1. Context Clues

2. Do Now: VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Do you know the meaning of the word vital? Copy the sentence below and see if the context—the words surrounding the unfamiliar word—helps you figure out the meaning of the word.
All animals share the same vital needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
What does vital mean?
A. unimportant B. necessary C. surprising
See pages 69 and 70 in textbook.
ANSWER: B. necessary
The next slide explains the answer.

3. VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT
Food, water, and shelter are necessary needs. The context helps you figure out that vital means “necessary.”
All animals share the same vital needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
What does vital mean?
A. unimportant B. necessary C. surprising
See pages 69 and 70 in textbook.
Using context clues to understand the meaning of unfamiliar words
will save you time when reading.

4. Why are context clues important?
They help us define unfamiliar, difficult words in texts.
They help us to become better, perceptive readers.
They come in handy during tests when a dictionary or the internet is not available to us.

5. Where are context clues found?
In the same sentence as the difficult, unfamiliar word.
In the same paragraph or passage as the unknown word. Context clues can be in the sentences following the word, for example.
They are called context clues, because they are found in the “context” of the sentence or passage.

6. Hey, Context Clue! I remember you!
By using the acronym, SAID, you can remember the four types of context clues. S A I D

7. Context Clue Number 1: Synonym or Restatement
Words with similar meanings are used within the same sentence, or around the unfamiliar word
Example: Santa Clause was so portly that his doctor declared him overweight.

8. Synonyms or Examples
An author might give examples of a word in order to give the reader an idea of what a word means.
For example:
The river was full of noxious materials such as cleaning agents from factories and pesticides from the nearby farms.
The words such as let us know an example is coming.
Even though you may not know what noxious means, the examples of “cleaning agents” and “pesticides” let you know that things that are noxious are dangerous and poisonous.

9. Context Clue Number 2: Antonym or Contrast
The unfamiliar word is defined by using the word’s opposite or contrasting meaning.
This type of context clue usually includes the words: whereas, unlike, as opposed to, however, in contrast to, but, on the other hand.
Example: Unlike Jen, who was easygoing, Jackie was fastidious.

10. Antonyms Cont’d
This is when an author gives the opposite of the unfamiliar word.
Example:
Unlike Jamaal’s room, which was immaculate, Jeffrey’s room was very messy.
The word unlike lets you know an antonym is coming.
Even though you may not know what immaculate means, you know it’s the opposite of “very messy”. Therefore it means something is very clean.

11. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Antonyms
Look at the cartoon below about the fighting couple who are visiting a marriage counselor. Can you figure out the meaning of the word compatible?
Compatible means
A. disappointing
B. busy
C. in agreement
See pages 76 and 77 in textbook.
ANSWER: C. in agreement
Then next slide explains the answer.
Cartoon © Kevin Smith from

12. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Antonyms
Look at the cartoon below about the fighting couple who are visiting a marriage counselor. Can you figure out the meaning of the word compatible?
Compatible means
A. disappointing
B. busy
C. in agreement
See pages 76 and 77 in textbook.
The antonym “combatible” helps you figure out that compatible means “in agreement.”
Cartoon © Kevin Smith from

13. Context Clue Number 3: Inference
Word meanings are not directly stated in the text, but definitions of unfamiliar words can be assumed by both prior knowledge and the context in which the word sits.
Example: She was so famished that people felt sorry for her, and gave her food to eat.

14. Inference Cont’d
This is probably the most difficult kind of context clue. You need to use the ideas in the sentence to figure it out.
Example:
Walt’s pugnacious behavior in the boxing ring made his opponent back down.
The whole sentence gives us clues to the meaning of the unfamiliar word.
We know Walt is boxing, and something about his behavior has made is opponent back down. What kind of behavior might a boxer exibit that would make the person he’s fighting back off?
Aggressive, strong, scary behavior might make an opponent back off. In fact, pugnacious means aggressive or ready to fight.

15. Context Clue Number 4: Definition
The unfamiliar word is directly defined in the sentence in which it appears.
Definitions are usually set off by commas or dashes, and may include the use of the words, as, or, that is, and in other words.
Example: Apples, red fruits that grow on trees, are my teacher’s favorite food.

16. Definitions Cont’d
In this case a word is defined for you in the sentence. This usually happens right after the unfamiliar word appears and it is set off with commas.
Example:
The arbitrator, the neutral person chosen to settle the dispute, arrived at her decision.
We don’t know what arbitrator means, but luckily the definition is given to us in the sentence.

17. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Synonyms
Look at the cartoon below about a pollster speaking to a citizen. Can you figure out the meaning of the word apathy?
Apathy means
A. hatred
B. lack of interest or care
C. kindness
See page 74 in textbook.
ANSWER: B. lack of interest
The next slide explains the answer.

18. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Synonyms
Look at the cartoon below about a pollster speaking to a citizen. Can you figure out the meaning of the word apathy?
Apathy means
A. hatred
B. lack of interest or care
C. kindness
See page 74 in textbook.
The synonym for apathy—expressed in the words of the citizen who says “I don’t care”—helps you understand that apathy means “a lack of interest or care.”

19. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Examples
Look at the cartoon and see if the examples help you understand the meaning of the word alternative.
Frank and Ernest
See page 71 in textbook.
ANSWER: C. other
The next slide explains the answer.
Alternative means
A. expensive B. useless C. other
Cartoon © by Thaves. All rights reserved.

20. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES Examples
Look at the cartoon and see if the examples help you understand the meaning of the word alternative.
Frank and Ernest
See page 71 in textbook.
Alternative means
A. expensive B. useless C. other
The examples of alternative energy sources—wind power and solar power—help you understand that alternative means “other.”
Cartoon © by Thaves. All rights reserved.

21. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
Examples
Examples are often introduced with signal words and phrases like for example, for instance, including, and such as.
All animals share the same vital needs, such as food, water, and shelter.
Example
See page 71 in textbook.

22. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Often, the context of a new word contains no examples, synonyms, or antonyms. In such cases, you must become a detective and try to make a guess based on any clues provided.
See pages 79 and 80 in textbook.

23. Hey, Context Clue! I remember you!
By using the acronym, SAID, you can remember the four types of context clues.
Synonym
Antonym
Inference
Definition

24. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES
General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Often, the context of a new word contains no examples, synonyms, or antonyms. In such cases, you must become a detective and try to make a guess based on any clues provided.
See pages 79 and 80 in textbook.

25. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Look at the cartoon below about the cavemen covering over drawings in their cave. Notice the caption, “First Graffiti Eradication Program.” Can you figure out the meaning of the word eradication?
That’s Life
Eradication means
A. elimination B. expansion C. teaching
See pages 79 and 80 in textbook.
Answer: A. elimination
The next slide explains the answer.
Cartoon © Mike Twohy. All rights reserved.

26. TYPES OF CONTEXT CLUES General Sense of the Sentence or Passage
Look at the cartoon below about the cavemen covering over drawings in their cave. Notice the caption, “First Graffiti Eradication Program.” Can you figure out the meaning of the word eradication?
That’s Life
Eradication means
A. elimination B. expansion C. teaching
See pages 79 and 80 in textbook.
The image of drawings being painted over, which would remove them from sight, suggests that eradication means “elimination.”
Cartoon © Mike Twohy. All rights reserved.

27. The Context Clues Riddle Game
You will see four sentences. Read each sentence silently.
Think about what the highlighted word means, and the write the definition and type of context clue you used to arrive at your answer.
You will have thirty seconds to answer each riddle.

28. Riddle Number 1
Since it was raining outside, I used my bumbershoot to keep from getting wet.

29. A bumbershoot is an umbrella. Context clue: inference
Riddle Number 1: Answer
A bumbershoot is an umbrella.
Context clue: inference

30. Unlike Kyle, who is a conformer and a follower, Jeremy is a maverick.
Riddle Number 2
Unlike Kyle, who is a conformer and a follower, Jeremy is a maverick.

31. Riddle Number 2: Answer
A maverick is a loner, someone who is independent of the group.
Context clue: antonym or contrast

32. Riddle Number 3
The ranivorous hawk, an animal that eats frogs, is found in central and eastern Africa.

33. Ranivorous means frog- eating. Context clue: definition
Riddle Number 3: Answer
Ranivorous means frog- eating.
Context clue: definition

34. Riddle Number 4
In class, Julia was so cantankerous that her grumpy behavior negatively affected everyone.

35. Riddle Number 4: Answer Cantankerous means grouchy, or ill-tempered.
Context clue: synonym or restatement

36. How to Answer These Questions Correctly
It’s not really important to be able to label each type of context clue. You are highly unlikely to be tested on whether you can identify antonyms vs. inference.
It is important that you can find the context clues though. You need to be able to figure out what unfamiliar words mean…and be able to back up your conclusion.
Practice reading texts that contain some (but not too many) unfamiliar words. Test yourself, can you figure out what a word means? After you’ve made a guess, look it up in the dictionary. Practice will help you improve this skill!!
When taking a test and faced with a question about an unfamiliar word USE THE TEXT! Fall back on the words on the page to help you figure out what a word means. Context clues are a reader’s best friend.