Question

a clue that helps the reader to understand a words meaning by using a comparison to connect the word to another word or idea is known as a drop - down options: definition, example, explanation, synonym clue.

Explanation:

A synonym is a word or phrase that has the same or nearly the same meaning as another word or phrase. Using a synonym as a context - clue helps readers understand a word's meaning by making a comparison to a more familiar word or idea.

Answer:

synonym