What are the Different Types of Context Clues?

Put it into context

Whether you’ve ever heard the term before or not, you probably use context clues all the time –
maybe without even realizing it. Think about the last time you came across an unfamiliar word
while reading. What did you do? Did you Google it? Or ask Alexa what it meant? Maybe. Or just
maybe, you figured out what it meant all on your own. How? With context clues.

What are context clues?

Context clues are hints – or “clues” – to the meaning of a word that are quite literally hidden in
plain sight, right there in every reading passage you or your child has ever encountered. Context
clues are hints in the passage, paragraph or individual sentence that, if considered, can tell you
the meaning of a word you are not familiar with. Sometimes even the title of a piece or the
illustrations that come with it offer context clues, as well.

These clues help us decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words in two different ways. The first is
simply the basic meaning of the word. Take “paleontology,” for instance. In an article about
research into dinosaur bones, you could use context clues to decide that “paleontology” means
the study of dinosaurs.

Context clues can also help when a word has more than one meaning. These words are called
homographs. Some simple examples are “bank,” “live,” and “rose.” Context clues allow us to
choose the specific meaning the author intended for that word, at that time. If you’re reading
about a bear racing through the woods, for example, and he climbs a bank, context clues tell you
it’s a mound of dirt, not a place where people keep their money.

What are the Types of Context Clues?

There are five basic types of context clues. If you can help your child understand what they are,
and how they work, she’ll have an ever-ready tool kit to use whenever she’s reading and finds
herself stumped by an unknown word.

1. Synonym or restatement clues – When an author uses these types of clues, he or she
will say the same thing twice: once with the more difficult word, and then again in a more
simple way, often right in the same sentence. If your child doesn’t understand a word in a
sentence, tell her to keep reading. A restatement clue may be coming right up.
2. Antonym or contrast clues – These types of context clues give us hints to the meaning
of words by telling us what they’re not. Often the word “but” is included in the sentence
to tell us that an opposite thought is about to be presented. That opposite is the antonym
we’re looking for. Point out the antonym to your child. Then ask her, “What’s the
opposite?”
3. Definition or explanation clues – With this type of context clue, the definition of the
word is literally given to the reader in the form of an explanation. Sometimes the author
 will add very specific words to tell us an explanation is upcoming. These can include
phrases like “which means” or “that is” or “in other words.”
4. General or inference clues – These types of context clues are a little more subtle. They
usually require readers to look beyond the sentence they’re reading for understanding,
sometimes even at the entire passage, the topic of the piece or the illustrations. If other,
more specific context clues are missing, looking for inference clues is your child’s best
bet.
5. Punctuation or font clues – The clues hidden here are found in capitalization,
italicization, quotation marks and even parentheses. These clues tell the reader that the
word could be a name, a book title or even that, in the case of parentheses, the word is
being defined for us.
6. Tone or mood clues – Sometimes the mood that the author has set for us helps us guess
at a word’s meaning. If the setting is a ghost story for instance, and the protagonist is
“brooding,” we can be pretty sure it doesn’t mean he’s happy. Asking your child how she
would feel in the setting of the story is one way to clue her into the meaning of a new
word.

Know when to use context clues

While context clues are an invaluable reading tool, they can’t replace a dictionary – or Google! –
completely. If your child has tried using context clues while trying to understand the meaning of
a new word she has encountered, but is still struggling, it’s time to suggest a more straight
forward approach. Help her look up the word she’s trying to understand using an online
dictionary – or a good, old-fashioned paperbound one. Once she’s found the meaning of the
word, have her re-read the passage and see if it makes more sense. She can even replace the word
she didn’t understand with a synonym from the dictionary. Ask her again, “Does the sentence
make sense now?”

Context Clues Examples

Need more clarity? Here are some Context Clues examples!

Synonym or Restatement Context Clues:

Miguel was very loquacious. He really loved to talk.

The rambunctious kids ran out to the bus and climbed on board. They jumped and yelled and just
couldn’t settle down.

It was a frigid winter night; even the lake was frozen solid.

We all lined up at the cafeteria. Thank goodness it was time to eat lunch.

Antonym or Contrast Context Clues:

Everyone said that Yesinia could be very stubborn. She would never let someone else talk her
out of something once she’d made up her mind.

The team felt victorious. They knew they would never lose again.

“Don’t sulk,” said Lin’s mother. “I need someone to talk to me today.”

We were all very suspicious. We didn’t know who we could trust.

Definition or Explanation Context Clues:

Police officers often must interrogate witnesses, that is, the officers must ask their witnesses
important questions and try to get truthful answers.

Every time that Jamal went to the library, he tried to expand his understanding of the world,
which means he tried to learn something new.

The ancient Chinese used the abacus, a device with movable beads that can be used as a
calculator.

Every time Taylor went to the store he was very conspicuous. In other words, he stuck out like a
sore thumb.

General or Inference Context Clues:

Sheila spearheaded the new product line. She learned what people were buying. She started the
new advertising campaign. She even designed the webpage and product logo.

The relationship between the native people and the new government was complicated.
Sometimes they got along and everyone was happy with the outcome. Other times, there were
disagreements, arguments and fights.

Coyotes have a voracious appetite. They eat insects, lizards, snakes, rabbits, squirrels, grasses
and even fruit.

Nikola Tesla was an enigmatic figure. His inventions contribute to many of the modern
conveniences that we use to this day. But, he also had visions, thought that he could speak with
beings on Mars, and died a pauper.

Punctuation or Font Context Clues:

Everyone at the theater really enjoyed Idomeneo.

Every morning the teacher checked the classroom barometer (a device that measures atmospheric
pressure).
Terri retained – kept – the keys to the old mansion.

The ancient clock only rang once in a millennium (a thousand years).

Tone or Mood Context Clues:

When the children at the birthday party saw the cake, the balloons and the clown, they were
ecstatic.

Tired from the long march, the hot sun and the bad food, the boy scouts sat down by the trail in
despair.

The doctor’s office was so clean and shiny that Merton thought even the chairs must be sterile.

The three little ponies threw up their heads and trotted around and around the meadow with
ebullient grace.

These are just some examples of the different types of context clues. Be sure to check out our
context clues reading passages for reading comprehension practice!

References: https://resources.readingvine.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-context-clues/

hyponyms

a word of more specific meaning than a general or superordinate term applicable to it. For
example, spoon is a hyponym of cutlery.

HOMOGRAPHS are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings.

Examples: present (a gift) and present (to introduce), row (argument) and row (propel
with oars)

Heteronyms are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but
sound different.

Example: desert (to abandon) and desert (arid region)

HOMONYMS are words that sound alike but have different meanings.

SUMMARY CHART
HOMONYM WORDS HOMOPHONE WORDS
SOUND type of homonym

same sound same sound

same OR different spelling different spelling

 fair (county fair) pear (fruit)
fair (reasonable) pair (couple)
pear (fruit) Buzzy Bee Riddle #6; boo bee, booby
pair (couple) Buzzy Bee Riddle #14; hum bug, humbug
Buzzy Bee Riddle #6; boo bee, booby Buzzy Bee Riddle #13: cell, sell
Buzzy Bee Riddle #14; hum bug, humbug
Buzzy Bee Riddle #13: cell, sell

HOMOGRAPH WORDS HETERONYM WORDS

SPELLING type of homograph

same OR different sound different sound

same spelling same spelling

lie (untruth) tear (in the eye)

lie (lie down) tear (rip)
tear (in the eye)
tear (rip)
Buzzy Bee Riddle #4; spelling bee, spelling bee

DETAIL CHART

Same Sound / different meanings Same Spelling / different meanings

Homonyms Homophones Homographs Heteronyms

Different Spelling Different Sound

see (with your eye) see see n/a n/a

sea (the ocean) sea sea
to (preposition) to to
too (as well) too too n/a n/a
two (2) two two
there there there
their (possessive) their their n/a n/a
they're (contraction) they're they're
bough (tree limb) bough bough bough
bow (front of a boat) bow bow bow bow
bow (at the waist) bow bow bow bow
bow (tied with ribbon bow bow bow
) bow bow bow
bow (shoots arrows)

lead (to guide) lead lead

lead (the metal) lead lead lead lead
led (guided) led led
lie (untruth) lie n/a
lie n/a
lie (lie down) lie lie
fair (appearance) fair fair
fair (county fair) fair n/a fair n/a
fair (reasonable) fair fair
bass (fish)
n/a n/a
bass bass
bass (low note) bass bass
tear (in the eye)
n/a n/a
tear tear
tear (rip) tear tear

Reference: http://www.magickeys.com/books/riddles/words.html

Idiomatic ExpressionsAn idiomis a phraseor

expressionwhose meaning can’t be understood from the ordinary
meanings of the words in it. For example, “Get off my back!” is an
idiom meaning“Stop bothering me!” The idiom “You hit the nail on the
head” means “You’re exactly right.”
http://www.scholastic.com/printables/promosite/pdfs/0439237785_e039.pdf

Idiomatic expressions are a type of informal language that have a meaning different from the meaning
of the words in the expression.

Idioms exist in every language. They are words or phrases that aren't meant to be taken literally. For
example, if you say someone has "cold feet," it doesn't mean their toes are actually cold. Rather, it
means they're nervous about something.

Common Idioms
The examples below demonstrate how you can't really deduce the meaning of these expressions
without knowing what they mean. The next time someone says they're feeling "under the
weather," you'll know it has nothing to do with weather patterns, but rather that they're feeling
quite ill.

 Getting fired turned out to be a blessing in disguise. - Getting fired (normally a negative
event) turned out to be a good thing.
 These red poppies are a dime a dozen. - These red poppies are very common.
 Don't beat around the bush. - Just say what you really mean.
 After some reflection, he decided to bite the bullet. - After some reflection, he decided to
do the undesirable thing he was avoiding.
 I'm going to call it a night. - I'm going to bed.
 He's got a chip on his shoulder. - He's holding onto a grudge or grievance that's making
him very angry or callous.
 Would you cut me some slack? - Don't be so hard on me.
 Don't cut any corners. - Don't take any shortcuts and produce shoddy work.
  She let things get out of hand. - She lets things get out of control.
 I'm going back to the drawing board. - I'm going to start over.
 Hang in there. - Stick with it.
 Don't jump the gun. - Don't do something before the allotted time.
 He decided to let her off the hook. - He decided to release her from her responsibility.
 He missed the boat. - He missed out on an opportunity.
 I go out for walks once in a blue moon. - I go out for walks very rarely.
 Pull yourself together, man! - Calm down.
 She seriously rubbed me the wrong way. - I did not like her at all.
 There he is, speak of the devil. - There he is; we were just talking about him.
 That was the straw that broke the camel's back. - My patience has finally run out.
 Well, she's got the best of both worlds. - She's receiving benefits from both of her
current situations or opportunities.
 Why are you so bent out of shape? - Why are you so upset?
 I'm feeling under the weather. - I'm feeling sick.
 We'll cross that bridge when we get there. - We'll solve that problem when the time
comes.
 I'm sorry but I just can't seem to wrap my head around it. - I'm sorry but I just can't
seem to understand.
 Wow, you can say that again. - I totally agree.

Idioms Around the Globe

Americans aren't unique in their use of idioms. Where there's language, there's figurative
language. That is, people are going to play on words and come up with quippy, new expressions.
Let's take a look at some of our global neighbors' idioms:

 In Armenian, "stop ironing my board" means stop bothering me.

 In French, "when chickens have teeth" means something's never going to happen.
 Also in French, "I have other cats to whip" means I have other things to do.
 In German, "to tie a bear to someone" means you've tricked them.
 Also in German, "an elephant made out of a fly" means to make a big deal out of
nothing.
 In Italian, "not all doughnuts come with a hole" means you don't always get what you
want.
 Also in Italian, "to treat someone with a fish in their face" means to disrespect
someone.
 In Japanese, "my cheeks are falling off" means the food is really delicious.
 Also in Japanese, "to have dumplings instead of flowers" means you've chosen
something useful over something decorative.
 In Polish, "mustard after lunch" means it's too late to do something.
 Also in Polish, to "get stuffed with hay" means someone's asking you to go away.
 In Portuguese, "he who doesn't have a dog, hunts with cats" means you make the most
of what you've been given.
 Also in Portuguese, "take your little horse away from the rain" means something's
never going to happen.
  In Spanish, "a cat in gloves catches no mice" means nice guys always finish last.
 Also in Spanish, "a lot of noise and no walnuts" means someone's all talk and no action.

It's very important to have a firm understanding of each culture's idioms. The terminology that
one country uses can have a vastly different meaning in another country. For example, in
Finnish, "with long teeth" means you're doing something you don't want to do. However, in
French, to "have long teeth" means you're very ambitious. Quite different, right?

Idioms In the Arts

Similar to various cultures who adopt their own set of idioms, smaller groups of people do the
same. Actors, painters, performers, and writers tend to use their own idioms, almost bordering on
slang, to encourage each other and forge a unique sense of community. Here are some of the
most popular idioms used in the art world:

 "Break a leg" means good luck.

 When you encourage someone to "break a leg," you might also want to encourage them
to "knock 'em dead" or do a great job.
 When you encourage a friend to "sing their heart out" before a performance, you're
encouraging them to give it their all (and have some fun).
 "Get the hook" means it's time to pull an actor off the stage because he's performing
horribly.
 If you need to "get the hook," the actor most likely "bombed," meaning he was so
terrible.
 If an actor "bombed," then they're likely to be "upstaged" by another actor who
performed better.
 If you're excited to "sink your teeth" into a new book, it means you're really excited to
start reading it.
 If an artist "breaks new ground," it means his work is important and innovative.

https://examples.yourdictionary.com/idiom.html