Which is a type of context clue?

• A. Examples, definitions, description, opposite
• B. Capital letters, italics, boldface, underline
• C. Punctuation marks only
• D. Title case

Answer: (A)

Context clues are signals in surrounding text that help you figure out what a word means. The option you’re looking at lists several common ways writers hint at meaning: examples, definitions, descriptions, and opposite (contrast). Each of these cues gives you a clue about the word’s sense without needing a dictionary.

Examples show what the word represents by listing instances. A direct definition names the meaning right there in the sentence. Descriptions describe features or qualities that point to the word’s sense. Opposite or contrast highlights how the word is different from something else, revealing its meaning through comparison. Together, these strategies are how readers deduce meaning from context.

Capital letters, italics, boldface, and underline are formatting cues that draw attention or indicate emphasis, not ways the surrounding text clarifies meaning. Punctuation marks and title case don’t function as context clues in the same way.