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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.”

Maine Learning Results learning standard: Language 4 · using context to work out word meanings

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Read the sentence and the ones around it for clues.
  2. Clues can be a definition, a synonym, an opposite or an example.
  3. 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 Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, 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.

Source: Maine Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What does “scarce” mean in this sentence?

    Water is scarce in the desert, so plants there store every drop they can.

    • everywhere
    • salty
    • very cold
    • hard to find

  2. Question 2

    Which meaning of “pitcher” is used in this sentence?

    The pitcher threw the ball across home plate.

    • a baseball player who throws the ball
    • a jug for pouring drinks
    • a person who sets up a tent

  3. Question 3

    What does “devoured” mean in this sentence?

    The hungry hockey team devoured six pizzas in ten minutes, leaving only crumbs.

    • cooked slowly
    • threw away
    • ate quickly and completely
    • shared politely

  4. Question 4

    What kind of context clue helps you understand “lava”?

    Lava, melted rock that flows out of a volcano, glows orange and red.

    • definition (the meaning is explained)
    • antonym (an opposite is given)
    • examples (examples are listed)

  5. Question 5

    What does “elated” mean in this sentence?

    Priya was elated when she heard she had won the art contest; she jumped up and cheered.

    • confused
    • sleepy
    • worried
    • very happy

  6. Question 6

    What does “cautious” mean in this sentence?

    The cautious cyclist slowed down and looked both ways before crossing the busy street.

    • speedy
    • noisy
    • careful
    • forgetful

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