5th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 4 of 11
Context Clues
Crack the meaning of new words
What your child practices
Using the words around an unfamiliar word to figure out what it means, naming the type of clue, and choosing the right meaning of words like “bat” or “bank.”
Alabama Course of Study content standard: 5.3; 5.R2 · using context to work out word meanings
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- Read the sentence and the ones around it for clues.
- Clues can be a definition, a synonym, an opposite or an example.
- For words with more than one meaning, like bat or bank, pick the meaning that fits the sentence.
Example: “The window was transparent, so we could see the whole garden.” What does “transparent” mean? The clue: we could see through it to the garden. So it lets light and sight pass through. Answer: clear enough to see through
Context Clues in Alabama
In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 4 of 11 in 5th grade English Language Arts, after Purpose and Structure and before Greek and Latin Roots.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What kind of context clue helps you understand “cluttered”?
Ana's room was always tidy, but her brother's room was cluttered.
- definition (the meaning is explained)
- antonym (an opposite is given)
- examples (examples are listed)
antonym (an opposite is given)
Hint: “But” signals a contrast. Cluttered is the opposite of tidy.
Question 2
What does “vibrant” mean in this sentence?
The garden was full of vibrant flowers in bright reds, oranges and purples.
- tiny
- dull and faded
- dried up
- bright and full of life
bright and full of life
Hint: The sentence describes the colors as bright. What does that tell you?
Question 3
What does “persistent” mean in this sentence?
Kenji was persistent. Even after his kite crashed six times, he kept trying until it flew.
- very careless
- not giving up
- easily bored
- always late
not giving up
Hint: He kept trying after six crashes. What kind of person does that?
Question 4
What does “transparent” mean in this sentence?
The window was so transparent that the bird thought it was open sky.
- covered in dirt
- very thick
- painted blue
- clear enough to see through
clear enough to see through
Hint: The bird could see the sky through the window. What does that tell you about the glass?
Question 5
What does “devoured” mean in this sentence?
The hungry hockey team devoured six pizzas in ten minutes, leaving only crumbs.
- threw away
- cooked slowly
- shared politely
- ate quickly and completely
ate quickly and completely
Hint: Six pizzas in ten minutes, with only crumbs left. How did they eat?
Question 6
Which meaning of “bat” is used in this sentence?
The bat flew out of the cave at dusk.
- a stick for hitting a ball
- to blink your eyes
- a small flying mammal
a small flying mammal
Hint: “bat” has more than one meaning. Read the whole sentence, then try each meaning in its place.