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Learn how to use the words around an unknown word to figure out its meaning.
Have you ever been reading a great story and suddenly hit a word that looks like a bunch of jumbled letters? What if you could use secret clues hidden right on the page to figure out exactly what that word means?
When you find a word you don't know, don't stop reading! You can be a Word Detective. To solve the mystery, you look at the context. Context is just a fancy name for the words and sentences that live near the mystery word. These neighbors often drop hints about what the mystery word means. These hints are called context clues. Just like a detective looks for footprints, you look for words that explain the 'vibe' or the action of the story.
Let's look at this sentence: 'The cake was scrumptious, and everyone wanted a second piece because it tasted so good.'
1. Find the mystery word: scrumptious. 2. Look at the neighbors: 'everyone wanted a second piece' and 'tasted so good.' 3. Solve the mystery: If people want more and it tastes good, scrumptious must mean delicious!
Quick Check
What do we call the words and sentences that surround a mystery word?
Answer
Context clues.
Not all clues look the same. Sometimes, a writer uses a synonym, which is a word that means the same thing. Other times, they might use an antonym, which is a word that means the opposite. For example, if a story says a character is sluggish instead of fast, you know sluggish means slow. You can also look for examples in the next sentence that show the word in action.
Read this: 'The cave was gloomy, unlike the bright and sunny meadow outside.'
1. Mystery word: gloomy. 2. Clue word: 'unlike' tells us a change is coming. 3. Opposite clue: 'bright and sunny.' 4. Solve: If it is the opposite of bright and sunny, gloomy must mean dark or dim.
Quick Check
If a sentence says a cat is 'enormous, not tiny,' what does enormous mean?
Answer
Very big or huge.
Once you think you've solved the mystery, you have to make sure it fits! This is the Plug-and-Check method. Take your new meaning and put it into the sentence where the mystery word was. If the sentence still makes sense and keeps the story moving, you've solved the case! If it sounds silly or confusing, you might need to go back and look for more clues.
Read this paragraph: 'Leo was cautious as he walked across the icy path. He moved very slowly and watched every step so he wouldn't slip.'
1. Mystery word: cautious. 2. Clues: 'moved very slowly' and 'watched every step.' 3. Guess: Maybe it means 'careful.' 4. Plug-and-Check: 'Leo was careful as he walked across the icy path.' 5. Result: It makes perfect sense!
In the sentence 'The puppy was exhausted after playing all day, so he fell fast asleep,' what does exhausted mean?
Which tool does a Word Detective use to see if their guess is right?
An antonym clue is a word that means the same thing as the mystery word.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, when you are reading your favorite book, try to find word you don't know and explain the context clues to a grown-up.
Practice Activity
Play 'Mystery Word' with a friend: Pick a simple word like 'cold,' replace it with a made-up word like 'zibble,' and see if they can guess what 'zibble' means using your clues!