Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context

Learning Objectives Define the term 'synonym' and 'context clue'. Identify an unknown word in a sentence. Locate a synonym for an unknown word within the same sentence or a nearby sentence. Use an identified synonym to determine the meaning of an unknown word. Explain how a synonym clue helped them understand a new word. Write a sentence that uses a synonym as a context clue for another word. Have you ever noticed that some words are like secret twins, meaning almost the same thing? 🤔 Let's become word detectives and find them! In this lesson, you will learn how to find 'synonym clues' in sentences to figure out what new words mean. This is a super skill that will help you read bigger and more exciting books. Being a word detective makes...

TermDefinitionExample ContextThe other words and sentences around a new word that help you understand its meaning.In the sentence, 'The sun is very bright today,' the words 'sun' and 'today' are the context for the word 'bright'. Context ClueA hint the author gives in the story to help you figure out a new or tricky word.In 'The gigantic elephant was huge,' the word 'huge' is a context clue for 'gigantic'. SynonymA word that has the same or almost the same meaning as another word.A synonym for 'happy' is 'joyful'. A synonym for 'big' is 'large'. DetermineTo figure something out or decide on an answer.You can determine the meaning of a word by looking for clues. MeaningWhat a word...

The 'Or' Signal Unknown Word + 'or' + Synonym When you see a tricky word followed by the word 'or' and then another word, the second word is often a synonym that explains the first one. The word 'or' signals that the author is about to give you a clue. The Comma Clue Unknown Word, Synonym, Sometimes, a synonym is placed right after a new word and is separated by commas. Look for a word or a short phrase between two commas that renames or explains the word that came right before it. The Restatement Clue Sentence 1 with Unknown Word. Sentence 2 explains the idea with a Synonym. An author might use a whole new sentence to explain an idea from the first sentence. If the second sentence seems to repeat the idea using a simpler word,...