Using Context Clues to Determine Meaning

Have you ever read a sentence with a word you had never seen before? You do not need to stop reading or ask someone what it means. You can be a word detective! Context clues are hints hiding in the sentences around a tricky word or phrase. In this lesson, you will look closely at four kinds of clues and learn a simple plan for figuring out meanings on your own.

Context clues are the words and sentences near an unknown word or phrase. These nearby words often give hints about what the tricky part means. Strong readers do not skip words they do not know. Instead, they slow down and study the words around it.

Look at this sentence: "The famished dog gobbled up its food in seconds." You might not know the word "famished." But the clue words "gobbled up its food" tell you that famished means very hungry.

Once you know what to look for, clues are easier to spot. Here are four common types.

Synonym clues use a word that means almost the same thing as the tricky word. "The trail was arduous, so the hike was very difficult." The word "difficult" is a synonym clue for "arduous."

Antonym clues use a word that means the opposite. "My brother is timid, but I am not shy at all." The word "shy" being the opposite of "not shy" tells you timid means shy.

Example clues give examples that show what the word means. "The chef used many condiments, like ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce." The examples tell you condiments are things you add to food.

Explanation clues explain the word right in the sentence. "The cave was pitch dark, so we could not see our hands." The explanation "so we could not see our hands" tells you pitch dark means very dark.

Context clues do not only help with single words. They also help with phrases made of several words that mean something different when put together. Read this sentence: "Dad kept an eye on my little sister while she rode her bike." The phrase "kept an eye on" is not really about eyes. The clue words "while she rode her bike" show that the phrase means Dad watched her carefully.

When you meet a phrase like this, ask yourself what would make sense in that spot in the story. That question works for tricky words and tricky phrases alike.

Follow these steps whenever you meet a tricky word or phrase.

1. Stop at the unknown word or phrase and read the whole sentence.
2. Read the sentence before it and the sentence after it, too.
3. Look for a synonym clue, antonym clue, example clue, or explanation clue.
4. Make your best guess about the meaning.
5. Reread the sentence with your guess in place to check that it makes sense.

If your guess does not make sense, try again with the clues you found, or keep reading for more clues later in the story.

Read this sentence: "The jagged rocks along the cliff were sharp and pointy, not smooth at all." What clues help you understand "jagged"? The words "sharp and pointy" are an explanation clue, and "not smooth" is an antonym clue. Both clues point to the same meaning: jagged means rough and pointy, not smooth.

Context Clue: A hint in the words or sentences near a tricky word or phrase that helps you understand its meaning.

Synonym Clue: A word near the tricky word that means almost the same thing.

Antonym Clue: A word near the tricky word that means the opposite.

Example Clue: A list of examples that shows what a word means.

Explanation Clue: Words in the sentence that explain the tricky word directly.

Phrase: A group of words that work together and can have a meaning different from each single word.

Related lessons

• Using Context Clues While Reading