Types of Context Clues

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What are context clues?

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Context clues are hints or information in a text that help readers understand the meaning of unfamiliar words.

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What is a definition context clue?

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A definition context clue explains the meaning of a word directly in the sentence.

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Example of a definition context clue.

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"His animosity, or hatred, of his sister divided the family." Here, 'animosity' is defined as 'hatred'.

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What is a synonym context clue?

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A synonym context clue provides a word with a similar meaning to help understand the unfamiliar word.

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Example of a synonym context clue.

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"She was happy, or joyful, about her birthday surprise." Here, 'joyful' is a synonym for 'happy'.

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What is an antonym context clue?

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An antonym context clue provides a word with an opposite meaning to help understand the unfamiliar word.

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Example of an antonym context clue.

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"She was virtuous, but her brother was evil." Here, 'evil' is an antonym of 'virtuous'.

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What is an explanation context clue?

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An explanation context clue provides additional information or details that clarify the meaning of a word.

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Example of an explanation context clue.

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"The manager wanted a weekly inspection, which is a methodical examination of all the equipment." Here, 'inspection' is explained.

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What is a list of examples context clue?

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A list of examples context clue provides specific instances that illustrate the meaning of a word.