Context Clues

CONTEXT CLUES
mdc.edu/kendall/collegeprep (2005)
CONTEXT CLUES
• These are hints found within a sentence,

paragraph, or passage that a reader can use to
understand the meanings of new or unfamiliar
words.
Cont’d…
• Learning the meaning of a word through its use in

a sentence or paragraph is the most practical way
to build vocabulary; since, a dictionary is not
always available when a reader encounters an
unknown word.
Cont’d…
• A reader must be aware that many words have

several possible meanings. Only by being
sensitive to the circumstances in which a word is
used can the reader decide upon an appropriate
definition to fit the context.
Cont’d…
• A reader should rely on context clues when an

obvious clue to meaning is provided, or when
only a general sense of the meaning is needed for
the reader’s purposes.
Remember
• Context clues should not be relied upon when a

precise meaning is required, when clues suggest
several possible definitions, when nearby words
are unfamiliar, and when the unknown word is a
common one that will be needed again; in these
cases, a dictionary should be consulted.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF
CONTEXT CLUES
DEFINITION or
DESCRIPTION CLUE
1
• The new term may be formally defined, or
sufficient explanation may be given within the
sentence or in the following sentence. Clues to
definition include “that is,” commas, dashes, and
parentheses.
Example
A. His emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like

appearance, was frightening to see.
“Skeleton-like appearance” is the definition of

“emaciation.”
Example
B. Fluoroscopy, examination with a fluoroscope,

has become a common practice.
The commas before and after “examination with a
fluoroscope” point out the definition of
“fluoroscopy.”
Example
C. The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is

found in Irish folk tales.
The dashes setting off “a short-stemmed clay pipe”

point out the definition of “dudeen.”
EXAMPLE CLUES 2
• Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an

example might be found nearby that helps to
explain its meaning. Words like including, such
as, and for example, point out example clues.
Example
A. Piscatorial creatures, such as flounder, salmon,

and trout, live in the coldest parts of the ocean.
“Piscatorial” obviously refers to fish.

Example
B. Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and

stars, have fascinated man through the centuries.
“Celestial” objects are those in the sky or heavens.

Example
C. In the course of man’s evolution, certain organs

have atrophied. The appendix, for example, has
wasted away from disuse.
“Atrophied” means “wasted away.”

SYNONYM or
RESTATEMENT CLUE
3
• The reader may discover the meaning of an

unknown word because it repeats an idea
expressed in familiar words nearby. Synonyms
are words with the same meaning.
Example
A. Flooded with spotlights – the focus of all

attention – the new Miss America began her
year-long reign. She was the cynosure of all
eyes for the rest of the evening.
“Cynosure” means “the focus of all attention.”
Example
B. The mountain pass was a tortuous road, winding

and twisting like a snake around the trees of the
mountainside.
“Tortuous” means “winding and twisting.”

CONTRAST or
ANTONYM CLUE
4
• Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. An
opposite meaning context clue contrasts the
meaning of an unfamiliar word with the meaning
of a familiar term. Words like “although,”
“however,” and “but” may signal contrast clues.
Example
A. When the light brightens, the pupils of the eyes

contract; however, when it grows darker, they
dilate.
“Dilate” means the opposite of “contract.”

Example
B. The children were as different as day and night.

He was a lively conversationalist, but she was
reserved and taciturn.
“Taciturn” means the opposite of a “lively

conversationalist.”
INFERENCE CLUE 5
• Sufficient clues might be available for the careful

reader to make an educated guess at the meaning.
Example
A. She told her friend, “I’m through with blind

dates forever. What a dull evening! I was bored
every minute. The conversation was absolutely
vapid.”
“Vapid” means “uninteresting.”

End of Discussion ~
“The more that you read, the more things you

will know. The more that you learn, the more
places you’ll go.”
~ Dr. Seuss
CC: Practice Exercises
GENERAL INSTRUCTION
• In your ¼ sheet of paper, write the letter of the

best meaning for the underlined word as it is used
in context.
STRICTLY NO ERASURE!
No. 1
My brother said, “I just freed myself from a very loquacious

history professor. All he seemed to want was an audience.”
a. pretentious
b. grouchy
c. talkative
d. worried
No. 2
There is no doubt that the idea of living in such a benign
climate was appealing. The islanders seemed to keep their
vitality and live longer than Europeans.
a. tropical
b. not malignant
c. Kind
d. favorable
No. 3
It is difficult to imagine a surfeit of talent in one individual, yet

Leonard Bernstein simply does not have the time to make complete
use of his talent as conductor, performer, writer, and lecturer.
a. Excess
b. Variety
c. Superiority
d. lack
No. 4
There is a large demand all over the United States for plants
indigenous to the desert. Many people in Arizona have made a
good business of growing and selling cacti and other local plants.
a. Native
b. Necessary
c. Foreign
d. alien
No. 5
After the Romans left, a millennium and a half passed before
people again lived in such comfort. Churchill wrote, “From the
year 400 until the year 1900 no one had central heating and
very few had hot baths.”
a. a decade
b. many years
c. 1000 years
d. a century
No. 6
Many years before, Caesar’s men had tried and failed to invade
Britain. No doubt this contributed to the xenophobia of the
Romans. They were cautious about strangers who entered their
country.
a. honesty
b. fear of foreigners
c. kindliness
d. stubbornness
No. 7
Such are the vicissitudes of history. Nothing remains the
same. Three hundred years of peace ended in darkness
and confusion.
a. Evils
b. Mistakes
c. Changes
d. rules
No. 8
The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the

suffering of the patient.
a. make milder
b. Beautify
c. Increase
d. banish
No. 9
We knew he couldn’t hold out much longer, because he had
been doomed from the beginning. One night he met his
ineluctable fate.
a. Forgotten
b. Inevitable
c. Hidden
d. unhappy
No. 10
A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog,

has vitiated the air in and around many big cities.
a. Concentrate
b. fill up
c. Replace
d. contaminate
CC Exercises Answer Key
No. 1
My brother said, “I just freed myself from a very loquacious

history professor. All he seemed to want was an audience.”
a. pretentious
b. grouchy
c. talkative
d. worried
No. 2
There is no doubt that the idea of living in such a benign
climate was appealing. The islanders seemed to keep their
vitality and live longer than Europeans.
a. tropical
b. not malignant
c. Kind
d. favorable
No. 3
It is difficult to imagine a surfeit of talent in one individual, yet

Leonard Bernstein simply does not have the time to make complete
use of his talent as conductor, performer, writer, and lecturer.
a. Excess
b. Variety
c. Superiority
d. lack
No. 4
There is a large demand all over the United States for plants
indigenous to the desert. Many people in Arizona have made a
good business of growing and selling cacti and other local plants.
a. Native
b. Necessary
c. Foreign
d. alien
No. 5
After the Romans left, a millennium and a half passed before
people again lived in such comfort. Churchill wrote, “From the
year 400 until the year 1900 no one had central heating and
very few had hot baths.”
a. a decade
b. many years
c. 1000 years
d. a century
No. 6
Many years before, Caesar’s men had tried and failed to invade
Britain. No doubt this contributed to the xenophobia of the
Romans. They were cautious about strangers who entered their
country.
a. honesty
b. fear of foreigners
c. kindliness
d. stubbornness
No. 7
Such are the vicissitudes of history. Nothing remains the
same. Three hundred years of peace ended in darkness
and confusion.
a. Evils
b. Mistakes
c. Changes
d. rules
No. 8
The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the

suffering of the patient.
a. make milder
b. Beautify
c. Increase
d. banish
No. 9
We knew he couldn’t hold out much longer, because he had
been doomed from the beginning. One night he met his
ineluctable fate.
a. Forgotten
b. Inevitable
c. Hidden
d. unhappy
No. 10
A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog,

has vitiated the air in and around many big cities.
a. Concentrate
b. fill up
c. Replace
d. contaminate

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CONTEXT CLUES

• These are hints found within a sentence,

• Learning the meaning of a word through its use in

• A reader must be aware that many words have

• A reader should rely on context clues when an

• Context clues should not be relied upon when a

A. His emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like

“Skeleton-like appearance” is the definition of

B. Fluoroscopy, examination with a fluoroscope,

C. The dudeen – a short-stemmed clay pipe – is

The dashes setting off “a short-stemmed clay pipe”

• Sometimes when a reader finds a new word, an

A. Piscatorial creatures, such as flounder, salmon,

“Piscatorial” obviously refers to fish.

B. Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and

“Celestial” objects are those in the sky or heavens.

C. In the course of man’s evolution, certain organs

“Atrophied” means “wasted away.”

• The reader may discover the meaning of an

A. Flooded with spotlights – the focus of all

B. The mountain pass was a tortuous road, winding

“Tortuous” means “winding and twisting.”

A. When the light brightens, the pupils of the eyes

“Dilate” means the opposite of “contract.”

B. The children were as different as day and night.

“Taciturn” means the opposite of a “lively

• Sufficient clues might be available for the careful

A. She told her friend, “I’m through with blind

“Vapid” means “uninteresting.”

“The more that you read, the more things you

• In your ¼ sheet of paper, write the letter of the

My brother said, “I just freed myself from a very loquacious

It is difficult to imagine a surfeit of talent in one individual, yet

The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the

A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog,

My brother said, “I just freed myself from a very loquacious

It is difficult to imagine a surfeit of talent in one individual, yet

The purpose of the psychiatrist is to mitigate the

A combination of fog and industrial smoke, called smog,

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