CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4

ELA4th GradeVocabulary Acquisition and Use

The Standard

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts · Language Standards

What This Standard Means

Students need to figure out unfamiliar words while reading, not just skip them or ask right away. They should use context clues, word parts like prefixes and suffixes, root words, glossaries, dictionaries, and classroom resources. They also need to notice when a word has more than one meaning and choose the meaning that fits the sentence.

Mastery looks like a student explaining, “I think this means ___ because ___,” then checking if it makes sense. Students often get stuck by using only one nearby clue, picking the first dictionary meaning, or ignoring how the word is used in the whole sentence or paragraph.

Ways to Teach It

  • Give pairs a short passage with five covered words, then have them infer meanings using sentence clues before revealing the words.
  • Ask students to write, “The word ___ probably means ___ because the text says ___,” using a word from today’s reading.
  • Show three sentences with the same multiple-meaning word, and have students match each use to the correct definition.
  • Bring in a sports article, recipe, or game directions, and have students identify words whose meanings change by context.

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Related Standards

Standard text verified against corestandards.org on July 10, 2026.

Page updated July 10, 2026.

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