Name: _____________________________
Context Clues 1.1
Directions: read each sentence and determine the meaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your prior
knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.
1. Dignity: Even when the police officers put the handcuffs on my mother, she maintained her dignity, holding her
head up high as she was marched off the protest site.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
2. Splendid: The rays from the rising sun shined splendidly through our kitchen window.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
3. Particle: John was so hungry that he didn’t leave a single particle of the muffin on the plate.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
4. Elegant: Cassie took her time when she wrote in cursive, slowly making each word out of an elegant series of
arcs and loops.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
5. Injustice: Kevin thought that it was a great injustice that girls could wear earrings in the school while the boys
could not.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
6. Decline: After Gears of Pain 6 came out, the amount of people playing Gears of Pain 5 declined.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
7. Paradise: When Rex had a bone, a warm spot to lie, and someone petting him, he was in paradise.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
8. Fascinate: Alvin went to the museum every Saturday because he was so fascinated by art.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
9. Yearn: Even though John had a good job and a nice family, he yearned for more.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
10. Seldom: Since professional athletes have to stay in peak physical shape, most athletes seldom eat junk food.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
11. Delicate: Tracy held the flower as gently as she could, fearing that the delicate stem would break.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
12. Remark: Jennie didn’t like the jacket her mother bought her until several strangers made remarks about how
much they liked it.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
Bonus: Define each of the words on a separate sheet of paper to check your answers. Attach your sheet.
Context Clues 1.2
Directions: read each sentence and determine the meaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your prior
knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.
1. Confiscate: Joanne’s mother came up to the school to get the cell phone the teacher had confiscated.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
2. Obedient: Unlike her older brother Jerome, who stayed out all hours of the night, Kate obediently followed the
curfew her parents set.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
3. Consume: John was so hungry that he consumed the cranberry muffin and went back for a donut.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
4. Coax: After the bird escaped, Chris tried to coax it back into the cage with treats.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
5. Peculiar: Since it was a school day, Denise thought it was peculiar that she saw no children on the street during
her drive to work.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
6. Outcast: If a wolf refuses to help it’s pack hunt, it becomes an outcast and must go on alone.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
7. Discard: Dad had no need for the broke air conditioner, so he discarded it on the corner by the trash.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
8. Content: While others eat eggs, pancakes, and bacon for breakfast, Mike was content with a piece of toast and a
glass of orange juice.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
9. Fortunate: Because he had such good friends and family, Malcolm considered himself fortunate.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
10. Observe: The teacher stopped the students after she observed them wrestling.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
11. Brilliant: Vince had to put his sun glasses on because the rays of the sun were so brilliant.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
12. Murmur: On the way to her room after just having been grounded, Tammy murmured something under her
breath.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
Bonus: Define each of the words on a separate sheet of paper to check your answers. Attach your sheet.
Context Clues 2.1
Directions: read each sentence and determine the meaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your prior
knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.
1. Detest: Everyone else at the party wanted garbage pizza but Tim because he detested vegetables.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
2. Alter: Grandpa didn’t know that Suzie was coming along on the fishing trip, and now he had to alter his plans.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
3. Melodramatic: When Kiki got a tiny cut on her pinky finger, she got all melodramatic and began sobbing and
demanding a doctor.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
4. Remorse: As Tommy walked home with the money from the church he had stolen in his pocket, powerful
feelings of remorse bubbled in his stomach.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
5. Inquiry: When the other moms heard about how Charlene had won the baking contest, her email box was flooded
with inquiries for her award winning muffin recipe.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
6. Perch: The children were perched on the edge of the sofa arms, waiting to hop off and land on the next unlucky
passerby.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
7. Earnest: Jeremiah joked around so much that when he told the others about the accident that had occurred, they
didn’t believe that he was being earnest.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
8. Jovial: Unlike Bob, who treated others rudely and kept to himself, Bobby was jovial, friendly, and outgoing.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
9. Demeanor: My grandma’s demeanor was such that people often thought she was being rude when she was just
being honest.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
10. Beckoned: The lady decided that it was tea time and so, by jingling a tiny silver bell, she beckoned her servants
to attend.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
11. Dismal: With the field torn up by the players’ cleats, and the cold rain falling in waves, conditions on the
playing field were dismal.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
12. Immense: Lula would have attempted the walk home, had it not been for the immense mountain that stood
between her and her destination.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
Bonus: Define each of the words on a separate sheet of paper to check your answers. Attach your sheet.
Context Clues 2.2
Directions: read each sentence and determine the meaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your prior
knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.
1. Degrade: Suzie’s mother taught her to never let anyone degrade her, so now she demands respect in all of her
relationships.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
2. Frivolous: My mom wanted to get the red napkins for the party and my dad wanted the blue napkins, but I’m not
even concerned about such frivolous things.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
3. Discontent: If we use the red napkins, my mom will be happy but my dad will be discontent.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
4. Morsel: The dogs were so hungry that they would have killed one another for a morsel of meat.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
5. Fretful: My mom always worries about my grades and the colleges that I’ll be able to attend, but if she were a
little less fretful she’d be a lot more fun.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
6. Appall: John had seen horror movies before, but when he saw Bloodcore 6, he was so appalled by the bloodshed
that he wrote the newspapers warning parents not to allow their children to see this movie.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
7. Wither: Alice finally threw the withering roses away when a dead petal fell into her cereal bowl.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
8. Simultaneous: Few were impressed by Kirstin’s presentation, “How to Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time,”
even though Kirstin was able to simultaneously walk and chew gum.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
9. Reluctant: As Kevin remembered the promise he made earlier, he reluctantly agreed to help Jennie move her
stuff into her new apartment.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
10. Reproach: Miss Annie reproached Johnny for the missing chocolate chip cookies, even though Johnny is
allergic to chocolate.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
11. Penitent: It is difficult to forgive someone who has hurt you, even if that person is penitent and expresses regret
for their decisions.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
12. Sustain: It is difficult to sustain a smile when your whole world is falling apart.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
Bonus: Define each of the words on a separate sheet of paper to check your answers. Attach your sheet.
Context Clues 3.1
Directions: read each sentence and determine the meaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your prior
knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.
1. Universal: Jim wanted to ask Janet to the dance, but he felt it a universally acknowledged truth that popular
girls like her didn’t go with unpopular guys like him.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
2. Extraordinary: Kevin knows how to shoot from the field, but Alvin’s jump shot is extraordinary.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
3. Establish: Even though peace between the two formerly warring nations had been established for years now, the
solider still woke cold from dreams of battle.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
4. Scrupulous: I wanted to just set the table and be done with it, but my mother scrupulously arranged each napkin,
dish, and utensil until they were in perfect alignment.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
5. Consent: Jake asked his mother for permission to go to his friend Rodney’s dance party, stating that his grades
had improved, and he was quite pleased when she consented.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
6. Vexed: When Jose found out that his little brother Emilio carelessly broke Jose’s Xbox disc tray, Jose was vexed
and sure let Emilio know it.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
7. Tact: Jane could have easily offended Bertha when she informed her that the dress did not fit her well, but Jane
used tact and consideration when choosing her words, so Bertha understood without being hurt.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
8. Emphatic: Her parents really wanted her to attend the local university, but Shaniqua argued her case so
emphatically and with such great passion, that her parents gave Shaniqua their consent
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
9. Amends: After Brian broke Darcy’s heart this last time, he will have to make some serious amends if he ever
wants to win her back.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
10. Conjecture: Stanley tried to determine the meaning of the vocabulary word, but there were so few clues in the
sentence all he could do was hopelessly conjecture as to what the word might mean.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
11. Ascertain: The clues in the sentence were so helpful, Stanley was able to ascertain the meaning of the word
beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
12. Defer: Kyle really wanted to play basketball, but since it overlapped with the volleyball season (and since Carrie
played volleyball), he would just have to defer his hoop-dreams until next year, when his relationship with her would
be secure.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
Bonus: Define each of the words on a separate sheet of paper to check your answers. Attach your sheet.
Context Clues 3.2
Directions: read each sentence and determine the meaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your prior
knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.
1. Disposition: Unlike his sister Cattie, who had a very calm and mellow disposition, John jumped on Sofas and
ran through the house like an animal kingdom.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
2. Amiable: If you go to the party wearing your best smile, laugh good naturedly, and try your dance steps out
(even if you aren’t the best dancer), you will attract attention with your amiable disposition.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
3. Scarce: Due to the scarcity of food in her territory, the mother lioness had to roam far from safe ground to find a
meal for her child.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
4. Fastidious: When John saw his report card, he was excited because he had all As and an A- in Biology; but when
his fastidious mother saw his report card, she shook her head in disappointment.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
5. Conceited: When Jana noticed her daughter Kylie starring at herself and posing in every reflection that they
passed, Jana worried that Kylie was growing a bit conceited. .
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
6. Candor: After weeks of avoiding him, Annie finally found the courage to tell David that she wasn’t interested in
him; and even though David was heart broken, he appreciated her candor.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
7. Ostentatious: Amy wanted to wear the simple white dress to the dance but her friend Emilia kept pushing her to
buy this big, puffy, golden ballroom gown as ostentatious as it was expensive.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
8. Endeavor: John may have been excited about becoming an artist, but his mother was waiting to see if he’d see
this endeavor through before buying him the expensive paint kit.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
9. Provoke: I didn’t want to fight him, but he provoked me by insulting my family and I lost control.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
10. Engross: The young child was so engrossed by the flashing lights on the toy train that when his mother asked
him if he wanted a piece of chocolate cake, he didn’t even respond.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
11. Deficient: Zach wanted to play football with the other kids but, with his horrible deficiencies in coordination, he
couldn’t catch or throw the ball.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
12. Benevolence: The children in the orphanage might have starved had it not been for the benevolence of the nuns,
who sacrificed their own small salaries to provide food for the children.
Definition: ___________________________________________________________________________
What type of context clue led you to your definition?
Bonus: Define each of the words on a separate sheet of paper to check your answers. Attach your sheet.