use context to identify the meaning of a word
Key Notes :
| What are Context Clues? |
Sometimes you come across words you don’t know. Don’t worry! You can use context clues to figure out what they mean. Context clues are hints around the unknown word in a sentence or paragraph. They are like detective tools that help you solve the mystery of the word’s meaning!
Think of it like this: if you see a picture of a dog with a bone, you know the dog is probably going to eat the bone. The picture is a clue! Context clues in sentences work the same way.
| Types of Context Clues |
There are different types of context clues. Here are some common ones:
- Definition: The sentence directly tells you the meaning of the word.
- Synonym: The sentence uses another word that has a similar meaning.
- Antonym: The sentence uses a word that has the opposite meaning.
- Example: The sentence gives an example that helps you understand the word.
| How to Use Context Clues |
Follow these steps to use context clues:
- Find the unknown word: Read the sentence carefully and identify the word you don’t know.
- Look for clues: Read the sentences before and after the unknown word. Look for definitions, synonyms, antonyms, or examples.
- Think about the clues: What do the clues tell you about the word’s meaning?
- Guess the meaning: Based on the clues, make your best guess about what the word means.
- Check if it makes sense: Replace the unknown word with your guess. Does the sentence still make sense?
| Practice Example |
Let’s try some examples:
The brave knight faced the dragon without fear. He was courageous and strong.
- Context Clue: courageous and strong (Synonym)
- Meaning of brave: Courageous, not afraid
The mouse was timid and scared. Unlike the confident cat, it hid in its hole.
- Context Clue: Unlike the confident cat (Antonym)
- Meaning of timid: Shy, easily frightened
The elephant was gigantic; it was huge, enormous, and very, very big.
- Context Clue: huge, enormous, very, very big (Synonyms)
- Meaning of gigantic: Very large
The ant was tiny, like a small speck of dust, almost invisible.
- Context Clue: small speck of dust, almost invisible (Example)
- Meaning of tiny: Very small
| Next Steps |
Now you know how to use context clues to figure out the meaning of new words! Keep practicing whenever you read. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at being a word detective! Remember to always look for those helpful hints around the words you don’t know.