Context Clue Detectives (Standard 4.V.2)
These are the words, phrases, or sentences around an unknown word that help you figure out its meaning.
Context Clues
An affix added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
Prefix
A word that has the same, or nearly the same, meaning as another word.
Synonym
Put these three words in order from least intense to most intense: Freezing, Cold, Chilly.
Chilly, Cold, Freezing
If a phrase means exactly what the words say, it is literal. If the words have a hidden or creative meaning, it is called this.
Figurative
In the sentence, "The fragile glass vase broke into a thousand pieces," this is the meaning of fragile.
Easily broken or delicate
If the prefix pre- means "before," this is what it means to preheat an oven.
To heat it before cooking
A word that has the opposite meaning of another word.
Antonym
Which word describes a bigger "mess": a clutter or a disaster?
Disaster
What does the idiom "a piece of cake" mean?
It is very easy
In the sentence, "Unlike her gregarious sister who loves parties, Sarah is very shy," the word "unlike" tells you gregarious means this.
Social or outgoing
This common suffix added to the end of a word means "full of" (as in the word joyful).
ful
Provide a synonym for the word huge.
Enormous, gigantic, vast,
If you are "furious," you are more than just this common 5-letter emotion.
Angry
"The classroom was a zoo" is an example of this type of comparison (no like or as).
Metaphor
This type of context clue is used when an author gives the literal definition of a word right in the sentence.
Definition (or Explanation) clue
If the root word tele means "far away," name an invention that allows you to see or hear things from a distance.
Telephone, Television, or Telescope
Provide an antonym for the word ancient.
Modern, new, or recent
Explain the difference in "shade of meaning" between whispering and mumbling.
Whispering is quiet on purpose; mumbling is quiet because you aren't speaking clearly.
What is being compared in this simile: "The athlete ran as fast as a cheetah"?
The athlete's speed and a cheetah's speed.
Identify the meaning of monotonous in this sentence: "The long highway drive was so monotonous that the driver began to feel sleepy from the lack of change."
Boring, repetitive, or unchanging
The suffix -less means "without." What does it mean if a person is described as dauntless?
Without fear (fearless/brave)
Which of these pairs are antonyms: Construct/Build or Pardon/Punish?
Pardon/Punish
Which word suggests a more careful way of looking: glancing or peering?
Peering
If someone says "you are the sunshine of my life," are they speaking literally or figuratively?
Figuratively