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5th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 4 of 17

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.”

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 5L4; 5R4 · 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 New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 4 of 17 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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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 “persistent” mean in this sentence?

    Kenji was persistent. Even after his kite crashed six times, he kept trying until it flew.

    • not giving up
    • easily bored
    • always late
    • very careless

  2. Question 2

    What does “elated” mean in this sentence?

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

    • sleepy
    • worried
    • very happy
    • confused

  3. Question 3

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

    Ravi loves citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and limes.

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

  4. Question 4

    What does “arid” mean in this sentence?

    Many desert animals, such as camels, lizards and fennec foxes, are adapted to arid climates.

    • very wet
    • very cold
    • very dry
    • very windy

  5. Question 5

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

    The bat flew out of the cave at dusk.

    • a small flying mammal
    • a stick for hitting a ball
    • to blink your eyes

  6. Question 6

    What does “scarce” mean in this sentence?

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

    • salty
    • everywhere
    • hard to find
    • very cold

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