Use Nearby Words to Explain a Word
Infer one word’s meaning from an explicit context clue.
Supplied materials
- Original passage: “The art box was cluttered: loose paper, pencils, and scraps filled it with no clear places. Alia sorted each item into a small tray. Now the box was tidy.”
- Paper and pencil; spoken responses are welcome.
Learn the idea
A context clue is a nearby phrase that helps explain a word. Here the words after the colon describe cluttered: items fill the box with no clear places. Try a meaning in the sentence and see whether it fits those details. You can say “messy or not organized” without knowing the word beforehand.
The later word tidy gives another clue through contrast: sorting changes the box. A clue supports a meaning in this passage, not every possible use of a word. If the clues do not help enough, ask an adult for an explanation rather than guessing. After finding the meaning, reread to check that the whole passage still makes sense.
- Read or listen to the passage once.
- Point to the words that describe the box before sorting.
- Replace cluttered with “not organized” and reread.
- Explain how the trays and the word tidy support your meaning.
See the method in action
Cluttered means not organized here. The passage describes loose items with no clear places; sorting them into trays changes that condition.
Check your reasoning
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See the answer and explanation
not organized
The loose items with no clear places support not organized. The passage neither empties, locks, nor describes the material of the box.
Take it further
Change the passage to “The box was empty: it held no paper, pencils, or scraps.” Model: empty means holding nothing, supported by “held no.” The old cluttered meaning does not fit the changed detail.
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Check the subject sources
These LifeStarter passages, scenarios and exercises are authored for this Academy with AI assistance and review. External resources keep their publishers’ terms. A grade label suggests a starting level; it does not establish alignment with your school’s complete requirements.