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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.”

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 5.1.8.2 · working out academic and technical words

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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, 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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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

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

    Lena's grandmother knitted a scarf from soft blue yarn.

    • a long, made-up story
    • thread used for knitting
    • a sailor's knot

  2. Question 2

    What does “spacious” mean in this sentence?

    The new apartment was spacious, with plenty of room for a piano and two bookcases.

    • having lots of room
    • very old
    • very crowded
    • close to school

  3. Question 3

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

    We sat on the bank of the river to watch the ducks.

    • to tilt while turning
    • a place that keeps money
    • the land along the side of a river

  4. Question 4

    What does “conceal” mean in this sentence?

    Zoe tried to conceal the surprise gift by hiding it under a pile of towels.

    • hide
    • open
    • wrap
    • buy

  5. Question 5

    What does “nocturnal” mean in this sentence?

    Owls are nocturnal animals; they sleep during the day and hunt at night.

    • eating only plants
    • active at night
    • living in water
    • active in winter

  6. Question 6

    What does “transparent” mean in this sentence?

    The window was so transparent that the bird thought it was open sky.

    • clear enough to see through
    • very thick
    • painted blue
    • covered in dirt

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