Name: ____________________

Context Clues
Use context clues to figure out the meaning of the words
in bold.

1. When the farmer was out in the field, he noticed a

group of bigger birds picking at his chicken feed.
One grouse came right up to the farmer and pecked
at his boot. The farmer smiled as he put more seed
out for his chickens.

2. Rick sat at the table one morning looking at his small

breakfast. He felt so lazy, he didnt have the energy
to put margarine on his toast. Rick just ate his
toast plain. No jelly, no butter, no peanut butter and
no cream cheese.

3. Jim needed to be more punctual. His teachers told

him over and over again that he was always late. He
promised himself that he could start leaving earlier
to make it on time.

4. Last year, after playing with their trucks in the rain,

Wes and John forgot to clean up. In fact, they forgot
about their trucks for almost a whole year. They
went back to their trucks only to find that the
weather had corroded them. They ended up
throwing them away.

5. Mr. Portelli made all the students copy down the

words study for math test in their planners. Most
of his students went home and looked over their
math notes. One student, Jim, did not study. On the
day of the math test, Jim was perplexed.

6. Kates dad got fired from his job last week. His boss
told him that he wasnt doing his best. For the next
two months, Kates dad was unemployed. He spent
many hours each day looking for work.