Context Clues BY HAZEL

Context Clues: You be
the Detective
MS. HAZEL JOYCE M. CURAY
Context Clues – What Are They?
• Context clues are bits of information from the
text that, when combined with prior knowledge,
allow you to decide the meaning of unknown
words in the story or article you are reading.
• As a reader you must act similar to a detective
and put together clues from sentences
surrounding an unknown word in order to
make an intelligent “guess” as to what the
definition of a word is.
Context Clues – How Do They Help
You Read New Words?
• Textbook writers and authors include
words or phrases to help their readers
understand the meaning of a new or
difficult word.
• These words or phrases are built into the
sentences around the new or difficult word.
By becoming more aware of the words
around a difficult word, readers can make
logical guesses about the meanings of
many words.
Types of Context Clues
Authors use many different
types of context clues when
writing texts. Three of these
types are:
Directdefinition context clues
Synonym context clues
Antonym context clues

Direct definition context clues
are words that say, “Stop - don’t
touch that dictionary. The definition
of the word you don’t know is right
here in the text!"
EXAMPLES:
 There are many theories, or
ideas, about what made the Ice
Ages happen.
 In this sentence the word “ideas”
tells us that theories are different
thoughts people have about
something.
 After a time, glaciers, or slowly
moving rivers of ice, formed over
many parts of the Earth.
 In this sentence the words “slowly
moving rivers of ice” tell us what
glaciers are.
Synonym context clues are words
around a difficult word that mean the
same or nearly the same as the word.
EXAMPLES:
 After seeing the picture of the
starving children, we felt
compassion or pity for their
suffering.
 In this sentence the word “pity” tells
us that compassion means to have
understanding for.
 Mary admonished her students
and they knew they were in hot
water for their actions.
 In this sentence the words “in hot
water” tell us that admonished
means cautioned or precaution
Antonym context clues are words around a
difficult word that mean the opposite or nearly
the opposite as the word.
EXAMPLE:
 Joe was reluctant to take the job of
captain of the team. He was afraid that
the time it would take would hurt his
grades. On the other hand, Billy was
eager for the chance to be the team
captain.
 In this sentence the words “on the other hand”
and “eager” tell us that Billy feels the opposite
of Joe, therefore, reluctant means uncertain
or cautious.
Now it is your turn to be
a detective and follow
the clues!
Use what you have learned about

context clues to complete the activity
on the next 5 slides.
Context Clues Practice Activity
Your friend Ryan has moved to a new country and is learning
a new language. Read what he wrote in his diary and see if
you can figure out the meaning to the underlined words.
Dear Diary,
I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of poof-poofs very

quickly, and I almost missed the tramzam. When I got to school, I realized
I had forgotten my zilgping . Luckily, Ms. Jutzi is very zoosh, and told me
I could bring it tomorrow.
After school, some friends and I played plingming. It’s a new game I
am learning. We scored 7 points and they only scored 5 points, so we were
the zoiters!
Dad says that next weekend we’re going to the fladder . I can’t wait!
I love to swim and play in the sand. I hope I don’t get a sunburn though.
Well, I better go to bed soon. I don’t want to wake up late again and
miss my tramzam!
Until tomorrow,
Ryan
Directions
It’s time for some detective work.
Take each word from Ryan’s diary
that is written in his new language
and use the context clues in the text
to figure them out!
Let’s begin…
 What could the word poof-poofs mean?
► The sentences tell me it is something that can be eaten. I know that it is a
breakfast food because Ryan said it was morning. I also know that it goes
in a bowl. What do you think it is?
► The most logical guess would be a type of cereal.
 What could the word tramzam mean?

► The sentences tell me that Ryan was going to school and he almost missed
his tramzam. What do you think it is?
► The most logical guess would be a school bus.
 What could the word zilgping mean?

► The sentences tell me that it is something Ryan needed at school. I also
know that it is ok if he brings it tomorrow. What do you think it is?
► The most logical guess would be Ryan’s homework.
 What could the word zoosh mean?

► The sentences tell me that a person can act this way and that Ms. Jutzi is
being kind and allowing Ryan to bring his homework the next day. What do
you think it is?
► The most logical guess would be friendly or understanding.
You’re doing terrific…keep going!
 What could the word plingming mean?

►The sentences tell me it is a game Ryan and his
friends play against each other and that points can be
scored. What do you think it is?
►The most logical guess would be a sport such as
basketball or soccer.
 What could the word zoiters mean?

►The sentences tell me that Ryan’s team scored 7
points while the other team scored less points. What
do you think it is?
►The most logical guess would be that it means
winners.
Almost there…
 What could the word fladder mean?

►The sentences tell me that Ryan’s dad said he could
go there and when he gets there they will swim and
play in the sand. Ryan also mentions not wanting a
sunburn. What do you think it is?
►The most logical guess would be a lake or a beach.
 And, remember, we already figured out the word

tramzam probably means school bus.
Congratulations!
 You are doing a super job! You’re a
top notch detective. Keep going on
to do more context clues activities.
 Remember, you will need to click the
back arrow  to return for more
activities.
Context Clues Pretest and
Posttest
Use these two links to test your
knowledge before and after using the
activities that follow this page.
Context Clues Pretest

– http://www.shsu.edu/~txcae/Powerpoints
/prepostest/contextclues1pretest.html
• Context Clues Posttest
– http://www.shsu.edu/~txcae/Powerpoints
/prepostest/cluesdefinepostest.html
“On Your Own” Activities
• Quia Context Clues Activity
– http://www.quia.com/pop/117579.html
• Study zone lesson and activity
– http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/e4topic.cfm?
TopicID=24
• TV 411 Activity
– http://www.tv411.org/lessons/cfm/reading.cfm?
str=reading&num=7&act=1
• Word Clues Activity
– http://wps.ablongman.com/long_licklider_vocabulary_1/
0,1682,11855-,00.html
More Activities For You
• Print and Do Worksheet
– http://www.woodland.k12.mo.us/faculty/rgarner/Re
ading/Using%20Context%20Clues_riddles.doc
• Context Clues Practice Sheets
– http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/pal
masola/ccprac1.htm
masola/ccprac2.htm
masola/rcdc2cc.htm
masola/rcdc2cc.htm
You did it!
• You have successfully
completed a study on
context clues!
• Go out into the world and
see what you can do with
your new knowledge of how
to decode words!

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Context Clues: You be

Antonym context clues

Use what you have learned about

I overslept this morning. I had to eat my bowl of poof-poofs very

 What could the word tramzam mean?

 What could the word zilgping mean?

 What could the word zoosh mean?

 What could the word plingming mean?

 What could the word zoiters mean?

 What could the word fladder mean?

 And, remember, we already figured out the word

Context Clues Pretest

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