Five Clues to help figure out unknown words in a sentence Prepared by Mrs. Back Using Context Clues

Getting Started Look at the picture at the left. The picture illustrates the meaning of the word scrutinize. Look for clues in the picture to help you guess the meaning of scrutinize.

How Do We Use Context Clues? We will learn to look for meaning clues within the sentences and paragraphs that we read. These clues can come either before or after the unknown word. We will pay attention to how the unknown word is being used in the sentence. Then, we can relate the word to other words and ideas in the reading to help us figure out a Connotative definition for the unknown word.

What are the two types of definitions? Connotative Definition: An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing. Often the emotional meaning of a word that a person understands. Denotative Definition: The primary meaning of a term. The official definition of a word. (My trick to remembering this one is to think of the word dictionary. Both dictionary and denotative start with the letter d.)

Clue Number 1: Definition Sometimes you will find the meaning of a new word given right before or after the word. The definition will be in the same sentence.

Let’s practice: What is the definition clue in this reading that will help us understand the word demise. The British pirate Edward Teach, known as “Blackbeard,” is supposed to have buried treasure in hundreds of places. One likely place is Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. In 1718, Blackbeard met his demise, or death, near Ocracoke. Some people think the largest part of his treasure is hidden on the island.

Clue Two: Series Clue Sometimes a new word will be part of a group of words that go together. You can get a hint about the unknown word by studying the other words in the series.

Let’s practice: Locate the series clue to help us know what the word cruelty means. Captain William Kidd was hanged in 1701 for piracy, murder, and cruelty toward members of his crew. Before his death, he gave his wife a piece of parchment on which was written 44-10-66-18. The numbers seemed to be the map location of Deer Isle, Maine. People searched the island, but did not find any treasure there.

Clue Number 3: Synonym First let’s remember what a Synonym is: One of two or more words in a language that have highly similar meanings, as sadness, grief, and sorrow. Sometimes you can spot a synonym of an unfamiliar word in a sentence near the one in which the unknown word appears.

Let’s practice: Look for a synonym of concealed in the following story to help us define the word. Some people think Jean Faffite also concealed treasure on Padre Island off the Texas coast in the early 19th Century. John Singer searched the island for the treasure Laffite hid there. He found a chest containing $80,000 worth of gold and jewels. He reburied it for safekeeping during the Civil War. He was unable to find it again after the war.

Clue Number 4: Antonym Let’s first remember what an Antonym is. A word opposite in meaning to another word. Sometimes we can spot an antonym of an unfamiliar word in the same sentence. By contrasting these two words, we can figure out the unknown word’s meaning.

Let’s practice: Look for an antonym in the following story to help predict the meaning of unearthed. In April 1934, FBI agents surrounded John Dillinger and his criminal gang near Mercer, Wisconsin. Dillinger escaped. Supposedly, he dug a hole behind his hideout and buried a suitcase containing nearly $200,000 there. Dillinger was soon killed by the FBI. The suitcase was never unearthed, however.

Clue Number 5: Experience Sometimes the meaning of a word just makes sense to you based on your prior knowledge or schema.

Let’s practice: What schema do you have to help you understand the word sacred? In 1848, three Mexican brothers discovered a gold mine said to be worth $100 million in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. The mine was located in a mountain that was important to the religion of the Apache people. The apaches were angry that their sacred mountain was being harmed. They attacked and killed most of the mining party and hid the veins of gold with dirt. Many other prospectors have searched for the mine unsuccessfully.

The Five Context Clues 1. Definition Clue 2. Series Clue 3. Synonym Clue 4. Antonym Clue 5. Background/Schema Clue