Lesson on Context Clues

I will be able to use clues in a passage to determine the meaning of a word with 80% accuracy or higher.

Context: anything around a word or phrase in a passage

Context clues: hints in a passage that help you determine what a word means

Punctuation like commas and dashes can help you understand a word's meaning.

Example: During the song's crescendo, the part where the music gets louder, the trumpets can be heard over the singer's voice.

Key words like "or," "and," or "that is" can also give you a hint that a word's definition or denotation is nearby.

Example: Blake studied every facet of the statue, and every part of it impressed him.

1. Read the entire paragraph to make a definition clearer.

2. Look for punctuation like commas and dashes near unfamiliar words.

3. Look for key words that may direct you to hints.

4. Use inferences and your understanding of the passage to guess meanings, and then use clues to support your guess.