Context Clues Worksheets, Multiple Choice With Answers

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Made at homeroomtools.comRead each sentence. Circle the word that fits.1.2.3.4.5.6.Context clues: circle the meaningThe train will depart, or leave, at noon. Depart means.leavewaitarriveThe coin was not a fake; it was genuine gold. Genuine means.heavyrealshinyThe river runs through a canyon, a deep valley with steep rock sides.Canyon means.a high hilla flat fielda deep valleyPick a beverage, such as milk, juice or water. Beverage means.a desserta snacka drinkThe lid is transparent, so clear that you can see through it. Transparentmeans.see-throughheavyunbreakableThe field was arid: no rain had fallen for months. Arid means.crowdeddrymuddy
Made at homeroomtools.comRead each sentence. Circle the word that fits.1.2.3.4.5.6.Context clues: circle the meaningAnswer keyThe train will depart, or leave, at noon. Depart means.leavewaitarriveThe coin was not a fake; it was genuine gold. Genuine means.heavyrealshinyThe river runs through a canyon, a deep valley with steep rock sides.Canyon means.a high hilla flat fielda deep valleyPick a beverage, such as milk, juice or water. Beverage means.a desserta snacka drinkThe lid is transparent, so clear that you can see through it. Transparentmeans.see-throughheavyunbreakableThe field was arid: no rain had fallen for months. Arid means.crowdeddrymuddyleavereala deep valleya drinksee-throughdry
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All 187 questions

The passage says the meaning 95

  • A blizzard, a heavy snowstorm with strong wind, closed the roads. Blizzard means ___. a flood, a heat wave, a snowstorm
  • A guide will assist you, helping you find each room. Assist means ___. follow, help, stop
  • A hawk is a predator, an animal that hunts other animals for food. Predator means ___. an animal that hides, an animal that hunts, an animal that sleeps
  • A pond is the frog's habitat, the natural place where it lives. Habitat means ___. favorite food, loud call, natural home
  • A swift runner, the quickest in our class, won the race. Swift means ___. new, quick, tall
  • After the long hike we were weary, or very tired. Weary means ___. very hungry, very lost, very tired
  • The ancient bridge is very old; it stood here before the town did. Ancient means ___. brand new, very old, very wide
  • The aroma, or pleasant smell, of bread filled the kitchen. Aroma means ___. a loud sound, a pleasant smell, a warm feeling
  • The balloon will expand, growing larger as you blow. Expand means ___. get bigger, get colder, get louder
  • The barren hill had no trees, grass or flowers at all. Barren means ___. without plants, without rocks, without wind
Show all 187 questions (177 more)

The passage says the meaning, continued

  • Bats come out at dusk, the time just before night falls. Dusk means ___. early morning, just after lunch, just before dark
  • Be cautious on the ice: walk slowly and take care. Cautious means ___. careful, loud, quick
  • Bears hibernate, sleeping through most of the winter. Hibernate means ___. hunt at night, sleep through winter, swim upstream
  • Berries were abundant, with plenty for everyone. Abundant means ___. hidden, plentiful, sour
  • Boats rest in the harbor, a sheltered place along the shore. Harbor means ___. a deep part of the sea, a safe place for boats, a store for sails
  • The bread fell in the pond and came out soggy, wet all the way through. Soggy means ___. very dry, very sweet, very wet
  • Can you predict, or say ahead of time, who will win? Predict means ___. keep a secret, remember the past, say what will happen
  • Combine the flour and eggs, mixing them together in one bowl. Combine means ___. cut apart, mix together, pour out
  • Cows graze in the pasture, a field of grass for animals. Pasture means ___. a deep pond, a grassy field, a small barn
  • Dad was furious, so angry that he could not speak. Furious means ___. very angry, very proud, very tired
  • Dad will repair the fence, fixing each broken board. Repair means ___. climb, fix, sell
  • The desert is vast, stretching farther than we could see. Vast means ___. very big, very cold, very wet
  • Do not mumble; when you speak quietly and unclearly, no one can follow. Mumble means ___. laugh hard, sing loudly, speak unclearly
  • During the drought, a long time with no rain, the creek dried up. Drought means ___. a big rain storm, a cold winter, a long dry spell
  • Eagles soar, flying high above the cliffs. Soar means ___. dive deep, fly high, run fast
  • Examine the leaf, looking closely at every vein. Examine means ___. fold in half, look at closely, throw away
  • The fair is annual; it comes once every year. Annual means ___. free, outdoor, yearly
  • Feeding the hens is my chore, a small job I do each day. Chore means ___. a fun game, a new pet, a regular job
  • The flexible straw bends easily without breaking. Flexible means ___. able to bend, able to float, able to melt
  • The fog will vanish, disappearing as the sun warms the valley. Vanish means ___. disappear, freeze, thicken
  • The fragrant roses filled the room with a sweet smell. Fragrant means ___. brightly colored, freshly cut, sweet-smelling
  • Geese migrate, traveling south each fall and north each spring. Migrate means ___. build large nests, move with the seasons, sleep all winter
  • Give precise, or exact, measurements for the shelf. Precise means ___. exact, large, rough
  • Grandma was delighted, very pleased to see us. Delighted means ___. very pleased, very sleepy, very worried
  • The hallway was dim, with too little light to read the signs. Dim means ___. not bright, not clean, not quiet
  • He likes to boast, talking too proudly about his wins. Boast means ___. apologize, brag, whisper
  • The hungry pups devour their food, eating it all in seconds. Devour means ___. eat quickly, look at, push away
  • I sent a note and hoped she would reply, or answer, soon. Reply means ___. answer, forget, visit
  • I tried to persuade my brother, giving him good reasons to come along. Persuade means ___. chase, convince, thank
  • The idea of a fish riding a bike is absurd, or very silly. Absurd means ___. very old, very silly, very smart
  • It was an ordinary day, the usual kind with nothing special. Ordinary means ___. exciting, rainy, usual
  • The joke made Grandpa chuckle, a quiet little laugh. Chuckle means ___. cough loudly, laugh quietly, sigh sadly
  • The jungle air was humid, heavy with moisture. Humid means ___. dusty, icy, moist
  • The lake air was frigid, so cold that the puddles froze. Frigid means ___. very cold, very dry, very hot
  • Leaves conceal the nest, hiding it from the hawks. Conceal means ___. build, hide, shake
  • Let me demonstrate, or show you, how the pump works. Demonstrate means ___. ask why, forget when, show how
  • The lid is transparent, so clear that you can see through it. Transparent means ___. heavy, see-through, unbreakable
  • Lift the cloth to reveal, or show, the hidden prize. Reveal means ___. hide, show, wrap
  • The log was hollow, with an empty space inside. Hollow means ___. empty inside, very old, wet outside
  • The lot was vacant, with nothing and no one on it. Vacant means ___. crowded, empty, noisy
  • Mice are prey, animals that are hunted for food by others. Prey means ___. baby animals, farm animals, hunted animals
  • Mom went to purchase, or buy, a new lamp. Purchase means ___. buy, carry, fix
  • The old flashlight gave a feeble glow, too weak to read by. Feeble means ___. bright, colorful, weak
  • Otters are aquatic animals, living mostly in water. Aquatic means ___. eating insects, jumping far, living in water
  • Our generous neighbor gladly shares her tools and her time. Generous means ___. easy to scare, hard to please, willing to give
  • Owls are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. Nocturnal means ___. able to fly, active at night, covered in feathers
  • Pack the fragile cups with care, because they break easily. Fragile means ___. easily broken, hard to see, very heavy
  • The path was narrow, not wide enough for two people. Narrow means ___. not long, not safe, not wide
  • The pond is shallow, only ankle deep. Shallow means ___. not clean, not deep, not warm
  • The rigid board was stiff and would not bend. Rigid means ___. stiff, thin, wet
  • The river runs through a canyon, a deep valley with steep rock sides. Canyon means ___. a deep valley, a flat field, a high hill
  • The river's rapid water moved too fast for a raft. Rapid means ___. fast, shallow, warm
  • The rules permit, or allow, one snack at recess. Permit means ___. allow, forget, stop
  • Scientists observe the birds, watching them closely for hours. Observe means ___. catch, feed, watch
  • Select one book; you may choose any on this shelf. Select means ___. choose, hide, return
  • She began to hesitate, pausing before she stepped onto the stage. Hesitate means ___. cheer, hurry, pause
  • She had to sprint, running as fast as she could, to catch the bus. Sprint means ___. jump high, run very fast, walk slowly
  • She took a glance, a quick look, at the clock. Glance means ___. a deep breath, a long nap, a quick look
  • The ship's voyage, a long trip by sea, lasted a month. Voyage means ___. a large sail, a long sea trip, a loud storm
  • The signs forbid swimming; no one is allowed in the water. Forbid means ___. cheer for, not allow, pay for
  • The soup had a peculiar, or strange, smell. Peculiar means ___. strange, sweet, weak
  • The speech was brief, lasting only a minute. Brief means ___. boring, loud, short
  • The sturdy table is strong enough to hold ten boxes. Sturdy means ___. shiny, small, strong
  • Take a minute to ponder the question; think about it carefully. Ponder means ___. point at, think about, write down
  • These flowers are edible, which means they are safe to eat. Edible means ___. easy to grow, nice to smell, safe to eat
  • This stamp is rare; very few like it exist. Rare means ___. not clean, not common, not old
  • The timid kitten was shy and hid from every visitor. Timid means ___. hungry, noisy, shy
  • The towel was still damp, a little wet from the morning swim. Damp means ___. slightly wet, too small, very soft
  • The town shared a feast, a large meal for a special day. Feast means ___. a large meal, a short walk, a small gift
  • The trail was steep, rising sharply up the hill. Steep means ___. full of mud, hard to find, rising sharply
  • The train will depart, or leave, at noon. Depart means ___. arrive, leave, wait
  • The warm room made me drowsy, so sleepy that I yawned. Drowsy means ___. angry, sleepy, thirsty
  • Water is scarce here; there is very little of it to find. Scarce means ___. easy to carry, hard to get, safe to drink
  • We could not locate the key; nobody could find it anywhere. Locate means ___. bend, copy, find
  • We gather the eggs, collecting them in one basket. Gather means ___. collect, crack, paint
  • We left at dawn, when the first light appears in the sky. Dawn means ___. end of the day, first light of day, middle of the day
  • We picked apples in the orchard, a field where fruit trees grow. Orchard means ___. a fruit basket, a fruit store, land with fruit trees
  • We reached the summit, the very top of the mountain. Summit means ___. the bottom, the middle, the top
  • We took a stroll, a slow, relaxed walk, along the beach. Stroll means ___. a fast race, a long swim, a slow walk
  • We were famished after practice, so hungry we ate two bowls each. Famished means ___. very cold, very hungry, very late
  • The wet dog began to shiver, shaking from the cold. Shiver means ___. bark, dig, shake
  • The whale was enormous, far larger than our boat. Enormous means ___. very large, very loud, very quick
  • Without water the flowers wither, turning dry and brown. Wither means ___. dry up, open wide, smell sweet
  • Workers will construct, or build, a new bridge here. Construct means ___. build, close, paint
  • You may request, or ask for, a second copy. Request means ___. ask for, pay for, throw away

Opposites, examples and other hints 92

  • A fallen tree was an obstacle, so we had to go around. Obstacle means ___. something in the way, something to eat, something to wear
  • A glass ornament hung on the branch just to look pretty. Ornament means ___. a decoration, a fruit, a tool
  • A hasty job leaves mistakes; slow down and check your work. Hasty means ___. done by two, done too fast, done with care
  • A heart is a symbol; it stands for love. Symbol means ___. a shade of red, a sign for an idea, a tool for drawing
  • A mouse, a squirrel or another rodent chewed the wire. Rodent means ___. a kind of bug, a large bird, a small sharp-toothed animal
  • A parade, a cake and music made the day a real celebration. Celebration means ___. a hard test, a quiet nap, a special happy event
  • A quick wipe is not enough; give the table a thorough cleaning, corners and all. Thorough means ___. complete and careful, late and loud, light and fast
  • A wave, a nod and a shrug are each a gesture. Gesture means ___. a movement with meaning, a spoken word, a written note
  • A wild fox runs from people, but this tame one eats from her hand. Tame means ___. afraid of people, lost in the woods, used to people
  • Add a seasoning, such as salt, pepper or garlic. Seasoning means ___. a kind of pan, something that adds color, something that adds flavor
  • After three losses, the win felt like a real triumph. Triumph means ___. a bad mistake, a great success, a long wait
  • An appliance, such as a toaster or a washer, runs on power. Appliance means ___. a kind of food, a machine for the home, a piece of cloth
  • The answer was obvious; everyone saw it right away. Obvious means ___. easy to see, fun to hear, hard to say
  • Any vehicle, such as a car, bus or truck, must stop here. Vehicle means ___. a kind of road, a machine for travel, a traffic light
  • The balloons ascend into the sky while the rain falls down. Ascend means ___. go around, go home, go up
  • The barn gave the sheep shelter from the storm. Shelter means ___. a bag of feed, a long fence, a safe covered place
  • Be courteous: say please, hold the door, and wait your turn. Courteous means ___. early, polite, quiet
  • The birds abandon the nest in fall and never return to it. Abandon means ___. build again, guard closely, leave for good
  • The bridge is temporary; it comes down when the new one opens. Temporary means ___. for a short time, for all time, for heavy trucks
  • Bring a utensil, like a fork or a spoon, for the stew. Utensil means ___. a kind of bowl, a kitchen tool, a warm drink
  • Bring footwear for rain, such as boots. Footwear means ___. things held in hands, things worn on feet, things worn on heads
  • The cat lay content in the sun, purring, with nothing more to want. Content means ___. cold and wet, happy as things are, lost and afraid
  • The change was gradual, not sudden: the pond shrank a little each week. Gradual means ___. happening at once, happening slowly, happening twice
  • The cheap paint peeled, so we bought the costly kind that lasts. Costly means ___. colorful, expensive, watery
  • Choose a fabric, like cotton, wool or silk, for the quilt. Fabric means ___. cloth, paper, thread
  • The clumsy puppy tripped on its ears and slid into the wall. Clumsy means ___. awkward, sleepy, sneaky
  • The coach did not scold us; she had only praise for our hard work. Praise means ___. a long list of rules, a warning to stop, kind words for good work
  • The coin was not a fake; it was genuine gold. Genuine means ___. heavy, real, shiny
  • Cows, sheep and goats are the farm's livestock. Livestock means ___. farm animals, house pets, wild animals
  • The crab did not come closer; it began to retreat into its shell. Retreat means ___. move back, reach out, speed up
  • Do not exclude anyone; let every player join the game. Exclude means ___. cheer for, leave out, line up
  • Do not scatter the pieces; keep them together in the box. Scatter means ___. glue down, paint over, spread around
  • The dollar, the peso and the yen are each a currency. Currency means ___. a country's flag, a country's money, a country's song
  • Each garment, from the coat to the socks, was folded. Garment means ___. a kind of bag, a piece of clothing, a small towel
  • Every snowflake is unique; no two are the same. Unique means ___. one of a kind, quick to melt, very cold
  • The farm raises poultry, such as chickens, ducks and turkeys. Poultry means ___. farm birds, farm fields, farm tools
  • The field was arid: no rain had fallen for months. Arid means ___. crowded, dry, muddy
  • The first puzzle was simple, but this one is complex, with many kinds of pieces. Complex means ___. having bright colors, having many parts, having no edges
  • Fishing is Grandpa's pastime; he does it every weekend for fun. Pastime means ___. a chore, a hobby, a job
  • Flour is one ingredient; eggs and sugar are two more. Ingredient means ___. a kind of oven, a tool for mixing, one part of a recipe
  • The flowers looked real, but they were artificial and made of silk. Artificial means ___. grown in soil, made by people, picked today
  • The forest was so dense that hardly any light reached the ground. Dense means ___. dry, small, thick
  • Grass grows thick by the creek but is sparse on the rocky hill. Sparse means ___. soft and wet, tall and green, thin and scattered
  • The guard dog stayed alert, ears up, noticing every sound. Alert means ___. playful, sleepy, watchful
  • The hat is optional, but the name tag is required. Optional means ___. against the rules, paid for, up to you
  • Helmets are mandatory; no one may ride without one. Mandatory means ___. colorful, free, required
  • Her occupation changed from baker to bus driver. Occupation means ___. a hobby, a house, a job
  • Her whisper was barely audible over the loud fans. Audible means ___. able to be heard, able to be seen, easy to read
  • His directions were vague, so nobody knew which road to take. Vague means ___. not clear, too long, very loud
  • His old coat was shabby, but his new boots still shone. Shabby means ___. big and warm, clean and new, old and worn
  • I love peas, but I despise beets and will not eat them. Despise means ___. cook, grow, hate
  • Ice on the steps is a hazard; someone could slip. Hazard means ___. a danger, a game, a surprise
  • In the sun the tomato plants flourish; in the dark shed they wilt. Flourish means ___. dry up, fall over, grow well
  • It was only a minor problem, not a big one, so we kept playing. Minor means ___. funny, serious, small
  • Jo was glad to swim, but Ben was reluctant and stayed on the dock. Reluctant means ___. not willing, very excited, well trained
  • Joy, anger and fear are each an emotion. Emotion means ___. a color, a feeling, a sound
  • The lake was tranquil this morning, not rough and noisy like last night. Tranquil means ___. calm, dirty, wild
  • The light breeze turned into a fierce wind that bent the trees. Fierce means ___. very soft, very strong, very warm
  • The line began to advance, one slow step forward at a time. Advance means ___. move forward, sit down, turn around
  • The loyal dog waited at the gate every day until its owner came home. Loyal means ___. always faithful, always hungry, always loud
  • The machine will reject bent coins and keep only the good ones. Reject means ___. count twice, polish clean, refuse to take
  • Mia is an expert skater, but her brother is a novice on his first day. Novice means ___. a beginner, a judge, a winner
  • The moon was hidden by clouds, but now it is visible again. Visible means ___. able to be heard, able to be seen, far away
  • The morning was gloomy, but by noon the sky was bright and clear. Gloomy means ___. dark and dull, loud and busy, warm and dry
  • The mowers sat idle all winter; nobody used them until spring. Idle means ___. not for sale, not in use, not yet built
  • My desk is cluttered, but my sister's is neat and bare. Cluttered means ___. messy, tall, tidy
  • The nimble goat hopped from rock to rock without a slip. Nimble means ___. loud and rough, quick and light, slow and heavy
  • The old lighthouse is a landmark; sailors use it to find the bay. Landmark means ___. a kind of boat, a map of the sea, an easy-to-spot place
  • The other chicks hung back, but one bold chick walked right up to the cat. Bold means ___. brave, sleepy, tiny
  • The otters plunge into the river with a splash. Plunge means ___. climb out slowly, float on top, jump in suddenly
  • Our former coach moved away, and a new one started this week. Former means ___. from before, in training, on vacation
  • Our team's only defeat came in the rain; we won every other game. Defeat means ___. a loss, a prize, a rule
  • The outside of the box is plain, but the interior is lined with velvet. Interior means ___. the bottom, the inside, the lid
  • Pencil can be erased, but this ink is permanent. Permanent means ___. easy to wash off, hard to see, lasting forever
  • Pick a beverage, such as milk, juice or water. Beverage means ___. a dessert, a drink, a snack
  • Put your luggage, both the suitcase and the backpack, on the cart. Luggage means ___. bags for travel, snacks for the road, tickets for a trip
  • Rain, snow and hail are all kinds of precipitation. Precipitation means ___. heat from the sun, water falling from clouds, wind from the north
  • Roll back the rug to expose the wood floor under it. Expose means ___. measure, scrub, uncover
  • Sales of ice pops decline in winter and rise again in June. Decline means ___. become less, go bad, stay open
  • She won every race, yet she stayed humble and never bragged. Humble means ___. not fast, not kind, not proud
  • The squirrel found a meager meal of two small seeds. Meager means ___. very late, very small, very tasty
  • The tallest structure in town is not the bridge or the mill; it is the clock tower. Structure means ___. something built, something grown, something lost
  • The turtle was sluggish in the cold but quick once the sun came out. Sluggish means ___. hungry, noisy, slow-moving
  • The two hats were identical; no one could tell them apart. Identical means ___. exactly the same, too small, very different
  • Unlike his sleepy brother, Max was eager to start and ran to the door. Eager means ___. afraid to, really wanting to, too tired to
  • We climbed up the tower and then had to descend every step. Descend means ___. go across, go down, go fast
  • We had ample time, so nobody needed to rush. Ample means ___. hardly any, more than enough, the wrong
  • We painted the exterior of the shed but left the inside bare. Exterior means ___. the floor, the outside, the roof
  • We were grateful for the help and thanked every volunteer. Grateful means ___. surprised, thankful, worried
  • Wheat, rice and oats are each a grain. Grain means ___. a leaf we eat, a root we eat, a seed we eat
  • Wool sweaters shrink in hot water and come out too small. Shrink means ___. become brighter, become smaller, become softer
  • Yesterday was cool, but today is scorching and the slide is too hot to touch. Scorching means ___. very hot, very wet, very windy

How this list was compiled: Written by hand for this page: 187 passages of one or two sentences, each built around one harder word with a clue beside it, and ending on a blank for the word's meaning with one right choice and two wrong ones. In 95 the passage says the meaning (a synonym, a definition or a restatement); in 92 it gives an opposite, examples, a result or another hint. Every word's meaning was checked against its entry in the Cambridge Dictionary, dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/ followed by the word, read 2026-09-30, and each passage was read with every choice in the blank. No person, brand or character is named, and no published worksheet or passage was copied. Licence: own work

How it works

A context clue is a hint in the words around a hard word. Each question is a short passage with one such word and three meanings; the passage lets only one of them fit.

Read the full guide

Find the clue before you circle

Some passages say the meaning outright after or, a comma or which means: Mom went to purchase, or buy, a new lamp. Others hint with an opposite (The coin was not a fake; it was genuine gold.) or with examples (Pick a beverage, such as milk, juice or water.).

Two kinds of clue

Set picks The passage says the meaning, the easier kind, or Opposites, examples and other hints. Left on All of them, a sheet mixes both.

  • Have the child underline the words that gave the meaning away before circling an answer.
  • Check by reading the passage again with the circled meaning in place of the hard word.

Questions and answers

Do these context clues worksheets come with answers?

Yes. The answer key prints as the last page, with the right meaning circled and written in. To leave it off, untick Add an answer key as the last page under More options. In the print window, choose Save as PDF to keep a copy.

What grade are context clues taught in?

The Common Core language standards ask grades 1 to 3 to use the sentence as a clue to a word (L.1.4a, L.2.4a, L.3.4a). Grade 4 names definitions, examples and restatements as clues (L.4.4a), and grade 5 adds cause and effect and comparisons (L.5.4a).

What are the types of context clues?

These sheets use four. A definition or synonym says the meaning beside the word. An antonym gives its opposite. Examples list things the word covers. An inference clue shows a result, as in a field that is arid because no rain fell.

Can I use my own passages?

Yes. Type one a line, with ___ for the blank, an equals sign, the right meaning, then a slash before each wrong one: The cave was damp, a little wet. Damp means ___. = slightly wet / very dark. Your lines replace ours.

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