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Context Clues Worksheets
When you encounter a vocabulary word with which you are unfamiliar, what do you do? Use the context clues to determine the word's meaning. In addition to the great context clues worksheets on this page, check out this free context clues game that I made. Students learn hundreds of challenging vocabulary words while playing a fun climbing game.
I used the context clues worksheets on this page to help my students in the classroom. I am sharing them with you in the hopes that they will help you as well. The words have been selected from texts recommended by Common Core. These context clues worksheets have been divided into three levels:
Context Clues Worksheets by Level
Level One
These are the easiest context clues worksheets. These worksheets were designed to help struggling students or students in lower grades. They were written to help students reading at a 3rd to 6th grade reading level. Be sure to preview all materials before using them in your classroom.
Context Clues Worksheet 1.1
This level one context clues worksheet covers 12 words that may be challenging for beginning readers. Students determine each words meaning based on context and then explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 1.2
This level one context clues worksheet features twelve more context clues problems for students with beginning reading skills.
Context Clues Worksheet 1.3
Here are twelve more level one vocabulary words used in context rich sentences. Students will determine the meaning of the word based on its use and explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 1.4
Here is another double-sided context clues worksheet. This one has twelve more level one vocabulary words. Remember, level one is the easiest. Check out level 2 or 3 if this worksheet is too easy.
Context Clues Worksheet 1.5
Here's another double-sided worksheet to give your students more practice with context clues. It features twelve level one vocabulary words. Students define the word based on how it was used in a sentence and then explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 1.6
Here is yet another context clues worksheet to help students master this essential reading skills. This worksheet has 12 level one vocabulary words. Students will determine the meaning of the bolded word in each sentence based on context. Then they will explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 1.7
This is the seventh level-one context clues worksheet. If you or your students can handle this task, perhaps it's time to move to level two. This worksheet features another 12 vocabulary words. Students read the sentences and figure out what the bold word means based on context. Then they explain their answers.
Level Two
These worksheets were designed for students with intermediate reading and vocabulary skills. They are written for students reading at a 5th to 8th grade reading level.
Context Clues Worksheet 2.1
Here's the first level two content clues worksheet. Level 2 worksheets contain vocabulary and use sentence structures that are more difficult than level 1 context clues worksheets. This worksheet features 12 tricky vocabulary words used in context-rich sentences. Students figure out the meaning of each word based on use, then they explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 2.2
Here are twelve more moderately difficult problems. Students read each sentence and determine the meaning of the bold vocabulary words by using cross sentence clues.
Context Clues Worksheet 2.3
Here is another level-two context clues worksheet. It contains twelve problems with context rich sentences. Students use the cross sentence clues to determine the meaning of the bolded word and explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 2.4
Here is another double-sided context clues worksheet. This one has twelve more level one vocabulary words. Remember, level one is the easiest. Check out level 2 or 3 if this worksheet is too easy.
Context Clues Worksheet 2.5
Here is another level-two context clues worksheet. It has twelve problems to help you or your students master this essential reading skill. Read the problems. Figure out what the bold vocabulary word means based on the context of the sentence and then explain.
Context Clues Worksheet 2.6
This is the sixth context clues worksheet in level two. As with the other context clues worksheets, it is double-sided and contains twelve problems. Students will determine the meaning of the bolded word in each sentence based on context. Then they will explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 2.7
Here is the final level-two context clues worksheet. If you or your students can complete this one, perhaps it is time to move to level three. This worksheet is double-sided and contains twelve problems.Students read the sentences and figure out what the bold word means based on context. Then they explain their answers.
Level Three
These are the most difficult context clues worksheets. These were designed for students with advance reading and vocabulary skills. These worksheets may be appropriate for students reading at an 8th to 12th grade level.
Context Clues Worksheet 3.1
Here's the first level-three content clues worksheet. This worksheet features twelve challenging problems where students figure out the bold word's meaning based on the context of the sentence. Students also demonstrate higher order thinking skills by explaining their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 3.2
Here's another level-three content clues worksheet. This worksheet features twelve more challenging problems where students use cross-sentence clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words. Then they explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 3.3
Here is yet another level three context clues worksheet. It has 12 challenging vocabulary words in context rich sentences. Students will determine the meaning of bold vocabulary words based on the context of each sentence. Then they will explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 3.4
Here is still another level-three context clues worksheet. Level-three vocabulary sheets are the most challenging. This worksheet features 12 more challenging vocabulary words used in context-rich sentences. Students will identify the meaning of the bolded vocabulary word based on the cross sentence clues and explain their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 3.5
Just in case you didn't have enough practice with context clues, here is another double-sided worksheet. There are some real head scratchers on this one, but the context rich sentences will help you determine the meanings of the bolded words.
Context Clues Worksheet 3.6
Here's the first level-three content clues worksheet. This worksheet features twelve challenging problems where students figure out the bold word's meaning based on the context of the sentence. Students also demonstrate higher order thinking skills by explaining their answers.
Context Clues Worksheet 3.7
This is the seventh level-three context clues worksheet. Students who correctly complete this have mastered the skill of using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words. You should probably start assigning them some other reading work. This worksheet has twelve challenging problems. Students figure out the bold word's meaning based on the context of the sentence. They also explain their answers.
What are Context Clues?
Context clues are hints in the sentence that help good readers figure out the meanings of unfamiliar words. When we look at the "context" of a word, we look at how it is being used. Based on how these words are used, and on our knowledge of the other words in the sentence, we make an educated prediction as to what the challenging vocabulary word may mean.
Example of Using Context Clues
Examine these lines from Lewis Carroll's poem, "Jabberwocky":
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!
The frumious Bandersnatch!
Jubjub, frumious, and Bandersnatch were NOT words before Carroll coined them. Yet readers are able to get meaning from them based on how the words are used. A reading of the whole poem is helpful way to introduce context clues to your students.
Free Context Clues Video Game
Context Clues Climber: Vocabulary Video Game
Are your students sick of vocabulary worksheets? Have them try this fun, high-interest computer game. Students climb to the tops of levels and answer over 500 vocabulary questions. They will be having so much fun, they won't even realize that they are studying vocabulary. Try it now!
Context Clues
Common Core State Standards
Context Clues Anchor Standards
R.4 - Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone.RI.K.4 - With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
RI.1.4 - Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.
RI.2.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area.
RI.3.4 - Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
RI.4.4 - Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
RI.5.4 - Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 5 topic or subject area.
RI.6.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
RI.7.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone.
RI.8.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.
RI.9-10.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text,including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).
RI.11-12.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term or terms over the course of a text (e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist No. 10).
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.4
L.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases by using context clues, analyzing meaningful word parts, and consulting general and specialized reference materials, as appropriate.
L.K.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.
L.1.4a - Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.2.4a - Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.3.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.4.4a - Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.5.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies
L.6.4a - Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.7.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.8.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.9-10.4a - Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.11-12.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 11–12 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.K.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.
L.1.4a - Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.2.4a - Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.3.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning word and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.4.4a - Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.5.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 5 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies
L.6.4a - Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence or paragraph; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.7.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.8.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
L.9-10.4a - Use context (e.g., the overall meaning of a sentence, paragraph, or text; a word's position or function in a sentence) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
L.11-12.4 - Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 11–12 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for L.4
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Victoria
/ January 8, 2026These are wonderful. Thank you! However, it seems that 2.1, question 1, needs some rewording because the statement reads that everyone wanted “garbage” pizza but Tim because he “detested” vegetables, so it doesn’t really make sense.
Shouldn’t it read like, “Everyone else at the party wanted garbage pizza, especially Tim, because he detested vegetables”?
Ale Gaun
/ May 1, 2025I’m a English language and literature English is our official language but it is the third or even fourth language in my country.
The exercises and the answers provided are very helpful to my students. Thank you very much.
mona anwar
/ April 28, 2024curtsey in a sentence with context clue
Rebecca
/ January 6, 2024Thank you for sharing your hard work and resources.
Carl Anthony Peterson
/ August 24, 2023Excellent worksheet/resources to use to help your young person build and increase their vocabulary. Thank you sharing!
Trevina Gima
/ August 21, 2023Coming from a country where english is our third or 4th language but its also our language of instruction
YOUR MATERIALS HERE ARE AWSOME
I REALLY THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE BEAUTIFUL MATERIALS
TREVINA GIMA
Juleby S. Reyes
/ May 31, 2023I would like to express my warmest gratitude for these worksheets. It helps us educators to intensify the skills of students in reading comprehension through context clues.
Thank you!
God Bless and More Power!
Ree
/ March 27, 2023thank you so much. These worksheets are helpful.
MGarcia
/ October 10, 2022These are life savers!!!! I am new to ELAR and these have helped so much. Especially the slides.
God Bless you.
Jessa
/ September 23, 2022you are very generous to have share this very helpful to me as
Unknown
/ June 10, 2022Thank you so much this helped me to practice for my literacy exam .. you are a real life saviour
ANGELITA MENDIGORIN AQUINO
/ February 1, 2022thank you very much… God bless !
Cecilia Tong
/ January 31, 2022Hi. Thank you so much for your eReading worksheets. My son is trying to improve his English and here in Asia there are not so many opportunities nor workbooks in the bookshops. Thank you