Context Clues Worksheet
Context Clues
Use clues in each passage to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
Name:
Date:
Types of Clues:
Synonym: Similar words or restatements • Contrast: Opposite words (e.g., not, unlike) • Cause & Effect: Explanations in the text
Word Bank Choose the best definition for each bold word
A. Lit up or made bright
B. Odd, strange, or unusual
C. Extremely hungry or starving
D. Silent and cautious
Directions: Read each passage below. Underline the clue words that help explain the bold word, write the letter of the correct definition, and complete the sentence frame.
- Target Word: peculiar
Definition Letter:
"The abandoned tower made a peculiar clicking sound whenever the wind blew. It wasn't the regular creak of old timber, but a strange, unnatural tapping that puzzled the entire crew."
The clue phrase shows that peculiar means .
- Target Word: famished
Definition Letter:
"After hiking six steep miles through the canyon without breakfast, Maya was utterly famished. Her stomach growled loudly as she hurried toward the camp kitchen, ready to devour anything in sight."
The clue phrase shows that famished means .
- Target Word: illuminated
Definition Letter:
"A sudden flash of lightning briefly illuminated the pitch-black trail. For three seconds, every slippery rock and tangled root became brightly visible before darkness fell again."
The clue phrase shows that illuminated means .
Check: Clues underlined in each passage • All 3 sentences completed
Score: / 3
Context Clues Answer Key
Context Clues — Answer Key
Model responses, text evidence, and instructional guidance.
TEACHER GUIDE
Quick Check:
1. peculiar: B (Odd, strange, or unusual) 2. famished: C (Extremely hungry) 3. illuminated: A (Lit up or made bright)
- Target Word: peculiar Clue Type: Contrast & Restatement
Answer: B (Odd, strange, or unusual)
Target Text Evidence
"wasn't the regular creak" and "strange, unnatural tapping that puzzled"
Exemplar Student Sentence
The clue phrase "strange, unnatural tapping" shows that peculiar means odd or unusual.
- Target Word: famished Clue Type: Cause & Effect / Logic
Answer: C (Extremely hungry or starving)
Target Text Evidence
"without breakfast", "stomach growled loudly", and "ready to devour anything"
Exemplar Student Sentence
The clue phrase "without breakfast and stomach growled" shows that famished means extremely hungry.
- Target Word: illuminated Clue Type: Description & Contrast
Answer: A (Lit up or made bright)
Target Text Evidence
"flash of lightning" and "became brightly visible before darkness fell"
Exemplar Student Sentence
The clue phrase "flash of lightning made rocks visible" shows that illuminated means lit up.
Common Misconceptions
- • Isolated Words: Students may underline only one word (e.g., "creak") instead of the descriptive phrase. Encourage students to underline 2–4 connected words.
- • Distractor Choice (D): Option D ("Silent and cautious") appeals to students guessing from the tone of the sentence rather than reading for direct context clues.
Guiding Questions
- • "If you cover the unfamiliar word, which words in that sentence explain what is happening?"
- • "What happened right before or right after the word that helps you understand it?"
Context Clues Practice Answer Key & Teacher Reference
