• 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 room was so dim that we could hardly see. (dim) (not bright / not warm / not clean / not quiet) → not brightPrompt: 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 ruins were the vestiges of an ancient city. (vestiges) (new buildings / rulers / remaining traces / maps) → remaining tracesPrompt: 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 water was so murky that we couldn't see the fish. (murky) (very deep / cloudy and dark / crystal clear / freezing cold) → cloudy and darkPrompt: Look at the other words in the sentence. What do they tell you?

• 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.

• 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.

• 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? The bat flew out of the cave at dusk. (bat) (a stick for hitting a ball / to blink / to hit something / a flying animal) → a flying animalPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
2. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The bark of the oak tree was rough. (bark) (the outer layer of a tree / the sound a dog makes / a kind of boat / to shout) → the outer layer of a treePrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.

• 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.

• 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? Turn right at the traffic lights. (right) (fair / something you are allowed / correct / the opposite of left) → the opposite of leftPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
2. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The kite flew high in the light breeze. (light) (not heavy in weight / gentle, not strong / not dark / a lamp) → gentle, not strongPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.

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