How to Use Context Clues to Find the Meaning of a Word

When you come to a new word when you are reading you can sometimes figure out what the word means by thinking about the words around it. Words that give you clues about what the new word means are called "context clues" because they give you clues about meanings of new words. Sometimes the context clues come before the new word and sometimes they come after it. You may find a definition of the new word in the sentence or paragraph. A sentence might have a word that means the opposite of the new word (antonym), and sometimes a synonym, or word that means the same thing as the new word, will give you a clue.

Instructions

1. Read the whole sentence. If you don't know the meaning of "amenities," skip over it and read the rest of the sentence. Then look at the words around the new one and try to make a connection. Here is an example:George cared little for social amenities, and sometimes his unpleasant words and actions made people feel uncomfortable. The words that come after the word "amenities" explain that the word means unpleasant words and actions. Now read the whole sentence including the new word.

2. Read this sentence:They drove their bright new red vehicle to the park.You might not know the word "vehicle," but the word "drove" is a clue that vehicle could mean a car.In this sentence the context clue comes before the new word.Read the sentence again using the word "car" instead of "vehicle" to see if the word makes sense.

3. Read this sentence:He was always late; he just couldn't ever be punctual.The word "late" is the opposite of the word "punctual."In this sentence the clue to the meaning of "punctual" is its opposite: "late."

4. Read this sentence:The family needed to economize, but try as they would they just couldn't save money.The word "save" in this sentence means the same thing as "economize." Save is a synonym for economize.Sometimes a synonym, or word that means the same as the new word is a context clue that can help you figure out the meaning of a new word.

Tips & Warnings

• Try substituting words that you think might make sense in the sentence.

• Decide whether you must know the meaning of the new word. Sometimes you can get the meaning of the sentence or paragraph even if you don't know the meaning of one word. If you understand the meaning of the sentence or paragraph you can skip the new word.

• Use a dictionary if context clues don't work and the word is important.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in Spanish
• Examples of sentences with context clues
• Decide if you need to know the meaning of the word