Tools for Instruction
Use Context to Find Word Meaning
Readers who encounter a new word are often told to use its context to try and infer a likely meaning. To work
strategically with a new word, students should ask themselves what is important to know about its meaning and
how to look for and interpret clues in the context. They also need to learn when context cannot give enough
information to define the word. To help students adopt this strategy, provide frequent opportunities for practice.
Three Ways to Teach
Identify Types of Context Clues 20–30 minutes
Connect to Writing  Teach common types of context clues. Display examples such as those shown, and note
words that emphasize the clue. Model as you define each word and explain how you used context to do so.
Type of Clue
Definition
Appositive
Examples
Similarity
Contrast
What It Does
Tells the meaning of the unfamiliar word
Example
The abolitionists grew in number.
Abolitionists worked hard to end slavery.
Tells the meaning of the unfamiliar word
Scientists used deep-sea research
beside it, marked off by commas or dashes vessels—also called submersibles.
Describes the unfamiliar word by naming
types of it
Tells the meaning of an unfamiliar word by
connecting it to something similar
A group’s traditions include holidays,
music, food, and customs.
The big earthquake was followed by more
seismic events.
Tells the meaning of an unfamiliar word by The law had its supporters, but there were
describing its opposite
many opponents, too.
• Give each student one or two words they are likely to know, such as university, spaceship, feast, illustrator.
• Have them write a sentence with their word, leaving a blank in its place. Challenge them to write sentences
with such strong context that listeners will easily guess the word.
• As students read aloud their sentences (saying “blank” for the word), talk about the type of context provided,
and the words in the context that helped listeners figure out the missing word.
Decide When to Use Context 10–15 minutes
Explain that not all words are clearly defined by context. Emphasize that if the context does not help to clarify
the word, students will have to use a dictionary or ask someone. Have students choose paragraphs from news
reports or works of fiction. Together, identify any unfamiliar vocabulary. Then guide students to think about
answers to these questions:
• How fully do I need to understand this word in order to understand the paragraph?
• What does the word seem to be describing or naming?
• What can I tell about the word’s meaning from the context?
• Do I need to use a dictionary or ask someone what it means?
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©2012 Curriculum Associates, LLC
Vocabulary I Levels 6–8 I Use Context to Find Word Meaning I Page 1 of 2
i-Ready Tools for Instruction
Evaluate the Strength of Context Clues 10–15 minutes
•Explain that context clues can be Strong, Medium, or Weak, depending on how well they help to clarify the
meaning of an unfamiliar word.
• Preview a classroom text to identify words that are likely to be unfamiliar. Then have students read aloud the
paragraph that includes a target word. Together, decide whether the clues are Strong, Medium, or Weak.
Strong
Medium
Weak
Strong context clues help the reader understand what the word means.
Medium clues give the reader unclear information about what the
word means.
Weak clues do not help the reader understand the word.
• For each word, talk about what the word means and what readers can do to learn more about the word,
such as using a dictionary or asking an adult.
• For independent practice, have partners read another paragraph with a target word. They should identify
whether the context clues are Strong, Medium, or Weak, and then tell what the word means and how they knew.
Check for Understanding
If you observe...
Then try...
difficulty identifying context clues or understanding
the concept of context
asking a question about a word that can have more
than one meaning. After students answer, say a context
sentence that shows a different meaning for the word.
Question What is a fan? (something we use to
cool off )
Context sentence The fan shouted and clapped for
her team.
Then share ideas about why listeners and readers must
think about the context.
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©2012 Curriculum Associates, LLC
Vocabulary I Levels 6–8 I Use Context to Find Word Meaning I Page 2 of 2