How to Use Context to Identify the Meaning of a Word?

Study the Following Sentences. Complete as per the Instructions given under Each Sentence

1. Maria left her phone on the left side of the room.

Circle the word “left” in the above sentence, which means direction.

2. The baseball pitcher asked for a pitcher of water.

Circle the word “pitcher” in the above sentence, which means- the player who throws the ball to the opposing batter.

3. Anne will park the car so we can walk in the park.

Circle the word “park” in the above sentence, which means bringing (a vehicle that one is driving) to a halt and leaving it temporarily.

4. The crane flew above the construction crane.

Circle the word “crane” in the above sentence, which means a large, tall machine used for lifting heavy objects by suspending them from a projecting arm or beam.

Here are the Answers!!!!

1. Maria left her phone on the left side of the room.

Circle the word “left” in the above sentence, which means direction.

2. The pitcher asked for a pitcher of water.

Circle the word “pitcher” in the above sentence, which means- the player who throws the ball to the opposing batter.

3. Anne will park the car so we can walk in the park.

Circle the word “park” in the above sentence, which means bringing a vehicle to a halt and leaving it temporarily.

4. The crane flew above the construction

Circle the word “crane” in the above sentence, which means a large, tall machine used for lifting heavy objects by suspending them from a projecting arm or beam.

What did you notice having completed the activity?

You must have sensed that the same word has a completely different meaning in the sentence according to the context.

This means that you can determine what these words mean through context.

Let Us First Understand What Is Meant by Contextual Meaning

Inferring the meaning of a word with the aid of contextual clues is called contextual meaning.

These clues have the following specification:

1. Situational or purely linguistic.
2. The linguistic context: It is the linguistic environment in which a word is used within a text.

Now, Let Us Study Some More Examples

Let us explore some words and observe how the meanings change based on the context.

The word – Compact

Example: The compact design of the machine allows it to be stored easily.

(Here, “compact” means small.)

Example: Linda brought a compact case for makeup.

(Here, it refers to a makeup holder.) (As shown in the picture)

The word – DESERT:

Example: Did you visit the Sahara Desert? (As shown in the picture)

(Here, the word “desert” is a dry, barren area of land where little or no rain occurs.)

Example: He was deserted by his parents when he was 14.

(In the above sentence, the word “desert” means to abandon a person or a cause.)

Now, Let Us Discuss Contexts

Why do the same words have different meanings in different contexts?

Same words have different meanings because of the following qualities of word meaning:

1. Denotative
2. Multiple meanings based on parts of speech/homophones, etc.
3. Figurative
4. Metaphorical
5. Connotative

1. Denotation is the word’s literal or direct meaning in dictionary,

Example: 

• Elated: Joyful
• Apparently: Seemingly.

2. Multiple meanings based on parts of speech/homophones, etc.

First, let us discuss the different meanings of the same word based on parts of speech.

a. For example, the word “project” has many meanings:

First, as a verb, it can mean to cast an image on the surface, to plan, to throw, etc.

Then as a noun, it is a task or piece of work.

b. The word “fine” has many meanings and also has two different adjectives in it.

Firstly, it can be used to describe something as high quality.

Secondly, it can describe something especially thin.

As a noun, “fine” means a payment for a violation of rules such as traffic, etc.

i. Homographs (literally meaning “same writing”) are usually defined as words that share the same spelling, regardless of how they are pronounced.

ii. Homophones are words that are pronounced in the same way- homonyms.

Example: Bark (the sound of a dog) and bark (the skin of a tree).

iii. Heteronyms are words that are pronounced differently but are spoken similarly.

Example: Bow means the front of a ship, and a bow is a ranged weapon.

iv. Homophones (literally “same sound”) are the words with the same pronunciation; without considering how they are being spelled.

If the spelling is the same, then they are also homographs (and homonyms).

Example: Rose (flower) and rose (past tense of rising).

v. If they are spelled differently, then they are also heterography (literally “different writing”).

Heterographic examples include to, too, two, and there, their, they’re.

3. Figurative meaning – This is the figurative meaning of the word when they are used metaphorically as “figures of speech.” Then, they have figurative meaning in context.

Let’s look at the following examples.

• Jane told him a million times to stop talking loudly.! (Literal meaning is to tell a number of times)
• Jack was so hungry he could eat a cow. (It simply means Jack was hungry to a great extent.)
• The project cost me an arm and a leg! (To be very expensive)

4. Using the word metaphorical indicates the words with their ordinary meaning, but they are describing something by means of an image or symbols.

Example:

• “Raining cats and dogs,”
• “Throw the baby out with the bathwater,”
• “Heart of gold.”

5. Connotations

When the words evoke feelings, associations, and

ideas beyond their literal or primary definition. These types are often

culturally based.

Connotations can be negative, positive, or neutral.

For example:

1. Childish: The way he acted at dinner was childish and silly.
2. Woman: I know that woman over by the bar.
3. Stunning: The suit that he wore to the inaugural party was stunning.

1. The first example, “childish,” indicates he acted in an immature way.

Describing that an adult is acting “childishly” is not a good remark but rather insulting, connoting a lack of maturity, responsibility, and wisdom in him.

However, if an adult is described as “childlike,” the connotation is positive.

2. In the next example, the word -woman means nothing but a female.

The word does not show her being good-hearted or mean-spirited or anything like that. In effect, neutral connotations are better thought of as not having connotations so much as simple, literal meaning.

In the third example, “stunning” has a positive connotation, implying that the dress is beautiful or gorgeous, which can only be interpreted as complimentary.