Use Context to Clarify Meaning

context clues

• 
  a strategy used to figure out the meaning of words based on how they are used in a text

• meaning of a word, phrase, or definition
  

• knowledge on which to base belief or conclusions
  

• 
  an expression consisting of one or more words

“read between the lines;” the answer is not clearly stated in the passage; you need to use knowledge and experience to draw a conclusion

• alter

• distinguish

• associate

• infer

the message that is intended or expressed

• illustrate

• 
  most likely

• define

• meaning

When you are reading and come to an unknown word, what should you do first?

• Look for clues in the sentence

• Ask your teacher

• Look it up in the dictionary

• Skip it

Because the sun is out and the day is searing, Justin decided to go inside and play. What does the word "searing" mean?

• Sunny

• Wet

• Hot

• Windy

In the sentence, "The clandestine meeting took place at midnight," what does "clandestine" most likely mean?

• Noisy

• Secret

• Frequent

• Brief

Tags

DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Use context clues to determine the meaning of the word in red.
When he didn’t understand the instructions, the student asked the teacher to clarify them.

• remove

• call

• explain

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

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

• Nervous

• Discouraged

• Excited

• Relieved

Many Northern birds migrate for the winter.  They return in the spring.

Based on context clues in the passage, migrate means _____________.

• Lay eggs

• Eat

• Move away

• Sing

Using clues to help you understand unfamiliar words or phrases.

• context clues

• questioning