Definition or Explanation Clues
Definition or explanation clues are words or phrases within a text that provide the meanings of unfamiliar words or concepts. These clues help readers understand the meaning of a word by providing a definition or an explanation within the context of the text.
Types of Definition or Explanation Clues
There are several types of definition or explanation clues that readers can look for:
- Direct Definition: The meaning of the word is provided directly in the sentence or in the surrounding sentences.
- Examples: Specific examples are given to help readers understand the meaning of the word or concept.
- Restatement: The meaning of the word is restated in simpler terms within the text.
- Comparison or Contrast: The word is compared or contrasted with another word or concept to provide its meaning.
Study Guide
- Read the entire sentence where the unfamiliar word appears, and look for words or phrases that provide a definition or explanation of the word.
- Identify any direct definitions, examples, restatements, or comparisons/contrasts that can help you understand the word's meaning.
- Pay attention to signal words such as "means," "refers to," "or," "like," "similar to," "unlike," etc., as they often indicate the presence of definition or explanation clues.
- Practice using context clues to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words by reading a variety of texts and looking for definition or explanation clues.
Understanding how to identify and use definition or explanation clues can greatly improve your reading comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
[Definition Or Explanation Clues] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:
.◂English Language Arts Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Context Clues
Study Guide
Context Clues 
Worksheet/Answer key
Context Clues Worksheet/Answer key
Context Clues Worksheet/Answer key
Context Clues Worksheet/Answer key
Context Clues Worksheet/Answer key
Context Clues Worksheet/Answer key
Context Clues Worksheet/Answer key
Context Clues Worksheet/Answer key
QAR Question-Answer Relationships
Worksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyThe resources above cover the following skills:
Language Standards
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on Grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. [L.6.4]
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.6.4a]
Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase (e.g., by checking the inferred meaning in context or in a dictionary). [L.6.4d]