Using Clues from the Sentence

Sometimes, you don’t know what a word means, but the words around it give you hints. These hints are called context clues.

Types of Context Clues

• Definition: The sentence explains the word.
• Example: The sentence gives examples of the word.
• Contrast: The sentence shows the opposite meaning.

How to Use Context Clues

• Read the whole sentence.
• Look for words or phrases that explain or show the meaning.
• Test your guess by replacing the word with your idea and see if the sentence still makes sense.

Why This Matters

Using context clues helps you figure out tricky words, making you a stronger reader and a better test-taker.