Context Clues and Multiple-Meaning Words

Read the following sentence. The class decided if they could pool all of the money they made from the fund-raisers, they could all go on the extended field trip to San Francisco.

Use context clues to find the correct definition of the multiple-meaning word pool as it is used in this sentence. to combine resources

Read the following two sentences. Millions of people had come from all corners of the country, far and near, to meet on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and to have their voices heard. Padma had never seen so many individuals congregate in one place.

Use context clues to find the definition for the word congregate as it is used in these sentences. to assemble or come together

Read the following sentence. Tyrone was not perfect, but one of his best traits was his willingness to listen to others and to help whenever it was possible.

Use context clues to find the definition for the word traits as it is used in this sentence. sides of someone's personality

Read the following two sentences. Their math teacher informed them that division problems would not be on the test. The class was happy to hear that these kinds of problems would be excluded.

Use the context clues to find the definition for the word excluded as it is used in these sentences. kept out

Read the following paragraph. Alexander was hopelessly lost. This new campus was 10 times bigger than his last school had been. He had no idea how to get back to his classroom. All the doors to all of the classrooms looked the same. Here he was staring down this endless corridor, hoping that someone would come along, so he could inquire where he needed to go.

Use the context clues to find the definition for the word inquire as it is used in this paragraph. to ask

Read the following two sentences. When Natalee saw the stray cat in the rain, her heart sank. The rain-soaked animal was a truly pathetic sight.

Use the context clues to find the definition for the word pathetic as it is used in these sentences. pitiful

Read the following two sentences. The splinter was buried deep inside her fingertip. To extract it, she would need to find a pair of tweezers and keep a level head.

Which of the following phrases provides a context clue for the definition of the word extract? was buried

Read the following paragraph. Hector's soccer team did not play well that afternoon. Time and again, they lost the ball to the other team. They could only watch helplessly as their opponents scored goal after goal, while Hector's team failed to score a single point. It seemed as though every attempt Hector and his teammates made to succeed was futile. Hector overheard one of the players telling an onlooker that this was the worst they had ever played. Hector knew it had been a bad game, but surely this was an exaggeration.

Which of the following phrases provides a context clue for the definition of the word futile? failed to score

Read the following sentence. More students voted for healthy lunch choices at school, making it clear that they were in the majority.

Which of the following phrases provides a context clue for the definition of the word majority? More students

Read the following sentence. Elena found the word problem confusing and difficult, so she asked her teacher if he could simplify it for her.

Which of the following words or phrases provides context clues for the definition of the word simplify? difficult