When you use context clues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word, what skill are you using?

• A. Spelling.
• B. Word meaning inference.
• C. Memorization.
• D. Skimming.

Answer: (B)

Using context clues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word relies on inferring meaning from surrounding text. You look for signals like a direct definition nearby, synonyms or antonyms, examples, restatements, or contrasts that hint at what the word means. By piecing together these clues, you form a reasonable definition that fits the sentence and the broader passage. That process—drawing a plausible meaning from evidence in the text—is word meaning inference.

Spelling isn’t about figuring out what a word means; it focuses on the correct arrangement of letters. Memorization is about recalling information from memory, not deriving meaning from context. Skimming is reading quickly to get the general idea, not necessarily interpreting an unfamiliar word from context.