Context Clues: Unlocking Vocabulary
This worksheet helps 11th-grade students practice determining the meaning of unfamiliar words using various types of context clues within sentences and passages.
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Context Clues: Unlocking Vocabulary
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Read each sentence or passage carefully. Use the context clues provided to determine the meaning of the underlined word. Then, answer the question or fill in the blank.
1. The ancient manuscript was so _arcane_ that only a few scholars could understand its mysterious symbols and cryptic language.
What does the word "arcane" most likely mean?
well-known
secret or mysterious
easily understood
modern
2. Unlike her usually _gregarious_ brother, who loved parties and crowds, Emily preferred solitary activities like reading and painting.
The word "gregarious" means the opposite of being .
3. The artist's work was often described as _ephemeral_, meaning it lasted for only a short time, much like a fleeting dream or a morning mist.
In your own words, explain the meaning of "ephemeral" based on the sentence.
4. During the severe drought, the farmers experienced a _dearth_ of water, with their crops wilting and their wells running dry.
True or False: A "dearth" implies an abundance or surplus of something.
True
False
5. Read the following passage and answer the question below:
The old mansion, long abandoned, had a decidedly _somber_ atmosphere. Dust motes danced in the sparse shafts of sunlight that pierced the grimy windows, illuminating peeling wallpaper and cobweb-draped furniture. A heavy silence pervaded the air, broken only by the occasional creak of settling timbers. One could almost feel the weight of forgotten memories and past sorrows clinging to every surface.
What does the word "somber" suggest about the mansion's atmosphere? Explain how the surrounding words help you determine its meaning.