• Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Words with more than one meaning). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
• Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

1. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The bark of the oak tree was rough. (bark) (the sound a dog makes / the outer layer of a tree / a kind of boat / to shout) → the outer layer of a treePrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
2. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The judge will rule on the case tomorrow. (rule) (reign over a country / a strip for measuring lines / make an official decision / an instruction) → make an official decisionPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
3. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? We sat on the river bank and fished. (bank) (a place for money / a pile / to tilt a plane / the land beside a river) → the land beside a riverPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.

• Show an interesting word in a sentence and ask what it might mean from the clues around it.
• Share the objective: Homographs: same spelling, different meaning (wind, tear, bow). Read the success criteria together.

• Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
• Example: Use the sentence to decide. Can you lead the team onto the pitch? What does "lead" mean here?
• Step 1: Context tells you which meaning of a homograph is meant.
• Step 2: So the answer is: guide in front
• Answer: guide in front
• 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. Use the sentence to decide. The actor took a bow at the end of the show. What does "bow" mean here? (a knot with loops / bend forward to thank people / the back of a boat / a weapon for arrows) → bend forward to thank peoplePrompt: Homographs are spelt the same but have different meanings (and sometimes different sounds).
2. Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "Lead is a heavy metal." Does "lead" rhyme with "bed" or "seed"? (seed / bed) → bedPrompt: First work out what the word means in this sentence.

• 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 8 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. Use the sentence to decide. Lead is a heavy grey metal. What does "lead" mean here? (a heavy metal / guide others / a dog's rope / the front place in a race) → a heavy metalPrompt: Homographs are spelt the same but have different meanings (and sometimes different sounds).
2. Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "My brothers had a row about the remote." (UK: an argument) Does "row" rhyme with "cow" or "go"? (cow / go) → cowPrompt: First work out what the word means in this sentence.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.