Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > English & Grammar

Word Detective Test: Master Context Clues

Quick, free context clues test. Instant results to help you infer word meaning.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Daniel ValbergUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustrating context clues quiz theme with layered text blocks, pencil, magnifying glass on golden yellow background

This quiz helps you use context clues to figure out word meanings and strengthen your vocabulary. Work through short passages, pick the best meaning, and see instant feedback so you know what to review next. When you are done, try our context clues quiz for extra practice, build range with a vocabulary quiz, or refresh grammar skills with a parts of speech quiz.

The jubilant crowd cheered as the champion lifted the trophy. What does "jubilant" most likely mean?
Joyful
Sad
Tired
Annoyed
The clue word cheered and the context of celebrating a trophy indicate a very happy reaction. "Jubilant" means feeling or expressing great happiness. It would not fit with sadness, annoyance, or tiredness. For more, see .
After hours of hiking, they were famished and quickly devoured their lunch. What does "famished" mean?
Thirsty
Bored
Hungry
Exhausted
Since they immediately ate lunch after hiking, it implies they were very hungry. "Famished" means extremely hungry. It doesnt refer to thirst, tiredness, or boredom. More details at .
The toddler's antics were endearing, making everyone smile. What does "endearing" most likely mean?
Charming
Annoying
Frightening
Boring
Because the antics made people smile, it suggests something pleasant and lovable. "Endearing" means inspiring affection. Its the opposite of annoying, boring, or frightening. See more at .
Please ensure the document is legible before submission. What does "legible" mean?
Readable
Colorful
Lengthy
Detailed
In the context of a document, "legible" refers to clarity in writing or printing. It means readable. It doesnt refer to color, length, or detail. More at .
She accepted the apology with alacrity, eager to move past the incident. What does "alacrity" mean?
Reluctance
Anger
Enthusiasm
Confusion
The phrase "eager to move past" suggests she did so enthusiastically. "Alacrity" means cheerful readiness or enthusiasm. It is not reluctance, anger, or confusion. Reference: .
The arid landscape stretched before them under the blazing sun. What does "arid" most likely mean?
Lush
Dry
Rocky
Cold
"Arid" describes a very dry environment with little moisture. The blazing sun reinforces that dryness. Its the opposite of lush and unrelated to temperature or terrain texture. See .
The comedian's quip had the audience in stitches. What does "in stitches" suggest?
Yelling angrily
Laughing uncontrollably
Crying softly
Sleeping soundly
Being "in stitches" is an idiom meaning to laugh very hard. It has nothing to do with crying, sleeping, or anger. Learn more at .
The serene lake reflected the mountains like a mirror. What does "serene" most likely mean?
Calm
Noisy
Crowded
Busy
A lake acting like a mirror conveys a sense of calm and stillness. "Serene" means peaceful or calm. It is the opposite of noisy, busy, or crowded. See .
The politician's evasive response only exacerbated the reporters' suspicions. What does "evasive" mean?
Direct
Honest
Clear
Vague
An evasive reply avoids giving a clear answer, making it vague. That lack of clarity often increases suspicion. It is not honest or direct. More detail at .
In the waning days of autumn, the leaves carpeted the ground. What does "waning" mean?
Decreasing
Colorful
Falling
Growing
"Waning" refers to something that is declining or decreasing over time. Here it indicates the end of autumn is approaching. It doesnt refer to color or the act of falling. See .
The scientist's seminal paper laid the groundwork for future research. What does "seminal" mean?
Recent
Uninfluential
Foundational
Plagiarized
A "seminal" work is one that strongly influences later developments; it is foundational. It doesnt imply plagiarism or recency. More at .
Her stoic demeanor masked her inner turmoil. What does "stoic" most likely mean?
Emotional
Joyful
Impassive
Angry
A stoic person shows little emotion even when experiencing strong feelings. The phrase "masked her inner turmoil" suggests she was impassive. Its not emotional, angry, or joyful. See .
The film's denouement surprised the audience with an unexpected twist. What does "denouement" refer to?
Introduction
Conclusion
Soundtrack
Climax
In literature and film, the denouement is the resolution or conclusion after the climax. It ties up loose ends and resolves plot details. It is not the introduction or soundtrack. More at .
He hailed from a bucolic village nestled in the hills. What does "bucolic" mean?
Industrial
Coastal
Urban
Rural
"Bucolic" describes the pleasant aspects of the countryside or rural life. A village in rolling hills suggests a rural setting. It is the opposite of urban or industrial. See .
The surgeon performed the procedure with meticulous precision. What does "meticulous" mean?
Indecisive
Quick
Sloppy
Careful
A meticulous action involves great attention to detail and care. In surgery, precision and careful technique go hand in hand. Its not sloppy, quick, or indecisive. More at .
Despite the scandal, the athlete's integrity remained unimpeachable. What does "unimpeachable" mean?
Beyond reproach
Hypothetical
Questionable
Flawed
"Unimpeachable" describes someone or something that cannot be doubted or criticized. The context shows the athlete maintained a spotless reputation. Its not flawed or hypothetical. See .
The art critic's acerbic review disheartened the budding painter. What does "acerbic" most likely mean?
Sweet
Brief
Harsh
Colorful
An "acerbic" comment is sharply critical or sarcastic. A harsh review would dishearten the painter. Its not sweet, brief, or colorful. More at .
She found solace in the penumbra cast by the tall oak tree. What does "penumbra" mean?
Partial shadow
Forest edge
Tree trunk
Full brightness
In astronomy and general usage, the penumbra is the partially shaded area of a shadow. The oak tree casts a partial shadow, offering solace. Its not full brightness or a forest edge. See .
The CEO's pellucid explanation clarified the company's strategy for investors. What does "pellucid" mean?
Clear
Enlightening
Brief
Obscure
"Pellucid" literally means allowing maximum passage of light and metaphorically very clear. A clarifying explanation is one that is clear. It is not obscure or merely brief. More at .
The archaic manuscript was written in a cipher that took years to decode. What does "archaic" imply?
Foreign
Modern
Very old
Encrypted
"Archaic" refers to something belonging to an earlier period, very old or outdated. A manuscript in a cipher from early times fits that meaning. It isnt modern or necessarily foreign. See .
His perfunctory apology did little to mend their relationship. What does "perfunctory" most likely mean?
Emotional
Sincere
Lengthy
Routine and superficial
A "perfunctory" action is carried out with minimal effort or reflection; its routine and superficial. Such an apology would appear insincere. Its not sincere or heartfelt. Reference: .
The experiment yielded a plethora of unexpected findings. What does "plethora" mean?
Scarcity
Complexity
Controversy
Abundance
"Plethora" denotes an excess or very large amount of something. The context shows many findings appeared. It does not mean scarcity or controversy. More at .
Her laconic reply hinted at her displeasure without stating it outright. What does "laconic" most likely mean?
Wordy
Confused
Enthusiastic
Concise
"Laconic" describes speech or writing that uses few words and is concise. A brief reply that conveys displeasure fits this meaning. It is not wordy or confused. Reference: .
The politician's mendacious statements eventually led to his downfall. What does "mendacious" mean?
Deceitful
Honest
Irrelevant
Inspirational
"Mendacious" means given to or characterized by deception or falsehood. Dishonest statements caused distrust and downfall. It is not honest or inspirational. More at .
The adolescent's recalcitrant behavior made group projects challenging. What does "recalcitrant" mean?
Cooperative
Timid
Stubborn
Respectful
A recalcitrant person resists authority or control and is difficult to manage. The context of challenging group work indicates stubbornness. It is not cooperative, timid, or respectful. See .
0
{"name":"The jubilant crowd cheered as the champion lifted the trophy. What does \"jubilant\" most likely mean?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"The jubilant crowd cheered as the champion lifted the trophy. What does \"jubilant\" most likely mean?, After hours of hiking, they were famished and quickly devoured their lunch. What does \"famished\" mean?, The toddler's antics were endearing, making everyone smile. What does \"endearing\" most likely mean?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Context Clues -

    Recognize and categorize different types of context clues (definition, synonym, antonym, example) within sentences to improve reading comprehension.

  2. Deduce Word Meanings -

    Use targeted context clues exercises to infer meanings of unfamiliar words without relying on a dictionary.

  3. Analyze Sentence Structure -

    Break down sentence patterns in the context clues quiz to discover how surrounding text supports word definitions.

  4. Apply Vocabulary Strategies -

    Implement proven techniques from the vocabulary context clues quiz to confirm word meanings and boost retention.

  5. Evaluate Passage-Level Clues -

    Assess broader textual hints in longer passages when using context clues test questions to understand nuanced meanings.

  6. Sharpen Reading Skills -

    Strengthen overall comprehension by practicing a variety of context clues activities and quizzes designed to challenge word detectives.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Types of Context Clues -

    Understanding the five key context clues - definition, synonym, antonym, example, and inference - builds a strong foundation for any context clues quiz (University of Victoria). For instance, in the sentence "The arboreal creature, a tree-dwelling mammal, chittered," the phrase "tree-dwelling mammal" is a definition clue. Try to identify these in your next context clues exercises to reinforce each type.

  2. Signal Words & Punctuation -

    Signal words such as "however," "for example," "in contrast," and punctuation like em dashes often herald a context clue (Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary). Spotting these markers helps you swiftly identify context clues in any sentence. Practice scanning for these cues during a vocabulary context clues quiz to boost your speed and accuracy.

  3. Step-by-Step Inference Strategy -

    Approach a challenging word by reading the full sentence, substituting your inferred meaning, and checking if the sentence still makes sense (National Reading Panel). This systematic method is central to using context clues test drills and improves your confident decoding of unknown terms. Repeatedly applying this step-by-step inspection deepens comprehension and retention.

  4. Interactive Context Clues Exercises -

    Engaging with graded quizzes on platforms like Quizlet or vocabulary.com provides targeted practice for different difficulty levels. These context clues exercises simulate real-world reading and test your ability to identify context clues under time constraints. Regular, short sessions of a free context clues quiz sharpen your word detective skills effectively.

  5. Remember the "DASIE" Mnemonic -

    Use "DASIE" (Definition, Antonym, Synonym, Inference, Example) to recall the five clue types during a context clues quiz. Crafting a simple memory phrase like "Don't Argue, Sue's Inference Example" can make each category stick. This fun trick boosts recall when you're aiming to identify context clues in every passage.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

English & Grammar Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker