Use the sentence to complete the activity.

Carlos was ambidextrous, so, when he sprained his right wrist, he was still able to throw accurately with this left hand.

In 3–5 sentences, define ambidextrous and explain how both the context clues and word parts can help you discover the word’s meaning.

Ambidextrous means being able to use both hands equally well. The word can be understood by breaking it down into its word parts: “ambi” means both or both sides, and “dexter” means right. The context clues in the sentence also help to define the word as it mentions Carlos spraining his right wrist, but still being able to throw accurately with his left hand. This indicates that ambidextrous refers to someone who can use both hands skillfully regardless of their dominant hand being injured or unavailable.

Ambidextrous is an adjective used to describe someone who is able to use both hands equally well. In this context, Carlos is referred to as ambidextrous because he is capable of throwing accurately with both his right and left hand. By breaking down the word ambidextrous, we can gain further insights into its meaning. The prefix "ambi-" means "both," indicating that the person can use both hands. The root word "dexter" originates from the Latin word "dexter," meaning "right," which suggests the ability to use both hands with equal skill. The suffix "-ous" denotes possession or being full of a certain quality, in this case, the ability to use both hands proficiently. Contextually, the mention of Carlos being able to throw accurately with his left hand despite injuring his right wrist further supports the idea that ambidextrous means having equal dexterity in both hands.

The word "ambidextrous" refers to the ability to use both hands equally well. In the given sentence, Carlos's ambidexterity is mentioned in the context of his ability to throw accurately even though he sprained his right wrist. By analyzing the context clues, we can infer that ambidextrous means being able to use both hands skillfully. Furthermore, the word itself provides some hints about its meaning. The prefix "ambi-" means "both" or "both sides," indicating that the word is related to the use of both hands. The word part "-dextrous" comes from the Latin word "dexter," meaning "right," further suggesting that ambidextrous refers to having equal skill with both the right and left hand.