Find the Meaning of Words using Context

Find the Meaning of Words using Context exercise

• Help Otis and Pearl find context clues.

  Hints

  Look at the picture. Can you tell how the character feels? Is this a good way to look for context clues?

  Everyone's imagination is different, but the meaning and pronunciation of words should be the same.

  Solution

  GOOD STRATEGIES to find context clues are:

  • Looking at the picture for clues.
  • Reading the sentences before and after an unknown word.
  • Using the picture AND the sentences before and after an unknown word.

  USING YOUR IMAGINATION is not a good way to find context clues for the meaning of a word, because everyone's imagination is different, but the meaning of words should be the same.

• Help Otis find the meaning of the missing words.

  Hints

  Look at the picture and the first letter of the word for clues.
  Does Sammy's face look sleepy or confused?

  Look at the picture and the first letter of the word for clues.
  What do you see around Sammy?
  Does it begin with the letter k for kitten or the letter p for puzzle?

  There are two correct choices.

  Solution

  Putting these context clues together, we know the first missing word is CONFUSED.
  

  • The first letter of the first mystery word is 'C'.
  • Sammy's face does not look tired, but it does look confused, puzzled or quizzical.

  Putting these context clues together, we know the second missing word is PUZZLE.
  

  • The first letter of the second mystery word is 'P'.
  • We can see puzzle pieces floating around Sammy.

• Find the missing word.

  Hints

  Look at the sentence after the missing word. If Sammy is grinning, how does she feel?

  Look at the sentence before the missing word. Sammy has checked her cards a few times already. What does this tell you?

  The context clues tell us Sammy is feeling sure about her choice. Which of the word choices has a similar meaning to sure?

  Solution

  We can look at the sentences before and after the missing word to get context clues.

  • The clue words, looked at her cards once more, would win, and grinning shows us the missing word is certain.

• Find context clues to see what happened to Pearl.

  Hints

  The first word begins with the letter "u" and is how Pearl feels. Look at the picture, can you find any clues in Pearl's expression?

  The first missing word has 5 letters.

  Look at the picture. Can you find any context clues about the weather? This will help you find the second word.
  Remember the second word starts with the letter "b"!

  Solution

  Pearl was very upset! She had thought about ice cream all day, but in the end, the wind blew it away.
  Context clues in the picture help us see Pearl is not happy, or upset. We can also see clues from the swirls that it is windy, and so the wind blew makes sense.

• Help Otis find context clues in a picture.

  Hints

  We know from the beginning of the sentence "Sammy was c_______" that the missing word will describe something ABOUT Sammy, like angry, hungry, lost, or happy.
  Will we find more information about how Sammy feels from her face or her body?

  Does a picture of Otis give you any information about Sammy or her story?

  What someone is saying or thinking is a great context clue! Is there anywhere you can find information about this?

  There are two correct choices and two incorrect choices.

  Solution

  From these images we can get context clues which let us know how Sammy is feeling. Sammy looks puzzled, confused, or quizzical.
  Together with these clues and the first letter of the missing word, c, we can determine that the missing word is CONFUSED.

• Help Pearl find out what happened to Otis.

  Hints

  Look at the sentence before the first missing word. It is about graphic novels. The missing word starts with the letter "R." What could it be?

  The second word begins with the letter "u." Look at the picture, what has Otis been doing with words he doesn't know?

  Use the picture of the graphic novel, and the sentence after the third missing word to help you find the last missing word. What has Otis done with words he does not know? It begins with the letter "s."

  Solution

  Otis loves graphic novels, and his favorite is about Sammy Danger. Reading is not always easy, and Otis does not always know all the words. Instead of using context clues, Otis has been underlining words he does not know and skipping them!
  This is a problem because the words could be very important to the story! Otis should use context clues, so he can understand everything that is happening.