When you come across a word with different meanings, you can use context clues to figure out which meaning fits in that situation.
1. Think about the topic of the text where the word appears.
2. Look in the same sentence for words and phrases that may be clues to the word’s meaning.
3. Look for clues in other sentences.
4. Use the clues to figure out the word’s meaning.
5. Check a dictionary, but be sure to read through all the meanings to find the one that makes the most sense.
When I read “He walked to the baseball diamond” I know that “diamond” is another word that is used for a baseball field, not a kind of stone, or gem. Baseball cannot be played on a gem.
Figure Out Word Meanings Look through the selection to find the words below. Follow the steps above to figure out each word’s meaning.
The language in a text often reflects the time in which the text was written. It gives clues as to what people felt, thought, or believed.
Compare Ideas Reread “Analysis of Baseball” (written in 1971) and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” (written in 1908). Copy the chart and add examples of language that reflects the time in which each poem was written. Explain what ideas the language reflects. Then compare each time to the present day. Do we view baseball today as we did in 1908 or 1971?
| Selection | Language Example | What It Says About the Time | Comparison to Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” | Take me out with the crowd. | People liked to go to the games and sit with other fans. | People watch games on TV. |
| “Analysis of Baseball” | It’s about the ball, the bat, and the mitt. | Baseball was about using the ball, bat, and mitt. Nothing else was important. | Now it’s also about making lots of money. |