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English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Words with more than one meaning

Vocabulary

CCSS L.3.4CCSS L.4.4England: Y3 VocabularyEngland: 11+ English (multiple meanings)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Words with more than one meaning.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Using context clues

Leads to: Homographs: same spelling, different meaning (wind, tear, bow); Multiple-meaning words: 'most nearly means' in context

Materials: Word cards, A thesaurus or dictionary, A short text with the target words, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Using context clues). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Use the clues in the sentence. What does the word in brackets mean? The fragile vase broke when it fell over. (fragile) (very heavy / easily broken / brightly painted / very expensive) → easily brokenPrompt: Look at the other words in the sentence. What do they tell you?
  2. Use context clues. What does the word in brackets most likely mean? The mayor's speech was laconic: just two sentences long. (laconic) (very rude / using few words / extremely long / full of jokes) → using few wordsPrompt: Look for signal words: unlike, despite, so…that, a colon or dash that explains.
  3. Use the clues in the sentence. What does the word in brackets mean? The cake was enormous; it filled the whole table. (enormous) (very cold / very sweet / very old / very big) → very bigPrompt: Look at the other words in the sentence. What do they tell you?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
  • Share the objective: Words with more than one meaning. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The kite flew high in the light breeze. (light)
  • Step 1: The rest of the sentence tells us which meaning a multiple-meaning word has.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: gentle, not strong
  • Answer: gentle, not strong
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? Can you match the socks into pairs? (match) (a game between teams / find things that go together / be equal to / a stick that makes fire) → find things that go togetherPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
  2. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? She will park the car outside. (park) (leave a vehicle somewhere / a garden / a sports ground / a green area for playing) → leave a vehicle somewherePrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The kite flew high in the light breeze. (light) (gentle, not strong / not dark / a lamp / not heavy in weight) → gentle, not strongPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
  2. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? I can't bear to watch scary films. (bear) (bare / put up with / carry / a large furry animal) → put up withPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.

Watch out for

  • Picking a "bigger" synonym that doesn't fit the meaning.
  • Ignoring the clues in the rest of the sentence.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Using context clues.
  • Use concrete materials: word cards.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Homographs: same spelling, different meaning (wind, tear, bow); Multiple-meaning words: 'most nearly means' in context.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Words with more than one meaning

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The bat flew out of the cave at dusk. (bat)

    • A. a stick for hitting a ball
    • B. to hit something
    • C. a flying animal
    • D. to blink

  2. Question 2

    What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The bark of the oak tree was rough. (bark)

    • A. the sound a dog makes
    • B. the outer layer of a tree
    • C. a kind of boat
    • D. to shout

  3. Question 3

    What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? Please wave to Grandma from the window. (wave)

    • A. a curl in hair
    • B. a moving ridge of water
    • C. move your hand to say hello
    • D. a sudden feeling

  4. Question 4

    What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? Don't forget to file your homework in the folder. (file)

    • A. put papers in order
    • B. a tool for smoothing nails
    • C. a line of people
    • D. a computer document

  5. Question 5

    What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The judge will rule on the case tomorrow. (rule)

    • A. reign over a country
    • B. an instruction
    • C. make an official decision
    • D. a strip for measuring lines

  6. Question 6

    What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? We sat on the river bank and fished. (bank)

    • A. to tilt a plane
    • B. a pile
    • C. the land beside a river
    • D. a place for money

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Answer key: Words with more than one meaning

  1. 1. C. a flying animal

  2. 2. B. the outer layer of a tree

  3. 3. C. move your hand to say hello

  4. 4. A. put papers in order

  5. 5. C. make an official decision

  6. 6. C. the land beside a river