Guessing Word

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Guessing Word Meaning

Give the meaning of the word below. Do not use a dictionary.
‘loafer’ means …………………………………

Can you give the meaning of loafer? ……………………………………….
Read the sentence in the box below.

The people in the neighborhood called Tim a loafer because he always wasted his time
by not working when he should.

‘loafer’ means ………lazy man…………………………
‘loafer’ is a / an noun / verb / adjective / adverb
(circle the word that you choose)

You are able to guess the meaning of the word ‘loafer’ because it appears in CONTEXT.
Look at the picture below and answer the questions:

PICTURE A :

1. What is probably happening in this picture?
2. How do the boy and girl feel?
3. What are they doing?

Now turn to the next page and look at Picture B.

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You know what they are doing now.

Picture A does not have enough CONTEXT, while Picture B does.

“CONTEXT” helps you to get the meaning of the unknow word. We often come across some
unfamiliar words when we are reading, but sometimes we don’t have to look up the meaning of
the words in a dictionary. We can GUESS the meaning through CONTEXT CLUES.

There are several types of CONTEXT CLUES.

TYPE 1 : DEFINITION

E1X.AMPLE one-story house is called a bungalow.
A

DEFINTION CLUE UNKNOWN WORD

2. is a cobbler.
A Person who repairs shoes

DEFINTION CLUE UNKNOWN WORD

3.

International relations, that is relations between people,

UNKNOWN WORD CLUE DEFINITION
are important.

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The explanation of each of the unknown words is given in the sentence by an expression that
comes right after of before it. These expressions.

Be(is / are) be called (is / are called) means consist of that is

refer to is / are said to ……. meaning to say etc.

TYPE II : RESTATEMENT
EXAMPLE :

1.

SIGNAL

The rich old man endowed, or gave, some money to the school every year.

UNKNOWN WORD clue RESTATEMENT

2.

Some people like to hitch- hike -- to travel by asking car or lorry drives
UNKNOWN WORD
-

-
clue RESTATEMENT

for free ride - because they think it is fun.

We can find the meaning of the unknown word from the idea repeated in the known word.
The repetition of idea is shown by:

or that is that is to say in the other words

to put in another way ,(comma) ,…………, (commas)

-(dash) -………..- (dashes) (…..)(Parentheses)

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Exercise I
Read the following statement and find the clue that signals the meaning of each underlined
word of phrase. Write the clues and the meaning of the words in the blanks provided.

1. The main sections of a story-book are called chapter.
Clue : …………………………………………………………………………………………………. …………….
Chapter means ………………………………………………………………………………………………...

2. Kevin is a biographer, that is, a person who writes about someone’s life.
Clue : …………………..……………………………………………………………………………………………………
A biographer is ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… .

3.Closed punctuation means the use of commas and periods at the end of lines in the letter
headings and addresses.

Clue : ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Closed punctuation is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4. Kenneth is interested in archaeology, the study of the buried remain of ancient times such as
houses, pots, tools, and weapons.

Clue : ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Archaeology is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. A housewife must be careful about getting rid of garbage – that is, the waste of the food.
Clue : ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Garbage is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6.These students are interested in studying the etymology, the origin and history, of words.
Clue : ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Etymology is …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7. The audience appreciated the speaker’s straight answers to their questions. In other words,
the speakers answered truthfully.
Clue : ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Straight means ……………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………

8. After recovering from an appendectomy, an operation in which a swollen appendix is taken
out, John made a trip around the world.

Clue : ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
An appendectomy is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. From her office window on the eighth floor, she liked to look at the edifice – the large, fine
building – which stood on the other side of the river.

Clue : ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Edifice is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………..

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10. The epilogue, or short speech at the end of the play, was so impressive that the audience
gave it a big hand.

Clue : …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Epilogue means a ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

11. A person who writes a play is called a playwright.
Clue : …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Playwright is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

12. Everything used in the kitchen in cooking including knives, tray, pots is known as utensils.
Clue : …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Utensils means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

13. An unreasonable and lasting fear of something is called a phobia.
Clue : …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Phobia means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

14. The word jumbo is used for anything very big in size, or as a general name for an elephant.
Clue : …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Jumbo means ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise II
Read the following information and choose the correct meaning for each underline word.

1. Needle and thread are indispensable tools for a tailor; without them he would not be

able to work.

a. important c. essential

b. valuable d. suitable

2. At the first start of the game the two boys seemed to get along well, but half an hour

later they began a dispute which led to a big fight.

a. quarrel c. contest

b. teammate d. conversation

3. People who work well and live happily with others are cooperative.

a. happy and friendly c. willing to pay

b. willing to share ideas with others d. able to work hard

The study of a language has been divided into two main parts: semantics, or the study of
meaning, and syntax, or the study of sentence structure.

4. semantics

a. the study of language c. the study of language and literature

b. the study of meaning d. the study of sentence structure

5. syntax

a. the study of language c. the study of language and literature

b. the study of meaning d. the study of sentence structure

6. Her answer to our enquiries on hotel rates is of great interest.

a. argument c. questions

b. interests d. comments

7. You could tell from his sallow complexion that he had lived in unhealthy climate.

a. sunburnt c. healthy black color

b. dark color d. unhealthy yellow color

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8. She was wearing such gaudy clothes that it was easy to find her in the crowd.

a. beautiful c. too bright

b. torn d. common

9. The poor horse was ravenous and it ate the leaves and bark of the trees.

a. very hungry c. very tired

b. very greedy d. very active

10. In the morning and evening, the boy jogs in the park to get rid of his

excessive energy.

a. waste c. extra

b. useless d. limited

TYPE III : CAUSE AND EFFECT EFFECT
EXAMPLE : so The sailor got out the boats and
clue
1. CAUSE
The ship hit a big rock and began to sink,

abandoned the ship.

UNKNOWN WORD

2. EFFECT because CAUSE
We can see things through a piece of glass it is transparent.

Clue UNKNOWN WORD

The meaning of the unknown words are not directly given, but they are shown through the cause
and effect relationship of the situation. The clues which indicate the cause and effect relationship
of the situation are :

because due to as a result so

therefore thus consequently as such

so that hence accordingly result in(v)

cause that is why mean (v)

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TYPE IV : CONTRAST
EXAMPLE :

1. clue while his friend, Nick, was quiet.
Dick was voluble

UNKNOWN WORD meaning .

2. clue
Both of his daughters are studious, but his son is lazy

UNKNOWN WORD meaning (opposite)

In some sentences we will find two words with opposite meanings. If we know the meaning of
one word, we will be able to guess the meaning of the other word. Clues that indicate the
contrasting ideas are :

But yet however although

Nevertheless though even though while

Whereas on the other hand in contrast on the contrary

Conversely in spite of despite

EXERCISE III

Read the following statements and find the clue that signals the meaning of each underlined
word. Write the clues and the meanings of the words in the blanks provided.

1. Although he was accustomed to life in the desert, he could not endure the heat of this
valley very long.

Clue :………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Endure means …..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Mice are small animals, but they are gigantic beside an ant.
Clue: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Gigantic means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3. Some plants die in wet soil, but most thrive.
Clue: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Thrive means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

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4. Because of the war, the government imposed a new tax on the people.
Clue: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Imposed means ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Exercise IV
Read the following information and choose the correct meaning for each underlined word.

1. Her performance on the piano was so accomplished that her audience stood up to

applaud her.

a. strange c. skilled

b. Outstanding d. amateur

2. We’ll have to buckle down if we want to get this finished by the end of the month.

a. be patient c. contact with others

b. Work hard d. plan

3. Every life has a series of high pointed and successes, but Ivan Karinsky insists that his

has only nadirs.

a. one hope in life c. the lowest point of hopes

b. Best hopes d. ordinary things

4. Ideas in philosophy are often hard to understand because illustrations of those ideas are

intangible.

a. realistic c. unbelievable

b. Difficult to explain d. difficult to draw

5. I thought Van was gullible, but I could not get him to believe any of my stories.

a. easily deceived c. like to tell a lie

b. Difficult to convince d. unbelievable

6. The girl continually raised her hand because she was anxious to be chosen.

a. Nervous c. consider

b. Afraid d. sure

7. Since the baby was left in my care, I have a feeling of obligation to see that nothing

happens to him.

a. love c. willingness

b. necessity d. duty

8. A person will become weak if he does not get sufficient food for his body.

a. suitable c. useful

b. delicious d. enough

9. If you keep on harassing me, I will call the police.

a. Bothering c. ignoring

b. Asking d. forcing

10. If you want a good grade on a test, it is vital that you study hard.

a. clear c. interesting

b. agreeable d. essential

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11. Florida’s perennially warm climate and plentiful rainfall cause the state a center of citrus
production.
( year – round, world – famous, comfortably, impressively )

12. The movie on TV last night was so scary that the girl could not sleep after watching it.
( frightening, boring, surprising, uninteresting)

TYPE V : MODIFIERS
EXAMPLE :

1. that feed only on plants
Buffalos, cows and horses are herbivorous animals

UNKNOWN WORD MODIFIER (Clause)

2.UNKNOWN WORD
Most people buy their house on a ten year installment plan,

paying 5,000 baht monthly.

MODIFIER (Phrase)

In the first sentence the meaning of the unknown word is explained by the modifying
clause that comes right after. In the second the word is explained by a phrase.

The CLAUSES are headed by : which, who, where……etc.

The PHRASES are headed by : Verb + ing

V – ed (V3)
TYPE VI : EXAMPLES EXAMPLE :

UNKNOWN WORD clue

Some boys are trained to help their mother with chores, such as

Washing dishes, cleaning, ironing, etc.

The examples given in the sentence explains the meaning of the unknown word.

The EXAMPLE usually follow one of the expressions below :

such as for example like for instance

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TYPE VII : SENTENCE OR PARAGRAPH
EXAMPLE :

Most girls are more studious than boys. They always study hard for their exams.

UNKNOWN WORD

The sentences or paragraph that comes after or before the unknown word explains what the
word means.

Exercise V
Read the following information and choose the correct meaning for each underlined word.

1. People in this area began building dikes many centuries ago, It was the only way to

keep the sea out of their villages.

a. long bridges c. canals

b. earth wall d. dams

2. When I stooped down to get a better look, I realized that it was a dead rabbit. It must

have been hit by a car.

a. bent down towards the ground c. sat down

b. stood still d. carefully stopped

3. The poor horse was ravenous and it ate the leaves and bark off the trees.

a. very strong c. ready to run

b. mad d. very hungry

4. The news that Mr. Smith was resigning from his job surprised us all. We simple couldn’t

fathom why he wanted to leave now that the company was finally doing so well.

a. understand c. find out

b. describe d. refuse

5. Due to the unflagging efforts of the rescue team, the children were found after a few

hours.

a. continuing c. unusual

b. great d. careful

6. His breath reeked of whisky, and from the way he walked, we guessed he had been

drinking of some time.

a. showed c. speeded

b. smelled d. passed on

7. She called him parsimonious because he wouldn’t spend money on anything, even things

he needed badly.

a. thoughtful c. poor

b. economic d. miserly

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8. Sandy had some very pressing business, so she had to leave before the meeting was

over.

a. very busy c. very important

b. very tried d. involving with too many people

9. The unhappy girl continued to carp at her mother, blaming her mother for all her

problems.

a. shout c. complain

b. cry d. hit

10. Jane read the letter carefully and then tore it into shreds.

a. pieces c. small pieces

b. Equal pieces d. ruined pieces

11. Susie is very touchy. For example, she usually gets angry when her boss makes comments on

her work.

a. ironic c. silly

b. absent – minded d. get angry easily

12. The reporter talked to many auto- industry executives, e.g. company presidents and vice –

presidents.

a. employees c. trainees

b. administrators d. company owners

13. Please stop asking those silly questions. You are hindering me in my work by talking all the time.

a. Promoting c. discouraging

b. Interfering d. complaining

14. The girl had a lesion on her left arm that would not stop bleeding.

a. an injury or wound c. a gold bracelet

b. a dirty mark d. a headache

15. The most outstanding thing about his wife is her extravagance. She always spends money

wastefully on costly beautiful clothes and make – up.

a. appearance c. richness

b. personality d. wastefulness

16. At the first start of the game the two boys seems to get along well, but half an hour later they

began a dispute which led to a big fight.

a. contest c. anger

b. quarrel d. discussion

17. This type of work is considered to be quite hazardous. Every worker therefore gets accident

insurance from the factory.

a. risky c. tired

b. difficult d. modern