Willy Rose N.

Oliva BSIT 1-2

When you come across a word you don't know, dont stop reading. You can often
figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word by using the words around it. The
surrounding sentence or paragraph is known as the context.
CONTEXT CLUES
Are clues that the author gives to help define a difficult or un-unusual word.
These clues appear within the same sentence as the word to which it refers, or they may
follow in a preceding sentence. A context clue is also a source of information about a
word that helps the readers understand the word. This word or phrase offers insight,
either indirectly or directly. Because most of your vocabulary is gained through reading,
it is important that you be able to recognize and take advantage of context clues.
Using context clue means to figure out what words mean by how they are used in
the sentence or paragraph where they appear. There are several different context clues
you can use to help you figure out unfamiliar words. Authors often use punctuation clues
to help the readers. Punctuation clues might include commas, dashes or parenthesis.
Types of Context Clues
There are at least four kinds of context clues that are quite common.
Authors may use word clues such as synonym words with almost the same
meaning or antonym words opposite in meaning- near the unfamiliar term.
Synonym- word or phrase with the same meaning.
Example: Most castles had high walls and were surrounded a water-filled wall called a
moat.
Antonym- word or phrase with the opposite meaning.
Example: Jerry is very clumsy, but his sister Jenny is adroit.
Example- specific examples are used to define the term. Writers use words like: such
as, for instance. and for example.
Example: Celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon and stars, are governed by
predictable laws.
Explanation- The unknown word is explained within the sentence or in a sentence
immediately preceding.
Example: The patient is so somnolent that she requires medication to help her stay
awake for more than a short time.

Name: ______________________________________
Course/Year/Section: __________________________

Examples of Context Clues:

1. Most castles had high walls and were surrounded a water-filled wall called a moat.
Synonym
2. Jerry is very clumsy, but his sister Jenny is adroit. Antonym
3. Celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon and stars, are governed by predictable laws. Example
4. The patient is so somnolent that she requires medication to help her stay awake for
more than a short time. Explanation
Activity 1

Read the following sentences and define the bolded word based on the context clue. Then
identify which of the four types of clues is used.

1.
2.

The girl who used to be very vociferous doesnt talk much anymore.
Pedagogical institutions, including high school, kindergartens, and colleges, require
community support to function efficiently.
He was so parsimonious that he refused to give his own sons the few pennies they
needed to buy pencils for schools. It truly hurt him to part with his money.
His pertinacity, or stubbornness, is the cause of most of his trouble.
Rather than be involved in clandestine meetings, they did everything quite openly.
Ecclesiastics, such as priests, ministers, and pastors, should set models of behavior for
their congregants.
The girl was churlish- rude, sullen and absolutely ill-mannered.
Because the conflagration was aided by wind, it was so destructive that every building
in the area was completely burned to the ground.

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Activity 2

Read each sentence below and encircle the closest meaning type of context clue that
helps you define the meaning of the key term.

1. Emotionally disturbed people may be troubled by morbid thoughts. For instance, they may
often think about suicide or murder.
disturbing
dealing with death psychological ill
scary
2. Joan loves to buy exotic foods: vegetables and herbs from China, spices from India, olives
from Greece, and cheeses from France.
expensive
seasonings
rare
from other places
3. At first, the surgery seemed to be successful. But several hours later, the patients
condition began to deteriorate, and it continued to worsen over the next few days.
disturbing
surprise everyone change
decay or decline

4. Raul is an indulgent father. For instance, he lets his daughter stay up late as she liked and
never insists that she does her homework.
lazy and caring
stupid and kind
strict and mean
lenient and tolerant
5. Languages evolve over time, as you can see if you open a page of The Canterbury Tales,
written about six hundred years ago by the English poet Chaucer. It is barely recognizable
as English today.
develop
age
increase complexity
repress
6. The decision Veronica made to study instead of going out for pizza with her friends was
prudent. She got an A on the exam, while her friends all got Ds.
anti-social
careful and wise selfish
calculating
7. Ivan