1. There are 5 types…

2.  restate the meaning of a word in another way  often introduced by commas or dashes and by words and phrases such as or, that is, or in other words. In the following sentence, the words between the dashes—really, really angry—restate the meaning of indignant. Example:Anya was indignant—really, really angry—that the bus left without her.

3.  Martin knew he could accomplish, or do, whatever he set his mind to.  The field trip to the poultry farm—with its chickens, turkeys, and ducks—was fun.  The decoration was so elaborate, that is, complicated and detailed, it made me dizzy.

4.  words or phrases that mean the opposite of an unfamiliar word  may be signaled by words and phrases such as but, however, although, and on the other hand In the following sentence, the word although signals the contrast between the clue, a small scoop, and the meaning of immense—“huge”. Example:Benji helped himself to an immense portion of ice cream, although his mother had told him to take just a small scoop.

5.  The youngster climbed under the fence, but her father had to use the gate.  “I don’t have anything decent to wear. Everything’s wrong.”  Although the time in a dentist’s chair is brief, it can feel like several hours.

6.  actually define the unfamiliar word  similar to restatement clues  may be signaled by commas or dashes and words or phrases such as or, that is, and in other words In the following sentence, the comma and the word or signal the definition of props. Example: Everyone had a part in the play: some were actors, some did the lighting, and others were in charge of the props, or scenery and objects used on the stage.

7.  Michael anticipated—expected—that he would receive a new CD for his birthday.  During their mountain hike, Zach and Hank came across a beautiful cascade, that is, a waterfall over steep rocks.  Everyone experiences some misfortune, or bad luck, at one time or another.

8.  words that mean the same as an unfamiliar word  may be signaled by words or phrases such as like, as, similar to, also, and in the same way In the following sentence, the word like signals the phrase that means the same as foliage—leaves and flowers. Example: The foliage in Jason’s yard was like the leaves and flowers in a Japanese garden.

9.  Like foreign language, alien foods, clothing, and customs take getting used to.  The darkness was so intense that the room resembled the inside of a cave.  The artificial roses looked as fake as if they had been made by a child.

10.  give more general information about the word  this information may appear in the same paragraph as the word, but often times not the same sentence In the following example, clues to the meaning of systematically—“in a careful, orderly way”—appear in the next sentence. Example: Hoping to find his lost keys, Reynaldo searched his house systematically. He worked his way from the front to the back, looking in every room.

11.  I love the fresh smell of that new shampoo. It’s wonderfully fragrant.  I can’t believe how stingy you are. Can’t I have more than one potato chip?  When Jon was ailing, he had symptoms such as a fever, a stomachache, and chills.