to finish quickly.

• trying to find something.

Based on context clues in the passage below, haphazard means:

Tanya loved her dad, but she wondered why she was so organized when he was so haphazard.

• lost

• lovable

• worried

• disorganized

Based on context clues in the passage below, stationary means:

The continents are slowly drifting apart. Since they are not stationary, North and South America will one day separate entirely.

• Paper to write letters with

• Staying in one place

• Land

• Melting quickly

Based on context clues in the passage below, instability means:

Bob faced a lot of instability in his life. He never knew when he would have money for groceries, if his bills would be paid, or where he would sleep.

• never stable

• often stable

• deeply stable

• slowly stable