Using CONTEXT CLUES to Understand NEW WORDS



Using CONTEXT CLUES to Understand NEW WORDS!

Types of Context Clues: Definition Synonym Antonym Substitution

The first way to figure out the meaning of a word is from its context. The context is the other words and sentences that are around the new word. When you figure out the meaning of a word from context, you are making a guess about what the word means. To do this, you use the hints and clues of the other words and sentences. You won't always be right, but many times you will be. You might not be able to guess the exact meaning of a word, but you may be close enough to get the meaning of the sentence it is in.

1) A basic strategy for unlocking the meaning of an unfamiliar word is to search the context of the sentence for CLUES. Sometimes this can be easy to do because the author may have provided a definition or a synonym right there near the term that you can use to unlock its meaning. A definition is a statement giving the meaning of a word. A synonym is a word that means almost the same as another. When in doubt about the meaning of an unfamiliar word, look around in the sentence; check to see if there is a definition or synonym clue to help you unlock meaning.

For example, read the following sentence:

"When the teacher returned, she delivered a diatribe, or harsh criticism, to the class. Her angry words certainly got the children’s attention ."

What is the meaning of the word diatribe? You can use the context of the sentence to see the definition right next to it, or you have used the synonym “angry words” to unlock the meaning.

2) Another kind of context is a word of opposite meaning (antonym) set somewhere near a word that is unfamiliar. If you find words of opposite meaning and you recognize them, you are "home free." You can unlock the meaning of the unfamiliar word.

For example, read the following sentence:

"I was not exactly enamored with the holiday plans my parents made for me; my lack of enthusiasm was triggered by the eight-hour car ride to my grandparents’ house."

What is the meaning of the word enamored? You can use the context of the sentence to reason in this way: Enamored of means just the opposite of lacking in enthusiasm for.

3) At times, rereading a sentence that contains an unfamiliar term and substituting a word or phrase for it that makes sense can help you to unlock the meaning of the unfamiliar word.

For example, read the following sentence:

"When we stayed at the military base, each Saturday we went to the commissary to buy the food and supplies we would need for the next week."

Although you may never have visited a commissary, given the use of the word in this sentence, you immediately can substitute the word store for the word commissary. You probably can wrestle an even more complete meaning for commissary from the overall context of the sentence: a store for food and supplies that is located on a military base.

ASSIGNMENT PAGE

Context Clues Online Practice

Visit the following site:



Read the sentences and write your guesses/answers on the lines. When you finish, click the ANSWER link. Read the explanations for the answers and check your work.

YOUR GUESS DID YOU GUESS CORRECTLY?

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Learning new words gives you more to choose from! Check out how to vary your language at this site:



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