Language Arts Lesson 1
Word Analysis, Fluency and Vocabulary Development

Instruction 1-3

Word Origins | Context Clues | Multiple Meanings of Words | Figurative and Metaphorical Use of Words | Summary

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MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF WORDS
 http://home.alphalink.com.au/~umbidas/Homonyms_main.htm
CA GR6 R 1.2
When people from other countries try to learn English, they often find it difficult. One reason is that the same word can have several different meanings. For example, a bank can be either the side of a river or a place where you keep money. Or it can even mean "to count on" as in, "you can bank on it." How can you tell which meaning is intended? From the context, as we explained in our last Instruction.

Unfortunately, there aren't any logical rules here. You just have to memorize a lot of word meanings and get really good at deciphering context clues. In fact, this might be an excellent time to reread our last Instruction.

Let's say you read this sentence, "The Partridge family went on a trip to Hawaii." Trip could mean (a) to fall over something, (b) a journey or (c) something funny. From the context, you can tell that the trip in this sentence means "a journey." Or take this sentence, "When the terrorists attacked, many people offered to lend a hand." Hand can mean (a) help or assistance (b) a part of the arm or (c) to give over -- as in "to hand over." In this context, it means "to help."

Here is a list of a few common words which have multiple meanings:

the word what it can mean
march
  • the third month of the year
  • to step together in rhythm
  • a group of people "marching" together
check
  • a piece of paper that represents a sum of money
  • a specific play in Chess
  • a mark beside your answer on a test
  • a pattern in clothing
  • to look carefully ("check it out")
  • to borrow a book from a library ("check out")
  • paying for something ("checkout")
watch
  • something you wear on your wrist to tell time
  • to look at (as in "to watch TV")
bark
  • the sound a dog makes
  • the "skin" of a tree
  • a kind of candy ("almond bark")
bat
  • a nocturnal flying creature
  • what you use to hit a baseball
  • to swing at something ("my cat bats at her ball")
bar
  • a place where you drink alcoholic beverages
  • a small hand-held quantity of hard soap
  • what you "high jump" over
play
  • a dramatic entertainment ("the class play")
  • to take part in a game or activity

We could go on for pages. But let's practice figuring out what a word means in a couple of specific examples. We'll give you a main sentence and several other sentences. Look for the underlined word in the main sentence. Then see if you can tell which other sentence means the same thing.

Main sentence: Mary likes to come to my house and play with me.
Other sentences:
  1. He starred in our class play.
  2. My favorite play is "My Fair Lady."
  3.  I like to play checkers.

 The answer is c -- in this case play means "to take part in a game or activity."

Or this --

Main sentence: I have a new watch.
Other sentences:
  1. Did you watch American Idol?
  2. My watch is on the dresser.
  3. I don't watch many movies.
   

The answer is b -- in this case watch means something you wear on your wrist to tell time.

The only way you can learn all this is to practice, practice, practice. To begin, click on the following

for Students, Parents and Teachers

Now let's do Practice Exercise 1-3 (top).

 

Next Page:  Figurative and Metaphorical Use of Words (top)