Same Reading › Word study and vocabulary › Context clues
What are context clues?
Context clues are hints in the sentence or paragraph that help explain a new word. In “The puppy was so drowsy that it fell asleep in my lap,” fell asleep tells you drowsy means sleepy. Kids learn to read around the word and make a smart guess.
- The unknown word: drowsy.
- The clue nearby: fell asleep.
- Common clues: a definition, an example, a synonym or an opposite.
Why schools teach it
It's how most new words get learned
Kids learn far more words from reading than from vocabulary lists. Using sentence-level context to work out a meaning starts in second grade (L.2.4a) and grows through the upper grades (L.4.4a).
This is different from guessing a word you can't sound out. Context clues are for words a child can read but doesn't know the meaning of.
At the kitchen table
What to say, and what to skip
Say this
What words around it give you a hint?
Is there an example, or an opposite?
Try your guess in the sentence. Does it make sense?
Let's check with a dictionary.
Confirming the guess builds trust in the strategy.
Skip this
- Using context to guess a word they can't read.Sound it out first. Context is for meaning.
Just skip that word.
Hard words are where vocabulary grows. Stop and figure them out.- Giving the meaning right away.Ask for their guess first.
See it in action
Figuring out “famished”
Read the whole sentence
“After the long hike, we were famished and ate two sandwiches each.”Find the clues
long hike · ate two sandwichesMake and test a guess
famished = very hungry
Sometimes the clue is in the next sentence. Reading on a little is part of the strategy.
Free practice sheet
Make a context clues sheet
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Fridge cheat sheets
Reading Fridge Cheat Sheets
Every reading method in one printable book (107 pages): a cheat sheet page like this guide, plus a practice sheet and its answer key for each, in Classic and handwritten Notebook styles. $9 one time, or all 7 subjects for $29.99. See all prices.
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Parents: tell your child's teacher about this guide
Parents also ask
What kinds of context clues are there?
Definitions, examples, synonyms (similar words) and antonyms (opposites) are the main ones.
What if there are no clues?
Not every sentence has them. Then a dictionary or asking is the right move.
Is this the same as guessing from the picture?
No. That's for decoding. Context clues are for meaning, after the word is read.
How can we practice?
When reading together, stop at one interesting word per page and ask what it might mean.