Determine the meaning of words using synonyms in context

Key Notes:

  • Definition: Synonyms are words that have similar meanings.
  • Examples: Happy and joyful, fast and quick.

  • Definition: Context clues are hints in the surrounding text that help you figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
  • How to Find Clues: Look at the words and sentences around the unfamiliar word.

  • Substitution: Replace the unfamiliar word with a synonym from the sentence to see if it makes sense.
  • Example: “The puppy was delighted with its new toy.” If “delighted” is unfamiliar, a synonym like “happy” can be used to understand its meaning.

  • Introduction: A thesaurus is a tool that lists synonyms and antonyms.
  • Practice: Encourage students to use a thesaurus to find synonyms for words they find difficult.

Let’s practice!