Context Clues Reading Skill Guessing meaning from context

Context Clues

Reading Skill: Guessing meaning from context • If you come across a word you don’t understand in a book or article you are reading, you can use the context to help you understand the meaning of the word. The context is the words near the unknown word. Looking up every new word in the dictionary will slow your reading.

Context and Context Clues

What is missing in the picture? Context Clues: 1. He is holding a baseball bat. 2. He is wearing a baseball mitt.

What is missing in the picture? Yes! You’ve guess it. It is a baseball. Talk about Handout 1

Guessing the meaning of an unknown word using context clues • Jack’s funny anecdote about his Uncle Dave was our favorite of all of his stories.

Guessing the meaning of an unknown word using context clues • Jack’s funny anecdote about his Uncle Dave was our favorite of all of his stories. • From “funny, ” we know “anecdote” is a noun. It is about uncle Dave and it is our favorite story. So we know “anecdote” means story.

Let’s watch a video

Closure Strategy 1: • When you see a word you don’t know, it’s usually sounded by the words you do know. So look at those words you know and see if they can help you figure out the meaning of the unknown words. • After dinner, the group of mummers entertained the guests by acting out the story of an evil wizard.

Closure Strategy 2: • Sometimes, a mystery word can be defined by its antonyms, or opposites. • Unlike his genteel brother, Hubert displayed poor manners and crude behavior.

Closure Strategy 3: • You can also figure out a mystery word by looking for synonyms, or the words that mean the same thing. • King Adenoid had married the comeliest woman in the realm, far lovelier and more beautiful than anyone in the Twelve Counties.

Closure Strategy 4: • Sometimes, a mystery word will be sounded by examples that tip off its meaning. • Royalton City was filled with cathedrals, castles, and other huge edifices.