“TAP” Lesson
Lesson 1.06 Context Clues
Objectives (Learning Goals)
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
-Identify the meanings of words by using context clues instead of a dictionary.
Academic Vocabulary
*Use the paragraph and activities below to help you define and understand these words:
- Context Clues
○ Definition:
- Idioms
○ Definition:
-
○ Examples:
Inference Context Clues
○ Definition:
○ Examples: After insisting that she would only eat pizza, she finally succumbed and
had what her brother wanted—Chinese food.
-
-
-
Antonym Context Clues
○ Definition:
○ Examples: Although I was entranced when it began, I grew bored as the movie wore on.
Synonym Context Clues
○ Definition:
○ Examples: The fatigued runner dragged her tired body over the finish line.
Definition Context Clues
○ Definition:
○ Examples: Solve your discord, that is, your lack of agreement, by tomorrow.
In this lesson we practice using CONTEXT CLUES (details in a sentence that can help you find meaning of
an unfamiliar word). Context clues are helpful in reading and helping you figure out IDIOMS (a phrase
that means something other than the dictionary, or literal, meaning of its words). This is most likely a skill
you have practiced before in school and something your brain naturally does on its own. When we are
confused, we naturally hunt for clues or answers to our problems. It’s in our nature to want to know! It’s
also in our nature to want to find answers in the easiest and quickest way possible; we don’t want to have
to search up a word in a dictionary! So, when we read and run into an unknown word, our brains look for
CLUES around that word.
There are 5 different types of CONTEXT CLUES:
Sometimes, we get lucky and find a DEFINITION CONTEXT CLUE (a word and its definition are in the
same paragraph). Other times we don’t get so lucky and we have to make an INFERENCE (the word
meaning is “suggested” by an idea in the same sentence or paragraph). Other clues could be ANTONYM
clues (words with opposite meanings are in the same sentence or paragraph) or SYNONYM clues (words
with similar meanings in the same sentence or paragraph).
Let’s practice using context clues:
1.
When I go to the amusement park, there is such a plethora of sights, smells, and sounds that I do
not know where to turn first.
What does the word plethora mean?
A. abundance
B. advantage
2.
C.
condition
D.
reward
At the end of the day, I head home, my pockets empty but my senses filled and satisfied from my
day of frolicking at the park.
What does the word frolicking mean?
A. eating
B. playing
C.
running
D.
spending
Good Luck on your 1.06 Quiz!
Click HERE to view the ANSWERS to the activities on this page