Definition context clues worksheet - Free Printable

Let’s go through each question one by one. The goal is to pick the word that best matches the underlined word in each sentence — using context clues (the words around it) to figure out the meaning.

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Question 1:
*“As we watched through the shop’s eye we peered at the items in the distance. It seemed they were just beyond our grasp.”*
Underlined: peered

We’re looking at something far away, trying to see it clearly. “Peered” means to look closely or carefully, especially when it’s hard to see.

Options:
a. velocity → speed → doesn’t fit
b. waved → moved hand → no
c. suffering → pain → no
d. scrutinized → examined closely → YES! This matches “looked carefully”

✔ Answer: d. scrutinized

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Question 2:
*“Although the teacher was annoyed with the student’s poor grades, his grades had improved in the end.”*
Underlined: annoyed

The teacher wasn’t happy because of bad grades — so “annoyed” means irritated or upset.

Options:
a. prone → likely to do something → no
b. irate → very angry → close, but too strong? Wait — “annoyed” can mean mildly angry. “Irate” is stronger, but still fits better than others.
c. sullen → bad-tempered, gloomy → possible, but not exact
d. wretched → miserable → no

Actually, “irate” is the closest synonym for “annoyed” here — both mean angry or irritated.

✔ Answer: b. irate

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Question 3:
*“As mom thought to herself the house was going to the pigs; it was in complete disarray.”*
Underlined: disarray

“Disarray” means messy, chaotic, not organized.

Options:
a. isolated → alone → no
b. derelict → abandoned → not quite
c. chaotic → messy,乱 → YES! Perfect match
d. strenuous → hard work → no

✔ Answer: c. chaotic

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Question 4:
*“Although he was an energetic athlete, he was often lethargic during his old age.”*
Underlined: lethargic

He used to be energetic, now he’s the opposite — tired, slow, lazy.

Options:
a. spry → lively → opposite
b. dynamic → active → opposite
c. somnolent → sleepy → YES! Fits “lethargic”
d. manic → hyper → opposite

✔ Answer: c. somnolent

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Question 5:
*“We had to climb over a boulder and brace ourselves as we hiked through the steeply sloped mountainside.”*
Underlined: boulder

A boulder is a big rock.

Options:
a. beldam → old woman → no
b. many → plural → no
c. wad → small bundle → no
d. large → size descriptor → wait, “boulder” is a noun, “large” is an adjective… Hmm.

Wait — maybe the question wants a synonym? But none are perfect. Let’s re-read.

Actually, looking again — perhaps “boulder” is being matched with “large”? No, that doesn’t make sense grammatically.

Wait — maybe it’s a trick? Or typo?

Hold on — let’s check the original image description again. In the user’s text, it says:

> 5. We had to climb over a boulder and brace ourselves...

And options:
a. beldam
b. many
c. wad
d. large

None of these are synonyms for “boulder”. Unless... maybe it’s asking for what kind of thing it is? Like “a large object”? But that’s stretching.

Wait — perhaps “boulder” is meant to be matched with “large” as in “a large rock”? But “large” isn’t a noun.

This might be an error in the worksheet. But since we have to choose, and “boulder” = big rock, and “large” describes size — maybe they want “d. large” as the closest?

But that’s weak.

Alternatively — could “boulder” be confused with “beldam”? No.

Wait — maybe it’s “wad”? A wad is a lump — like a wad of paper. Not really.

I think this is a flawed question. But if forced, “large” is the only one that relates to size — and boulders are large.

But let’s hold off — maybe I misread.

Looking back at the user’s input — in question 5, the underlined word is “boulder”, and options include “large”.

Perhaps the intent is to find a word that means “big” — but “boulder” is a noun.

This is confusing. Let’s skip and come back.

Actually — wait! Maybe it’s a typo in the worksheet, and the underlined word is supposed to be “steeply”? No, the user said “boulder”.

Another idea: perhaps “brace” is underlined? No, user said “boulder”.

I think there’s a mistake. But since we must answer, and “boulder” implies something large, I’ll go with d. large — even though it’s not ideal.

But let’s double-check all others first.

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Question 6:
*“I noticed an ample dumpster through the car as I drove idling through the busy in the city.”*
Underlined: ample

“Ample” means plenty, enough, spacious.

Options:
a. grand → impressive → no
b. cute → small and sweet → no
c. spacious → roomy → YES! Matches “ample”
d. tiny → small → opposite

✔ Answer: c. spacious

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Question 7:
*“The insipid girl was a boring personality before, dampened into her family’s expectations.”*
Underlined: insipid

“Insipid” means dull, lacking flavor or interest.

Options:
a. uninteresting → YES! Direct synonym
b. unattractive → not necessarily
c. vivid → colorful → opposite
d. moody → emotional → no

✔ Answer: a. uninteresting

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Question 8:
*“Taking about the size of the universe simply bewilders me.”*
Underlined: bewilders

Means confuses, puzzles, makes dizzy.

Options:
a. enraptures → delights → no
b. confuses → YES! Perfect
c. delights → makes happy → no
d. enrages → makes angry → no

✔ Answer: b. confuses

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Question 9:
*“She shivered with surprise as they leaped to the other side of the canyon, which seemed like a precipice to her.”*
Underlined: precipice

A precipice is a steep cliff or dangerous drop.

Options:
a. deep → could be, but not specific
b. long → no
c. enormous → huge → not exactly
d. dangerous → YES! Because precipice implies danger

Actually, “precipice” specifically means a steep cliff, often with danger. So “dangerous” captures the essence.

But “deep” could also work — but “precipice” is more about the edge, not depth.

“Dangerous” is the best fit among options.

✔ Answer: d. dangerous

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Question 10:
*“Sally seemed completely perplexed by the math problem; after all, she did solve it correctly.”*
Underlined: perplexed

Means confused, puzzled.

Options:
a. confused → YES! Direct synonym
b. delighted → happy → no
c. exasperated → frustrated → possible, but not exact
d. pleased → happy → no

✔ Answer: a. confused

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Now back to Question 5.

We have:
*“We had to climb over a boulder...”*
Options: a. beldam, b. many, c. wad, d. large

None are true synonyms. But “boulder” is a large rock. “Large” is an adjective describing size. Perhaps the question meant to underline “steeply” or something else? But based on what’s given, and since “boulder” is inherently large, and “large” is the only option that relates to its nature, I’ll go with d. large — even though it’s not grammatically parallel.

Alternatively, maybe “wad” — a wad is a lump, like a wad of clay — but a boulder is much bigger.

I think the intended answer is d. large, assuming they want the characteristic.

But let’s think differently — perhaps “boulder” is being used metaphorically? Unlikely.

Another thought: in some contexts, “boulder” can be slang for something large — but still.

I think we have to accept d. large as the best available choice.

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Final Answers:

1. d
2. b
3. c
4. c
5. d
6. c
7. a
8. b
9. d
10. a

But let’s verify question 5 once more.

Wait — in the user’s original text, for question 5, it says:

> 5. We had to climb over a boulder and brace ourselves as we hiked through the steeply sloped mountainside.

And options:
a. beldam
b. many
c. wad
d. large

Perhaps “boulder” is meant to be matched with “large” as in “a large object” — but that’s weak.

Maybe it’s a trick, and “boulder” sounds like “beldam”? No.

Another idea: perhaps “brace” is underlined? But user said “boulder”.

I think it’s a flaw, but for the sake of completing, I’ll keep d. large.

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Final Answer:
d, b, c, c, d, c, a, b, d, a