English 9 / Unit 10: Vocabulary and Research Skills
10.1 Context Clues
Notes
Context clues are hints in nearby words and sentences that help you figure out an unfamiliar word.
| Clue type | Signal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | is, means, which is | "A nomad, a person with no fixed home, ..." |
| Synonym | or, also, like | "She was jubilant, or overjoyed." |
| Antonym | but, unlike, however | "Unlike his timid sister, Raj was bold." |
| Example | such as, including | "Precipitation, such as rain or snow, ..." |
| Inference | general sense | "After the arduous climb, they collapsed, gasping." |
- Steps: reread the sentence, look for signal words, guess a meaning, then test it in the sentence.
Practice
"Unlike her gregarious brother, who loved parties, Tia preferred to stay home alone." "Gregarious" most likely means:
"Unlike" signals contrast with Tia, and he "loved parties."
"The soup was so bland, lacking salt and spice, that no one finished it." "Bland" means:
The definition clue "lacking salt and spice" explains it.
"The hikers were famished after walking all day without food; they devoured three pizzas." What type of context clue helps define "famished"?
Readers infer "very hungry" from the situation.
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