Unlocking Word Meanings

Sometimes, you’ll see words you don’t know. The ISEE often asks what a word means in the context of a passage, so it’s important to use clues around the word.

Tips for Context Clues

• Look at the sentence before and after the word.
• Notice if the author gives a definition, synonym, or example.
• Replace the unknown word with a word that fits the sentence.

Why It’s Important

Understanding vocabulary in context helps you make sense of the passage, even if you don’t recognize every word!

Practice

Try reading a passage and circling unfamiliar words. Use the clues around them to guess their meanings before looking them up.