Context Clues — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The room was enormous, or very big, with tall ceilings.
'Very big' restates enormous, so the synonym clue gives the meaning.
2. She felt glum, meaning sad, after losing her toy.
The word 'meaning' signals a restatement that defines glum as sad.
3. The old man was wise, also called smart, and kind to all.
'Also called smart' gives a synonym clue that explains the word wise.
4. Our team was thrilled, in other words very happy, about the win.
'In other words very happy' restates thrilled as a Grade 3 synonym.
5. The trail was perilous, or very dangerous, after the heavy rain.
Perilous means dangerous, and 'or very dangerous' restates the idea.
6. Her speech was brief, also meaning short, and easy to hear.
'Also meaning short' restates brief with a matching word.
7. The soup was scorching, which means very hot, so we waited.
'Which means very hot' restates scorching in a direct synonym clue.
8. The puppy was timid, or shy, around the loud children.
The synonym 'shy' is restated using the signal word 'or'.
9. The clown was jolly, in other words very happy, at the party.
'In other words very happy' restates jolly using a Grade 3 synonym.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
enormous
→ big
sad
glum
→ sad
dangerous
perilous
→ dangerous
big
timid
→ shy
shy
Each pair matches a word to its synonym, the strongest Grade 3 meaning clue.