Expand vocabulary and master context clue strategies. This lesson covers SEA ELA Objectives from the Vocabulary Strand.
Completed Lesson 2.3? Review Punctuation →
Vocabulary-in-context questions in Section I reading passages. Word choice questions in Section II sentence completion. Rich vocabulary enhances composition scores in Section III. (SEA Framework Page 23-24)
Start by watching this video to learn context clues and word relationships. Take notes as you watch! 📝
Did you understand the video? Review the notes below before continuing! ✅
When you encounter an unfamiliar word, use these context clue strategies to figure out its meaning!
The text directly defines the word
Examples help explain the word
Opposite words reveal meaning
Use surrounding text to infer
Use this chart to identify different types of context clues in reading passages!
| Clue Type | Signal Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | is, means, refers to, called | A herbivore is an animal that eats plants. |
| Example | such as, for example, including | Citrus fruits, such as oranges and lemons, are rich in vitamin C. |
| Contrast | but, however, unlike, instead | Unlike her gregarious sister, Maria was quiet and shy. |
| Inference | (no signal words – use context) | The aroma of fresh bread filled the kitchen. Everyone’s mouth watered. |
Always read the ENTIRE sentence (and sometimes the next sentence) to find context clues. Don’t guess from just one word!
Understanding how words relate to each other helps you build a stronger vocabulary!
| Homophone Pair | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| there / their / they’re | place | possessive / they are | They’re going over there to get their books. |
| to / too / two | direction | also / number | I want to go too. That’s two tickets. |
| its / it’s | possessive | it is | The dog wagged its tail. It’s a sunny day. |
| your / you’re | possessive | you are | Your book is here. You’re doing great! |
| where / wear | place | to put on clothes | Where should I wear this? |
Break down unfamiliar words into parts to decode their meaning!
| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not, opposite | unhappy, unlock, unfair |
| re- | again, back | reread, return, rebuild |
| pre- | before | preview, pretest, preheat |
| dis- | not, opposite | disagree, disappear, dislike |
| mis- | wrong, badly | misunderstand, misbehave |
| Suffix | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -ful | full of | hopeful, careful, beautiful |
| -less | without | hopeless, careless, fearless |
| -er / -or | one who does | teacher, actor, worker |
| -tion / -sion | action, state | action, decision, celebration |
| -ly | in a manner | quickly, happily, carefully |
Don’t change the root word when adding suffixes! Example: happy + -ness = happiness (change y to i), NOT happyness.
Download our free vocabulary worksheets with answer keys! Get Worksheets →
Test your understanding! Select an answer for each question. 📚
Great job finishing Lesson 2.4! You’re building vocabulary for the SEA exam! 🎉
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