Understanding Words in Context
As a paraprofessional, you’ll need to help students understand unfamiliar words they encounter while reading. The ParaPro Assessment tests your ability to determine the meaning of words using context clues—the information surrounding an unfamiliar word that helps reveal its meaning.
What are Context Clues?
Context clues are hints that writers provide in the text to help readers understand unfamiliar words. These clues may appear within the same sentence as the difficult word or in nearby sentences. Being able to recognize and use these clues is an essential reading comprehension skill.
Types of Context Clues
Definition/Explanation Clues
The author directly defines or explains the unfamiliar word.
Example: “The doctor diagnosed him with insomnia, a condition that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.”
Here, insomnia is directly defined as “a condition that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep.”
Signal words: is, are, refers to, means, consists of, defined as, can be described as
Synonym/Restatement Clues
The author uses a more familiar word or phrase with a similar meaning.
Example: “The hikers were fatigued; they were so tired they could barely stand.”
Here, “tired” is a synonym that helps explain “fatigued.”
Signal words: or, that is, in other words, also known as, also called
Antonym/Contrast Clues
The author provides a word or phrase with an opposite meaning.
Example: “Unlike his gregarious brother who loved parties, Michael was quiet and preferred to be alone.”
The contrast with “quiet” and “preferred to be alone” suggests that “gregarious” means outgoing or sociable.
Signal words: unlike, however, but, although, on the other hand, in contrast, instead, on the contrary
Example Clues
The author provides examples that illustrate the unfamiliar word.
Example: “The store sold various amenities for travelers, such as toothbrushes, shampoo, and travel pillows.”
The examples of toothbrushes, shampoo, and travel pillows help clarify that “amenities” are useful items or features.
Signal words: such as, for example, for instance, including, like
General Context/Inference Clues
The overall meaning of the surrounding text provides clues to the word’s meaning.
Example: “After studying for three hours, Jessica was diligent about reviewing her notes one more time before the exam.”
The context of studying for hours and reviewing notes again suggests that “diligent” relates to being hardworking or thorough.
Strategies for Determining Word Meaning from Context
- Read the entire sentence containing the unfamiliar word, then read the sentences before and after it.
- Look for signal words (is, or, unlike, such as) that might introduce context clues.
- Analyze word parts (prefixes, roots, suffixes) that might give hints to meaning.
- Substitute your guessed meaning back into the sentence to see if it makes sense.
- Consider the tone and purpose of the passage to refine your understanding.
Example Passage Analysis
Many students find mathematics daunting at first. They see the complex equations and unfamiliar symbols and feel overwhelmed. However, with patient instruction and regular practice, most students can overcome their fear and develop confidence in their mathematical abilities.
Analysis of “daunting”
- Context clues: Students feel “overwhelmed” by complex equations and unfamiliar symbols.
- Additional context: The passage mentions “fear” that needs to be overcome.
- Inference: “Daunting” likely means intimidating, overwhelming, or scary.
- Verification: If we replace “daunting” with “intimidating,” the sentence makes sense.
The museum curator was meticulous in arranging the new exhibit. She carefully measured the precise distance between each painting, ensured that all labels were perfectly aligned, and even used a level to verify that each frame hung perfectly straight on the wall.
Analysis of “meticulous”
- Context clues: The curator “carefully measured,” ensured labels were “perfectly aligned,” and used instruments to verify frames were “perfectly straight.”
- Pattern of evidence: Multiple examples show extreme attention to detail and precision.
- Inference: “Meticulous” likely means extremely careful, precise, or detail-oriented.
- Verification: Replacing “meticulous” with “extremely careful” maintains the meaning of the sentence.
Common Challenges with Context Clues
- Misleading clues: Sometimes nearby words might suggest an incorrect meaning.
- Insufficient context: Some passages don’t provide enough clues to determine exact meanings.
- Multiple meanings: Words with multiple meanings can be confusing even with context.
- Technical or specialized vocabulary: Some domains use common words in specialized ways.
Test-Taking Strategies for Words in Context Questions
- Read the entire passage first before attempting to answer questions about specific words.
- Look beyond the sentence containing the word—context clues may appear in nearby sentences.
- Consider the author’s purpose and tone when determining a word’s connotation.
- Use process of elimination to rule out answer choices that don’t fit the context.
- Trust your reading comprehension over isolated word knowledge.
- If unsure, substitute each answer choice back into the passage to see which fits best.
Helping Students Use Context Clues
- Model the process: Think aloud as you encounter unfamiliar words in shared reading.
- Teach signal words: Help students recognize words that often introduce context clues.
- Create fill-in-the-blank activities: Remove words from a passage and have students determine appropriate words based on context.
- Play vocabulary games: Create matching activities connecting unfamiliar words with their meanings based on passages.
- Encourage close reading: Teach students to read carefully and look for clues when they encounter unfamiliar words.
Practice Quiz: Words in Context
Passage: The novice hiker found the steep mountain trail arduous, stopping frequently to catch her breath and rest her aching legs.
1. Based on context, the word “arduous” most likely means:
Passage: The scientist was skeptical of the new theory. Despite its popularity among some researchers, she needed more evidence before she would accept its validity.
2. Based on context, the word “skeptical” most likely means:
Passage: The frugal shopper always compared prices, used coupons, and waited for sales before making purchases. As a result, she managed to save nearly half of her monthly income.
3. Based on context, the word “frugal” most likely means:
Passage: Unlike her garrulous sister who could talk for hours about any topic, Maria spoke only when she had something important to say.
4. Based on context, the word “garrulous” most likely means:
Key Points to Remember
- Context clues include definitions, synonyms, antonyms, examples, and general context.
- Look for signal words that often introduce context clues.
- Consider the broader context including the author’s purpose and tone.
- Substitute your guessed meaning into the sentence to verify it makes sense.
- On the ParaPro Assessment, be sure to read the entire passage before answering questions about specific words.