SSAT Middle Level Verbal

A comprehensive guide to mastering vocabulary, analogies, and verbal reasoning for the SSAT Middle Level.

Understanding VocabularySentence CompletionAnalogies
Recognizing Context CluesMultiple-Meaning WordsWord Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
Using Verbal Skills in CommunicationReading Comprehension in Daily LifeLearning New Words from Media
Process of EliminationTime ManagementReading for CluesGuessing Smartly
Understanding Vocabu...Sentence CompletionAnalogiesRecognizing Context ...Multiple-Meaning Wor...Word Roots, Prefixes...Using Verbal Skills ...Reading Comprehensio...Learning New Words f...Process of Eliminati...Time ManagementReading for CluesGuessing Smartly
Advanced Topics

Recognizing Context Clues

Unlocking Meanings with Clues

Sometimes, you won’t know a word in a sentence—but you can still figure it out! Context clues are hints in the sentence or surrounding sentences that help you guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.

Types of Context Clues

  • Definition clues: The word is defined in the sentence.
  • Synonym/antonym clues: Similar or opposite words appear nearby.
  • Example clues: Examples help explain the word.

Strategies for Success

  • Underline clue words or phrases.
  • Reread sentences for extra hints.
  • Use logic and what you already know.

Why This Matters

In school and life, you’ll often encounter new words. Context clues help you become an independent reader and learner!

Examples

  • The arboretum, a place with many types of trees, was beautiful in autumn.

  • Unlike his gregarious sister, who loved parties, Max was very shy.

In a Nutshell

Context clues help you figure out unknown words without a dictionary.

Key Terms

Context Clue
A hint in the text that helps you figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word.
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Multiple-Meaning Words