Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Three Types of
Worksheet Set
* Including Original Reading Passages
Six Worksheets
Three Pages of Quick Reviews
Answer Key
Explanations
Contrast
Examples
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Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name_________________________________ Date ___________________
Context Clues – Explanations
Example: Arthropods, creatures that have hard exoskeletons and bodies made of segments, are only one part of the animal kingdom. In this example, “creatures that have hard exoskeletons and bodies made of segments,” is a context clue. It gives an explanation of what the word arthropods means.
Directions: Use the context clues to choose the best words to fill in the blanks in the following
passage.
__(1)__, like Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, are long fiction stories made up of a number of chapters. A story like this usually has lots of __(2)__, the imaginary people who appear in the story. To name just a few in the first Harry Potter story, there were Harry himself, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Albus Dumbledore. This type of novel can be called a __(3)__ because the situations in the novel are not realistic ones that you would expect to see in everyday life.
Word Box pages novels text book titles actors characters strangers fantasy biography chapters pets magician school
1. _____________________ 2. ___________________ 3. _____________________
Directions: Complete each sentence with a context clue that explains the meaning of the
word in bold print. Use a dictionary if necessary, but complete the sentences in your own
words.
4. Milly’s favorite kind of cake was marble cake, a cake made of ___________________
_____________________________________________________________________.
5. Mike’s all-time favorite pet was a brown and white beagle, a __________________
______________________________________________________________________.
6. This week we are learning about the executive branch of government, the branch that
______________________________________________________________________.
7. Bert was trying to draw an illustration of a trilobite, a __________________________
_________________________________________________, for his science homework.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name_________________________________ Date ___________________
Context Clues – Examples
Example: Performing arts, such as singing, dancing, and comedy, can be learned and practiced just like other school subjects at our school. In this example, “such as singing, dancing, and comedy,” is a context clue. It gives examples of what performing arts means.
Directions: Use the context clues to choose the best words to fill in the blanks in the following
passage.
Let me tell you about a few of my favorite things. My favorite types of __(1)__ include short stories, personal essays, and narrative poems. My favorite musical __(2)__ are hip hop and instrumental jazz. As far as __(3)__ sports, I like football, baseball, and basketball.
Word Box art instruments individual outdoor competitive literature sentences songs styles
1. _____________________ 2. ___________________ 3. _____________________
Directions: Complete each sentence with a context clue that gives several examples of the
word in bold print. Use a dictionary or other reference source if necessary, but complete the
sentences in your own words.
4. I like to cook all kinds of pasta including _____________________________________
________________________________________________________________________.
5. Matthew’s favorite animals were reptiles such as _____________________________
________________________________________________________________________.
6. Hannah could often see several constellations, including _______________________
_____________________________________________________, when she looked up at the
sky on a clear night.
7. To create her new fashions, Nettie bought several types of fabric, ________________
_________________________________________________________________________ .
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name_________________________________ Date ___________________
Context Clues – Contrast
Example: Deciduous trees grow in the temperate forests. In the winter they look very different from the evergreen trees, which do not lose their leaves. In this example, “evergreen trees, which do not lose their leaves,” is a context clue. It tells us the opposite of deciduous trees.
Directions: Use the context clues to choose the best words to fill in the blanks in the following
passage.
This problem is a tough one. To find the answer, you will need to do the opposite of what you did in the last three problems. Instead of multiplying, you will need to __(1)__. Be sure to keep the correct sign in front of each number, too; one of them is a __(2)__ number, the opposite of the positive counting numbers that you have mostly been working with so far. Also, be sure to add the correct unit after the number that you write for your answer. This problem involves __(3)__ units of measurement, not the customary US measurement units.
Word Box negative positive add subtract multiply centimeter divide meter metric fraction measure
1. _____________________ 2. ___________________ 3. _____________________
Directions: Complete each sentence with a context clue that tells the opposite of the word in
bold print. Use a dictionary or thesaurus if necessary, but complete the sentences in your own
words.
4. Mark wrote in a neat cursive handwriting, the opposite of __________________________.
5. Seth was ecstatic when he heard the news. His brother felt just the opposite; he felt
____________________________________________________________________________.
6. Adrianna completed her homework expeditiously. On the other hand, _______________
____________________________________________________________________________.
7. John’s truck was so old that it had special, antique license plates, just the opposite of ____
____________________________________________________________________________.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name ___________________________________ Date ______________________
Context Clues 1
Directions: Use the context clues in each sentence to define the words in bold print.
Highlight the context clues that helped you to understand the meanings of the words.
1. The lead that Jim bought for his mechanical pencil was 0.5 millimeters, which are very
small units of length in the metric system.
a) Metric units of length used to measure small objects
b) A popular brand name of mechanical pencils
c) Erasable pencil lead that comes in a variety of colors
d) Too big
2. Joanie loved all types of needlecrafts, including knitting, quilting, and sewing clothing.
a) Very easy crafts
b) Popular clothing that is made from a printed pattern
c) Crafts that are made using some type of needle
d) Easy crafts that do not involve any sewing
3. Radio, TV, the Internet, and newspapers can all reach huge audiences, and they are all
examples of mass media.
a) Media technologies for a large audience
b) Wireless media technologies
c) Technologies intended for individual use
d) Media that is broadcast on the airwaves
4. Mary was an extrovert, just the opposite of her older brother who was shy and quiet.
Extrovert means __________________________________________________________.
5. We headed for the basement when we felt the high winds and saw the funnel cloud
that told us a tornado was headed our way.
Tornado means __________________________________________________________.
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name ___________________________________ Date ______________________
Context Clues 2
Directions: Use the context clues in each sentence to define the words in bold print.
Highlight the context clues that helped you to understand the meanings of the words.
1. In the historic town, she walked on cobblestone streets, ancient streets paved with
rounded stones.
a) Narrow
b) Paved with stone
c) Busy
d) Made for horses and carriages
2. In science class, each team was responsible for their triple beam balance, which was
the instrument that they used to measure the mass of their objects.
a) A tool for measuring mass
b) A unit of length in the metric system
c) A small amount of weight
d) A collection of objects
3. Polygons include triangles, squares, hexagons, octagons, and other closed figures.
a) Closed figure with three or more straight sides
b) Four-sided figure
c) Three-dimensional closed figure with at least three sides
d) Figure with straight or curves sides
4. Please return all of the flatware, including the knives, forks, teaspoons, and serving
spoons, to the drawer.
a) Tableware including plates, knives, forks, and spoons
b) Utensils for serving and eating food
c) Utensils used for writing and drawing
d) Decorative table accessories
5. Use the context clues in the riddle to figure out the answer. _________________________
I I am made of soap. I am round. I can float.
I reflect colors in the sunlight.
What am I?
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name ___________________________________ Date ______________________
Context Clues 3
Directions:
Use the context clues in each sentence to define the words in bold print.
Highlight the context clues that helped you to understand the meanings of the words.
Then, tell which type of context clues each one is: explanation, examples, or contrast.
Jerry tried to memorize all eight parts of speech – nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs . . .
1. Parts of speech means – a) Difficult words b) The different kinds of words that make
up a language c) Words that are especially hard to spell d) Words with parts added to the
beginning or the end, or both
2. The type of context clue in this sentence is –
a) Explanation b) Examples c) Contrast
One thing that Terry learned in civics class was that he was glad he lived in a democracy, a
country that had a government in which people could vote for their leaders.
3. Democracy means – a) A country in which people vote b) A country ruled by a king or queen c) A fair country d) A country in which people had many
opportunities
4. The type of context clue in this sentence is –
a) Explanation b) Examples c) Contrast
Russ was good at math operations, such as multiplying or subtracting, but he still had difficulty
solving word problems.
5. In this sentence, operations means – a) Procedures in a hospital b) Word problems c) Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and
dividing d) Military maneuvers
6. The type of context clue in this sentence is – a) Explanation b) Examples c) Contrast
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name ______________________________ Review 1 Directions: Use context clues to choose the correct word to fill in the blank. Identify the type of context clue, and then underline the context clues in the passage.
Belle collected _____. She had samples of many different types including marble, quartz, slate, and even coal.
Name ______________________________ Review 2 Directions: Use context clues to choose the correct word to fill in the blank. Identify the type of context clue, and then underline the context clues in the passage.
This time, Marco wanted a dirt bike that would go _____. He had no interest in another slow one.
The correct word to fill in the blank is:
a) insects
b) rocks
c) chemicals
d) tiles
This type of context clue is:
a) Explanation
b) Examples
c) Contrast
The correct word to fill in the blank is:
a) backwards
b) forwards
c) fast
d) slower
This type of context clue is:
a) Explanation
b) Examples
c) Contrast
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name ______________________________ Review 3 Directions: Use context clues to choose the correct word to fill in the blank. Identify the type of context clue, and then underline the context clues in the passage.
Only one of Aaron’s _____ was cancelled today. He still had to go to math, science, English, and PE.
Name ______________________________ Review 4 Directions: Use context clues to choose the correct word to fill in the blank. Identify the type of context clue, and then underline the context clues in the passage.
The instructions said to draw two _____ lines, lines that are side by side and the same distance apart at all points along the lines.
The correct word to fill in the blank is:
a) text books
b) activities
c) classes
d) sports
This type of context clue is:
a) Explanation
b) Examples
c) Contrast
The correct word to fill in the blank is:
a) thin
b) parallel
c) green
d) perpendicular
This type of context clue is:
a) Explanation
b) Examples
c) Contrast
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Name ______________________________ Review 5 Directions: Use context clues to choose the correct word to fill in the blank. Identify the type of context clue, and then underline the context clues in the passage.
Sheila was late because she had made a wrong turn and was traveling in the opposite direction from the way she should have been going. She had taken the exit for Route 66 _____ instead of Route 66 West.
Name ______________________________ Review 6 Directions: Use context clues to choose the correct word to fill in the blank. Identify the type of context clue, and then underline the context clues in the passage.
When he was studying poetry, Adam learned about _____, figures of speech that compare two unlike things by using the word like or the word as.
The correct word to fill in the blank is:
a) North
b) South
c) East
d) West
This type of context clue is:
a) Explanation
b) Examples
c) Contrast
The correct word to fill in the blank is:
a) similes
b) rhyme
c) characterization
d) adjectives
This type of context clue is:
a) Explanation
b) Examples
c) Contrast
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
Answer Key
Context Clues – Explanations
1. Novels
2. Characters
3. Fantasy
Answers to 4-7 will vary. Possible answers are listed below.
4. Chocolate cake and yellow cake swirled together
5. Small hound dog
6. The branch of government that passes laws
7. A small extinct sea creature
Context Clues – Examples
1. literature
2. styles
3. competitive
Answers to 4-7 will vary. Possible answers are listed below.
4. spaghetti, ravioli, and baked ziti
5. snakes, lizards, and crocodiles
6. Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Sagittarius
7. including denim, silk, and jersey knit
Context Clues – Contrast
1. Divide
2. Negative
3. Metric
Answers to 4-7 will vary. Possible answers are listed below.
4. Print, or manuscript
5. Sad, miserable, etc.
6. Her brother completed his very slowly
7. Jake’s, which was brand new
Context Clues 1
1. A
2. C
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
3. A
4. An outgoing person
5. A violent storm with a funnel cloud
Context Clues 2
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. Soap bubbles
Context Clues 3
1. B
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. C
6. B
Quick Reviews
1. B, B
2. C, C
3. C, B
4. B, A
5. C, C
6. A, A
Copyright © 2012 Sharon Fabian
More Classroom Materials from Classroom in the Middle
PowerPoint Presentations
Worksheet Sets
Smartboard Activities
Question Card Sets
Task Card Sets
Topics Include:
The Writing Process
Figurative Language
Vocabulary
Using Context Clues
Multiple Meaning Words
Analogies
Story Starters
Puzzles
And more
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