The following explanation is taken from Essential Strategies for Reading Comprehension by Debra Evans, Leaps and Bounds Publishing:
CONTEXT CLUES are the words around the word being defined.
The context may tell you:
- the definition of the word
- an ANTONYM or SYNONYM of the word
- what IT is
- what IT is NOT
- WHERE it is
- What it is USED FOR
- What it DOES
- What is DONE TO IT
- Associated or Related WORDS
Signal Words for Words in Context:
BEFORE OR AFTER THE WORD:
- IS, ARE, WERE
- MEANS
- OR
- CALLED
- REFERS TO
In the SENTENCE before or after the word:
- SYNONYMS
- ANTONYMS
STEPS to LOOK for CONTEXT CLUES:
- Identify the focus word you need to understand
- Look for the focus word in the text
- Highlight the sentence containing the word
- Look for signal words
- If necessary, highlight surrounding sentences
- Look for more signal words
- Use affixes for help if necessary
- Highlight