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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 cygnet means. Look just after it. What does it mean?
A cygnet, which is a baby swan, follows its mother.
2.The sentence tells you what gale means. Look just after it. What does it mean?
Sailors watch for a gale, meaning a very strong wind.
3.The sentence tells you what trough means. Look just after it. What does it mean?
The farmer filled the trough, a long box that holds water.
4.The sentence tells you what trough means. Look just after it. What does it mean?
The farmer filled the trough, a long box that holds water.
A nearby word that means the same
5.What does drenched mean in this sentence?
Soaked to the skin, she hung up her drenched coat.
6.What does narrow mean in this sentence?
The path was narrow. It was so thin we walked one behind the other.
7.What does perilous mean in this sentence?
The trail was perilous in the rain. It was too dangerous to climb.
When a contrast points the other way
8.What does cluttered mean in this sentence?
His room was spotless, unlike the cluttered garage.
9.What does cluttered mean in this sentence?
His room was spotless, unlike the cluttered garage.
10.What does cluttered mean in this sentence?
His room was spotless, unlike the cluttered garage.
Working back from examples
11.What does utensils mean in this sentence?
Utensils such as forks, spoons, and knives go beside each plate.
12.What does utensils mean in this sentence?
Utensils such as forks, spoons, and knives go beside each plate.
13.What does provisions mean in this sentence?
She packed provisions: bread, cheese, dried fruit, and nuts.
Putting your guess back in
14.Someone guessed that scalding means “ice cold” and put that meaning into the sentence. Which fact in the sentence shows the guess cannot be right?
The soup sat on the stove all day, so it was [ice cold].
15.Someone guessed that tame means “as wild as could be” and put that meaning into the sentence. Which fact in the sentence shows the guess cannot be right?
The kitten was [as wild as could be], not wild like the cats behind the barn.
16.Someone guessed that erupted means “went silent” and put that meaning into the sentence. Which fact in the sentence shows the guess cannot be right?
With the last note, the hall [went silent] in applause that lasted for minutes.
Answer Key
1.a baby swan
2.a very strong wind
3.a long box that holds water
4.a long box that holds water
5.very wet
6.thin, not wide
7.dangerous
8.messy
9.messy
10.messy
11.tools you eat with
12.tools you eat with
13.food supplies
14.The soup sat on the stove all day.
15.The sentence says it was not wild.
16.The clapping went on for minutes.
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),
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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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