Context Clues Worksheets
Work out the meaning of new words from the sentences around them.
Worksheets
Detective work with words
Good readers do not run to a dictionary every time they meet a new word. They look at the sentence around it, and sometimes at the sentences before and after, for clues. A writer might give a definition (“a hamlet, which is a very small village”), an example, a synonym, an antonym (“unlike his gloomy brother, Ravi was jubilant”) or a general feeling from the situation.
Teaching children to use context clues builds vocabulary faster than memorising lists, and the skill transfers to every subject. Ask them to cover the new word, guess a replacement and check whether the sentence still makes sense.
Questions parents ask
How do I help my child with context clues?
Practise with short passages, ask 'how do you know?' after each answer, and have them point to the evidence in the text.
Which grades is this for?
Mostly Grade 2 to Grade 5, though stronger readers can try harder sheets and others can use easier ones.
