Grade 3 - Reading

Grade 3 Context Clues Worksheet

6 printable versions - Challenge Me - About 9 minutes each

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Context Clues

Grade 3 - Reading - Challenge Me

Worksheet 1

  1. Use the Grade 3 context sentence to infer "legend": "The map legend helped us identify symbols for rivers and roads." What does it mean?

  2. Which nearby words support the meaning of "varied" in this sentence: "The two reports varied because one used photos and the other used a chart."

  3. Which meaning would make "legend" confusing in this sentence: "The map legend helped us identify symbols for rivers and roads."?

  4. If "postponed" means "delayed until later", which Grade 3 sentence uses it correctly?

  5. Before choosing a meaning for "steep" in "The trail was steep, so hikers leaned forward as they climbed.", what should a reader check?

  6. Use the Grade 3 context sentence to infer "precise": "The scientist recorded the precise temperature before sunrise." What does it mean?

  7. Which nearby words support the meaning of "legend" in this sentence: "The map legend helped us identify symbols for rivers and roads."

  8. Which meaning would make "absorbed" confusing in this sentence: "The towel absorbed the spill and left the table nearly dry."?

  9. If "fragile" means "easily broken", which Grade 3 sentence uses it correctly?

  10. Before choosing a meaning for "absorbed" in "The towel absorbed the spill and left the table nearly dry.", what should a reader check?

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About this worksheet

Context clues help readers figure out an unfamiliar word without stopping every time to ask an adult. Third graders often look only at the unknown word and guess from its sound, but the helpful information is usually nearby. A sentence might give an example, a contrast, a cause, or a result that points to the meaning. This worksheet places each vocabulary word in a full sentence and asks students to choose the meaning, name the clue, and reject a meaning that does not fit. Encourage your child to cover the answer choices first and explain the sentence in their own words. The best answer should make the whole sentence sensible. This habit helps students solve new words in many kinds of books.

What your child will learn

  • Use nearby words to infer meaning
  • Identify the clue that supports a meaning
  • Reject meanings that do not fit the sentence
  • Reread the whole sentence for vocabulary

Worked example

In 'The crowded hallway made students move slowly,' move slowly helps show that crowded means filled with many people.

Common mistake

Guessing from the word alone instead of using the words around it.

Helpful hint

Read before and after the word.

Making InferencesCause and Effect

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with context clues?
Guessing from the word alone instead of using the words around it.
How can I help my child with context clues?
Read before and after the word.
Are these 3rd grade reading worksheets free to print?
Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

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