Context Clues

determing the meaning of a word by defining the unfamiliar word before or after the unknown word. Usually offset by a comma.

Common signal words: is, or, which is, who is, that is, in other words

Example: His emaciation, that is, his skeleton-like appearance, was frightening to see.

“Skeleton-like appearance” is the definition of “emaciation.”

determining a word's meaning through an example or examples that help to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word

Common signal words: for example, for instance, such, as, one kind, especially, and other, like, including

Example: Celestial bodies, including the sun, moon, and stars, have fascinated man through the centuries.

 “Celestial” objects are those in the sky or heavens.

determining a word's meaning based on how it is like something else (i.e. another word or phrase) in the text

Common signal words: (just) like, (just) as, similar to, in the same way

Example sentence: The mountain pass was a tortuous road, winding and twisting like a snake around the trees of the mountainside. 

In this example, “tortuous” means “winding and twisting." Like the snake it was compared to.

determining a word's meaning based on how it is unlike something else (i.e. another word or phrase) in the text

Common signal words: but, although, however, unlike, on the contrary, instead, on the other hand

Example sentence: The children were as different as day and night. He was a lively conversationalist, but she was reserved and taciturn. 

“Taciturn” means the opposite of a “lively conversationalist.”

determining a word's meaning by using the word as the result of something else that happens in the text or as a reason for why something else happened

Common signal words: because, since, therefore, thus, so, etc.

Example sentence: She wanted to impress all her dinner guests with the food she served, so she carefully studied the necessary culinary arts.

“Culinary” means “food preparation.”