To use context clues to understand unfamiliar words, the most effective method is by looking at surrounding words for meaning. Context clues are hints or information provided within the text that can help deduce the meaning of an unfamiliar word. This can include the words or sentences around the unfamiliar word, synonyms, antonyms, examples, or descriptions that provide insight into its meaning.
While looking up a word in the dictionary or asking a teacher for definitions can be helpful, these methods do not rely on context clues. Discussing the text with other students can assist in comprehension but does not directly utilize context clues for understanding individual words.