Word StudyWord Study

SPI 0601.1.15 multi-meaning wordsSPI 0601.1.16 meaning of unfamiliar wordsSPI 0601.1.17 Use dictionaries, thesauruses, electronic sources, and glossaries as aids in determining the meaning of unfamiliar words.SPI 0601.1.20 Use knowledge of root words, affixes, syllabication, and/or spelling patterns as aids in determining meaning within context.

Part 1Part 1Context CluesContext Clues

When you see an unfamiliar When you see an unfamiliar word try these steps. word try these steps.

Try to figure the meaning of the Try to figure the meaning of the word by using context clues. By word by using context clues. By using other words and sentences using other words and sentences near the unfamiliar word, along with near the unfamiliar word, along with your knowledge of the topic, you can your knowledge of the topic, you can get a good idea of what the new get a good idea of what the new word means. word means.

Definition Context Clue Definition Context Clue

an explanation for an unknown word an explanation for an unknown word is given is given

Example Example When Sara was sick, her voice was When Sara was sick, her voice was almost almost inaudibleinaudible. We couldn't hear . We couldn't hear what she was trying to say clearly. what she was trying to say clearly.

Repeat Context Clue Repeat Context Clue

synonym synonym

Example Example You can trust the salesmen at that You can trust the salesmen at that store because they always conduct store because they always conduct business in an business in an aboveboardaboveboard manner. manner.

Contrast Context Clue Contrast Context Clue

antonym antonym

ExampleExampleI thought the painting of the waves I thought the painting of the waves crashing into the shore was very crashing into the shore was very picturesquepicturesque, but I thought the one , but I thought the one next to it was quite ugly. next to it was quite ugly.

Association or General Association or General Sense Context Clue Sense Context Clue

lets the reader puzzle out a word lets the reader puzzle out a word meaning from whatever meaning from whatever information is available information is available

ExampleExampleAfter the harvest, we had an After the harvest, we had an abundantabundant amount of apples. We amount of apples. We made apple pie, apple sauce, and made apple pie, apple sauce, and apple juice because we had so apple juice because we had so many apples! many apples!

Specific Examples Specific Examples Context Clue Context Clue

Using examples or illustrations, Using examples or illustrations, an author tries to show what a an author tries to show what a word means. A writer may give word means. A writer may give just one example or several.. just one example or several.. Signals for examples include: Signals for examples include:

such as such as including including consists of consists of colons (:) colons (:) dashes (-) dashes (-)

Specific Examples Specific Examples Context Clue (examples)Context Clue (examples)

ProjectilesProjectiles include those items that are include those items that are shot forward such as a cannon shell, bullet, shot forward such as a cannon shell, bullet, or rocket.or rocket.

   A A sleuthsleuth, such as Sherlock Holmes, can be , such as Sherlock Holmes, can be

very helpful in solving crimes.very helpful in solving crimes.

Zack was a good at many sports. He Zack was a good at many sports. He excelled in swimming, running, excelled in swimming, running, horsemanship, fencing, and target shooting. horsemanship, fencing, and target shooting. He decided to compete in the He decided to compete in the pentathlonpentathlon rather than having to choose one of the rather than having to choose one of the events.events.

PracticePractice Context Clues Context Clues

http://www.tlsbooks.com/contextclues.pdfhttp://www.tlsbooks.com/contextclues.pdf Direct Definition Context Clues Direct Definition Context Clues

http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elemehttp://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/ccdirect.htmntary/samoset/ccdirect.htm

Using Context Clues Using Context Clues http://www.internet4classrooms.com/assehttp://www.internet4classrooms.com/assessment_assistance/assessment_preparatiossment_assistance/assessment_preparation_language_arts_context_clues.htmn_language_arts_context_clues.htm

Part 2Part 2Break the word apart. Break the word apart. See if the word contains See if the word contains

prefixes or suffixes.prefixes or suffixes.

PrefixesPrefixes

A prefix is a group of letters added A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change to the beginning of a word to change the meaning of the word (known as the meaning of the word (known as the root word). the root word).

 

PrefixPrefix MeaningMeaning ExamplesExamples

dis-dis- opposite of, apart, opposite of, apart, away, not away, not

disagreedisagreediscontinuediscontinue

en-en- cause to be, put in cause to be, put in or onor on

enclose, enforce, enclose, enforce, entangleentangle

mis-mis- wrongwrong misspell, misdeedmisspell, misdeed

pre-pre-before: in place, in before: in place, in time, in rank, in time, in rank, in orderorder

preview, precookpreview, precook

re-re- again, backagain, back return, redoreturn, redo

sub-sub- under, beneathunder, beneath substandardsubstandard

un-un- not, in reversenot, in reverse unhurt, unafraidunhurt, unafraid

 

What does this mean?What does this mean?

disappeardisappear

opposite of appearopposite of appear

Since Since appearappear means to means to come into view, this come into view, this

disappeardisappear must mean the must mean the opposite of come into view opposite of come into view

or to vanish.or to vanish.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

enrageenrage

cause to be in a ragecause to be in a rage

Since Since ragerage means anger, then means anger, then enrage enrage must mean to cause must mean to cause

anger.anger.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

miscalculatemiscalculate

wrong calculationwrong calculation

Since Since calculationcalculation means sum means sum up, then up, then miscalculationmiscalculation

must mean to sum up must mean to sum up incorrectly or make a incorrectly or make a

mistake.mistake.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

hopefulhopeful

full of hopefull of hope

Since Since hopehope means wish, then means wish, then hopefulhopeful must mean full of must mean full of wishing or looking forward wishing or looking forward

to.to.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

prepayprepay

pay beforepay before

Since Since paypay means give money means give money for an item, then for an item, then prepayprepay must mean to pay money must mean to pay money

before being given an item.before being given an item.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

retieretie

tie againtie again

Since Since tietie means to knot, then means to knot, then retieretie must mean to knot must mean to knot

again.again.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

submarinesubmarine

under oceanunder ocean

Since Since marinemarine means of the means of the ocean, then ocean, then submarinesubmarine must must

mean under the ocean.mean under the ocean.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

unrealunreal

not realnot real

Since Since realreal means genuine, means genuine, then then unrealunreal must mean not must mean not

real or fake.real or fake.

OrganizerOrganizer

Glue Glue Prefix OrganizerPrefix Organizer in your in your notebook.notebook.

 

 

 

SuffixSuffix MeaningMeaning ExamplesExamples

-ment-ment action or processaction or process movement, movement, bewildermentbewilderment

-ness-ness state of, condition of state of, condition of ruthlessnessruthlessness

-able -ible-able -ible can be donecan be done capable, visiblecapable, visible

-ful-ful full of, having some or full of, having some or muchmuch usefuluseful

-or    -er    -ar-or    -er    -ara person connected a person connected with (changes verb to with (changes verb to noun)noun)

actor, runneractor, runner

-ous -eous -ious-ous -eous -ious possessing the quality possessing the quality ofof courteous, deliciouscourteous, delicious

What does this mean?What does this mean?

governmentgovernment

process of governingprocess of governing

Since Since governgovern means to rule, means to rule, then then governmentgovernment must must

mean the process of ruling – mean the process of ruling – authority, leadership, or authority, leadership, or

supervision.supervision.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

kindnesskindness

state of being kindstate of being kind

Since Since kindkind means to caring, means to caring, then then kindnesskindness must mean must mean the state of being kind or the state of being kind or

compassion.compassion.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

comfortablecomfortable

can be of comfortcan be of comfort

Since Since comfortcomfort means to means to coziness, then coziness, then comfortablecomfortable must mean can be of comfort must mean can be of comfort

or cozy and restful.or cozy and restful.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

joyfuljoyful

full of joyfull of joy

Since Since joyjoy means to happy, means to happy, then then joyfuljoyful must mean full of must mean full of

happiness or jubilant.happiness or jubilant.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

beggarbeggar

a person connected with a person connected with beggingbegging

Since Since begbeg means to plead, means to plead, then then beggarbeggar must mean a must mean a

person who pleads.person who pleads.

What does this mean?What does this mean?

religiousreligious

Possessing the quality of Possessing the quality of religionreligion

Since Since religionreligion means to faith means to faith or belief, then or belief, then religiousreligious

must a person who possesses must a person who possesses the quality of faith or belief the quality of faith or belief

or spiritual.or spiritual.

PracticePractice

http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/writing/flash/bold.swfwriting/flash/bold.swf

OrganizerOrganizer

Glue Glue Suffix OrganizerSuffix Organizer in your in your notebook.notebook.

Part 3Part 3ResourcesResources

When using context clues or breaking When using context clues or breaking the word apart does not help you the word apart does not help you figure out its meaning, then try one figure out its meaning, then try one of these resources.of these resources. DictionaryDictionary ThesaurusThesaurus Electronic SourceElectronic Source GlossaryGlossary

dictionary dictionary

  a reference book composed of an a reference book composed of an alphabetical listing of words with alphabetical listing of words with their meanings their meanings

thesaurus thesaurus

  a book that lists words grouped a book that lists words grouped together according to similarity of together according to similarity of meaning (containing synonyms and meaning (containing synonyms and sometimes antonyms) sometimes antonyms)

electronic source electronic source

information stored in electronic information stored in electronic format: over the Internet (WWW), on format: over the Internet (WWW), on CD-ROM or computer disk and CD-ROM or computer disk and accessed directly or via accessed directly or via telecommunications telecommunications

glossary glossary

an alphabetical list of technical an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of terms in some specialized field of knowledge; usually published as an knowledge; usually published as an appendix to a text on that field appendix to a text on that field

Be Bold (Context Clues and Be Bold (Context Clues and Dictionary) Dictionary) http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/writing/flash/bold.swfwriting/flash/bold.swf

Never Fear (Thesaurus on MS Word) Never Fear (Thesaurus on MS Word) http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/http://leadingfamilies.com/learning/writing/flash/never_fear.swfwriting/flash/never_fear.swf

PracticePractice

Dictionary Skills ReviewDictionary Skills Review http://www.tlsbooks.com/dictionaryshttp://www.tlsbooks.com/dictionarys

killsreview.pdfkillsreview.pdf

Sample Test QuestionsSample Test Questions