Name: _____________________________

Context Clues 3.1

Directions: read each sentence and determine the meaning of the word using cross sentence clues or your
prior knowledge. Then, explain what clues in the sentence helped you determine the word meaning.
1. Universal: im wanted to ask anet to the dance, !ut he felt it a universally acknowledged truth that
popular girls like her didn"t go with unpopular guys like him.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
&. Extraordinary: 'e(in may know how to layup a !asket!all, !ut my )ump shot is extraordinary.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
3. Establish: *(en though peace !etween the two formerly warring nations had !een established for
years now, the solider still woke cold from dreams of !attle.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
+. Scrupulous: , wanted to )ust set the ta!le and !e done with it, !ut my mother scrupulously arranged
each napkin, dish, and utensil until they were in perfect alignment.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
-. Consent: ake asked his mother for permission to go to his friend .odney"s dance party, stating that
his grades had impro(ed, and he was /uite pleased when she consented.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
0. Vexed: $hen ose found out that his little !rother *milio carelessly !roke ose"s 1!ox disc tray, ose
was vexed and sure let *milio know it.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
2. Tact: ane could ha(e easily offended 3ertha when she informed her that the dress did not fit her well,
!ut ane used tact and consideration when choosing her words, so 3ertha understood without !eing hurt.

#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
4. Emphatic: 5er parents really wanted her to attend the local uni(ersity, !ut 6hani/ua argued her case
so emphatically and with such great passion, that her parents ga(e 6hani/ua their consent
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
7. Amends: 8fter 3rian !roke #arcy"s heart this last time, he will ha(e to make some serious amends if
he e(er wants to win her !ack.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
19. Conjecture: 6tanley tried to determine the meaning of the (oca!ulary word, !ut there were so few
clues in the sentence all he could do was hopelessly conjecture as to what the word might mean.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
11. Ascertain: The clues in the sentence were so helpful, 6tanley was a!le to ascertain the meaning of
the word !eyond a shadow of a dou!t.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%
1&. Defer: 'yle really wanted to play !asket!all, !ut since it o(erlapped with the (olley!all season :and
since Carrie played (olley!all;, he would )ust ha(e to defer his hoop<dreams until next year, when his
relationship with her would !e secure.
#efinition: ___________________________________________________________________________
$hat clues in the sentence lead you to your definition%