1. Vocabulary Context Clues
Why is it important to know and learn new words?
Discuss and be prepared to share TWO important reasons.

2. Let’s See What You Know!
Take a few minutes to complete the pretest questions.
Be sure you answer all the questions.
As you take the test, do the following:
Star = You know you got this one right!
Question Mark = You are not sure if it is right or wrong.
Minus Sign = You know you got it wrong.

3. Pre-test
1. The first review of the Harry Potter movie was favorable. Many people attended and enjoyed the movie. Some people even saw the movie three times!
negative
uncertain
positive
clear
2. Her quiet, timid ways made us guess at her true feelings about the story because she kept her ideas to herself and never spoke in class.
shy
boisterous
kind
seriously

4. Pretest
3. He was found running down the street after curfew, and his parents were penalized. The ticket read: “Illegally in the streets at 1:00am.” Now he would have to pay the ticket with his own money.
crooked
fined
delicate
informed
4. The woman crossed her fingers as her daughter did the cheer. She was hoping that everything would work out for her daughter as she vied for a position on the squad. Her daughter wanted to be a cheerleader.
shouted
enclosed
expanded
tried

5. Pretest
5. The boy knew that the lake was teeming and overflowing with bass, so he brought a big net to help get the fish in the boat.
rare
enclave
full
sparse
6. It is difficult to listen to Tommy speak because he droned on and on just like a buzzer that won’t stop buzzing.
ideal
same tone
Lively
scared

6. Pretest
7. The lithe girl was perfect for the basketball team because she was all muscle and could play well.
lean
cubed
thick
eerie 
8. Thomas went to the apex of the mountain, and because it was so high, he had to take a tank of oxygen with him.
bottom
breathe
top
clear

7. Pretest
9. The apparatus that Jill used to connect the fabric was similar to a sewing machine, but this one did all the work while she just pushed a button.
idea
zipper
instrument
singular
10. The frigid air seemed to suck his breath away as he attempted to finish his first snowman of the season.
deficient
sappy
thick
cold

8. Pretest Answers 1) C. positive 6) B. same tone 2) A. shy 7) A. lean
3) B. fined
8) C. top
4) D. tried
9) C. instrument
10) D. cold
5) C. full

9. Types of Context Clues Definition Synonym (or restatement)
Antonym (or contrast)
Inference

10. Definition
The word is defined directly and clearly in the sentence in which it appears.
The arbitrator, the neutral person chosen to settle the dispute, arrived at her decision.

11. Synonym (or restatement)
Other words are used in the sentence with similar meanings.
The slender woman was so thin her clothes were too big on her.

12. Antonym (or contrast)
Often signaled by the words whereas, unlike, or as opposed to.
Unlike Jamaal’s room, which was immaculate, Jeffrey’s room was very messy.
Whereas Melissa is quite lithe, her sister is clumsy and awkward.

13. Inference
Word meanings are not directly described, but need to be inferred from the context.
Walt’s pugnacious behavior made his opponent back down.
The man gigged the large fish, but he needed his friend to enlarge the hole to drag it out of the frigid water.

14. Still Can’t Figure it Out?
If you still cannot get the meaning of a word from context clues AND it is interfering with understanding the text, where can you look?
Dictionary/Glossary
How are words arranged?
Alphabetical Order
How are the words arranged?
Where can I find it?
Use guide words at the top of the page.
Where can I find it?

15. Let’s Use Context Clues
Use your notes page to help you complete the Diary Activity.
Put the Context Clues
Note Sheet in the Notes
section of your binder.