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Building Vocabulary:
Using Context Clues to Learn Word Meaning
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 Much of the vocabulary you’ll learn in life won’t come from reading the dictionary. Most vocabulary it is learned by reading textbooks, novels and other literature. Often when reading you’ll come across words that you’ve never seen before. And often you’ll figure out what these words mean by how they are used in the text you are reading. Most literature includes context clues to the meanings of words that some readers may not know. The context clue is most often presented in the sentence or paragraph where the word is located.
The following are six types of context clues used to help the read understand the meaning of words. To help you better understand each clue we’ve provided an example.
1. Description clue. Descriptions are included in the text to allow the reader to understand the meaning of a word. In the following example, descriptions of the water as being cloudy, dirty and hazy help the read understand the meaning of “murky”.
When John and Carol arrived at the lake they didn’t dare enter the murky water. The water was so cloudy, dirty and hazy that neither of them thought it would be safe to swim in.
2. Definition clue. In the text a definition is indirectly provided in order to help the reader understand the meaning of the word. In the following example, “ambushed” is defined as being attacked by surprise.
As the army marched through the jungle they were ambushed by a tribe of savage natives. Reporters said that the army should have know better than to walk through a dangerous part of the jungle where they could be caught off guard and attacked.
3. Synonym clue. A synonym clue is where the author includes a synonym to help the read understand the meaning of a word. A synonym is word that has a similar meaning as another word. In the following example, the synonym “argument” helps the reader understand the meaning of the word “altercation”.
Jill and her mom got into a serious altercation. Afterwards Jill decided that getting into a heated argument with her mom just wasn’t worth it.
4. Antonym clue. The author uses an antonym to help the reader understand the meaning of a word. An antonym is a worth that means the exact opposite of another word. In the following example, the antonym “slowly” is used to help the reader understand the meaning of “hastily”.
John hastily crossed the street and was hit by a car. However, John’s friend Lisa slowing crossed the street looking for cars as she went and made it safely to the other side.
5. Summary clue. A summary clue is where the author of the text makes several statements that enable the reader to understand the meaning of the word. In the follow example, the statements made about being bad-tempered, grouchy and cranky help the read to understand the meaning of the word “cantankerous”.
That child is the most cantankerous child I’ve ever met. He is always cranky or grouchy wherever I see him. And I’ve never met such a bad-tempered child in all my life.
6. Visual clues. This is where a picture, drawing, diagram, chart or other type of visual aid is used to help the read understand the meaning of the word.
Context clues are one of the best ways to figure out the meaning of a word you don’t know. So the next time you come across a word you don’t understand use context clues to help you understand the word’s meaning.
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