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Using Context Clues to Work Out Unfamiliar Words — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 7 vocabulary worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 7 · English · Vocabulary

Using Context Clues to Work Out Unfamiliar Words — Answers

Part A: What kind of clue?

Context clues are hints in the nearby words. Signal words help: which means, is called (definition); or, also known as (synonym); but, unlike, although, however (contrast); such as, for example, including (example). Circle the type of clue.

1.The animal is nocturnal, which means it sleeps during the day and is active at night.
  1. Adefinition
  2. Bsynonym
  3. Cantonym or contrast
  4. Dexample

Answer: definition

The phrase which means introduces a definition.

2.The old bridge was precarious, or unsafe, after the flood.
  1. Adefinition
  2. Bsynonym
  3. Cantonym or contrast
  4. Dexample

Answer: synonym

Unsafe is a synonym set off by or.

3.Unlike his gregarious sister, who loved parties, Omar preferred to spend time alone.
  1. Adefinition
  2. Bsynonym
  3. Cantonym or contrast
  4. Dexample

Answer: antonym or contrast

Unlike signals a contrast: Omar likes being alone, so his sister must be the opposite, sociable.

4.She collected crustaceans, such as crabs, lobsters and shrimp.
  1. Adefinition
  2. Bsynonym
  3. Cantonym or contrast
  4. Dexample

Answer: example

Such as introduces examples that show what the word means.

5.The room was immaculate; there was not a speck of dust anywhere.
  1. Adefinition
  2. Bsynonym
  3. Cantonym or contrast
  4. Dexample

Answer: definition

The second half of the sentence explains what immaculate means: perfectly clean. A semicolon or dash often introduces a definition clue.

6.Although the first test was easy, the second was arduous.
  1. Adefinition
  2. Bsynonym
  3. Cantonym or contrast
  4. Dexample

Answer: antonym or contrast

Although signals a contrast with easy, so arduous means very difficult.

Part B: Now define them

7.Using the clue in Part A, what does gregarious mean?

Answer: Sociable; enjoying the company of other people.

8.Using the clue in Part A, what does precarious mean?

Answer: Unsafe or likely to fall or fail.

9.Using the clue in Part A, what does arduous mean?

Answer: Very difficult or requiring a lot of effort.

Part C: Clues in a passage

Read the passage and use context clues to work out the bold words.

The Night Market

Every Friday, the empty lot behind the station turns into a night market. By seven o'clock it is teeming with people, so crowded that you can barely squeeze between the stalls.

The food is the main attraction. One stall sells steaming dumplings; another sells skewers, thin sticks threaded with grilled meat and vegetables. Many of the dishes are pungent, with the strong smell of garlic, ginger and pepper drifting across the lot, but there is always a long line at the ice cream van for something milder.

When the stalls begin to pack up at ten, our family leaves reluctantly, dragging our feet and promising to come back next week.

(Passage written for this worksheet.)

10.What does teeming mean? Which words helped you?

Answer: Full of, crowded with. The clue is so crowded that you can barely squeeze between the stalls.

11.What are skewers? What type of clue did the writer give?

Answer: Thin sticks threaded with grilled meat and vegetables. It is a definition clue, set off by a comma after the word.

12.What does pungent mean? Which words helped?

Answer: Having a strong smell or taste. The example clues garlic, ginger and pepper, and the words strong smell, help.

13.What does reluctantly mean? Explain how the passage shows it.

Answer: Unwillingly, without wanting to. The family stays until the last stall closes, then leaves, which suggests they did not want to go.

14.Check one of your answers by substitution: rewrite the sentence containing teeming with your meaning in place of the word. Does it still make sense?

Answer: Model: By seven o'clock it is crowded with people. Yes, the sentence still makes sense, so the meaning is probably right.

Part D: Your turn

15.Your turn: choose three of these words: frugal, lethargic, ominous, ravenous, meticulous. Look up their meanings if you need to, then write a sentence for each that gives the reader a context clue. Use a different type of clue in each sentence and name the type.

Model answer: 1. After skipping lunch, Jai was ravenous, so hungry that he ate three sandwiches in a row. (definition) 2. My grandmother is frugal; unlike my brother, who spends every dollar he earns, she saves almost everything. (contrast) 3. She was meticulous about her model planes, checking every tiny part, painting each line with a fine brush and gluing nothing until it was perfect. (example)

Success criteria:

  • Three of the listed words used correctly
  • Each sentence contains a clear context clue
  • Three different clue types used and named
  • Complete, correctly punctuated sentences
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Marking tips

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