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Context Clues (Grades 2-3)
Free Printable Context Clues Worksheets (Grades 2-3)
The most valuable vocabulary skill there is, because it is the only one that keeps working after the lesson ends. These sheets teach the four kinds of clue by name, and finish with the check almost everyone skips: put your guess back in the sentence and read it again.
Context Clues - Grades 2-3
When the sentence just tells you
1.The sentence tells you what precipitation means. What does it mean?
The desert gets very little precipitation, or water falling from the sky.
2.The sentence tells you what cygnet means. What does it mean?
A cygnet, which is a baby swan, follows its mother in a line.
3.The sentence tells you what abacus means. What does it mean?
We use an abacus, which is a frame of sliding beads, to count.
4.The sentence tells you what abacus means. What does it mean?
We use an abacus, which is a frame of sliding beads, to count.
A nearby word that means the same
5.What does bland mean?
The soup was bland. It had almost no flavor at all.
6.What does frugal mean?
Grandma was frugal with money. She was careful with every dollar she spent.
7.What does weary mean?
The old dog was weary after the walk. He was tired enough to sleep all afternoon.
When a contrast points the other way
8.What does turbulent mean in this sentence?
The morning was calm, but by evening the sea was turbulent.
Contrast words to look for: but, although, unlike, however, while, instead, rather than.
9.What does tardy mean in this sentence?
Most of the class finished early, although Marco was tardy again.
Contrast words to look for: but, although, unlike, however, while, instead, rather than.
10.What does turbulent mean in this sentence?
The morning was calm, but by evening the sea was turbulent.
Contrast words to look for: but, although, unlike, however, while, instead, rather than.
Working back from examples
11.What does provisions mean?
She packed provisions for the trip: bread, dried fruit, cheese, and nuts.
12.What does provisions mean?
She packed provisions for the trip: bread, dried fruit, cheese, and nuts.
13.What does rodents mean?
Rodents, including mice, rats, squirrels, and beavers, have front teeth that never stop growing.
Putting your guess back in
14.Someone decided stethoscope means “a mask worn over the face” and put that into the sentence. How do you know the guess is wrong?
The doctor used a [a mask worn over the face], a tool for listening to a heartbeat.
15.Someone decided ravenous means “very sleepy” and put that into the sentence. How do you know the guess is wrong?
The puppy was so [very sleepy] that he finished his bowl in seconds and looked for more.
16.Someone decided profound means “hard to see across” and put that into the sentence. How do you know the guess is wrong?
The lake looked shallow near the dock, but out past the buoy it was [hard to see across].
Answer Key
1.water that falls from the sky, like rain or snow
2.a baby swan
3.a frame of sliding beads used for counting
4.a frame of sliding beads used for counting
5.having little flavor
6.careful with money
7.tired
8.rough and stormy
9.late
10.rough and stormy
11.supplies of food
12.supplies of food
13.a group of animals with ever-growing front teeth, like mice and squirrels
14.The sentence stops making sense, so that meaning must be wrong
15.The sentence stops making sense, so that meaning must be wrong
16.The sentence stops making sense, so that meaning must be wrong
Want practice that adapts to your child?
These printables come straight from
Lit Ladder - an adaptive K-12 reading program that gives your child a
quick placement check, finds exactly where they are (not just their grade),
and moves them up one skill at a time - from hearing the sounds in a
spoken word to weighing evidence in a nonfiction text.
It's free during our beta, with no ads and
no third-party trackers - kid logins are username-only and parent-managed.
Frequently asked questions
Are these context clues worksheets free?
Yes - view, print, and share every sheet for free, with no account and no signup.
Do they include an answer key?
Every worksheet has a full answer key at the bottom of the page.
What grades are these context clues worksheets for?
They are designed for grades 2 and 3.
Does my child need to read the questions alone?
No. Print it and read the instructions aloud if that is what the sheet needs - at these ages the point is the skill, not whether they can decode the directions.
Can I get a different worksheet?
Yes - click “Generate a new sheet” and a fresh set of problems (with a matching answer key) is created instantly.
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