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English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Homographs: same spelling, different meaning (wind, tear, bow)

Vocabulary

CCSS L.4.4.ACCSS L.4.5England: Y4 Vocabulary (homographs)England: Y5/6 Reading (word meanings)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Homographs: same spelling, different meaning (wind, tear, bow).

  • 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: Words with more than one meaning

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

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 · 5 min

  • 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? I can't bear to watch scary films. (bear) (carry / a large furry animal / bare / put up with) → put up withPrompt: 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) (a sports ground / a garden / leave a vehicle somewhere / a green area for playing) → leave a vehicle somewherePrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
  3. What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? The bat flew out of the cave at dusk. (bat) (to hit something / to blink / a flying animal / a stick for hitting a ball) → a flying animalPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.

Hook · 5 min

  • 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.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • 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.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. Use the sentence to decide. The band played live on TV. What does "live" mean here? (very slowly / had their home there / in black and white / performed as it happened, not recorded) → performed as it happened, not recordedPrompt: Homographs are spelt the same but have different meanings (and sometimes different sounds).
  2. Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "The shop is close to my house." Does "close" rhyme with "nose" or "dose"? (dose / nose) → dosePrompt: First work out what the word means in this sentence.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Use the sentence to decide. Our house is close to the school. What does "close" mean here? (old / near / shut / far) → nearPrompt: Homographs are spelt the same but have different meanings (and sometimes different sounds).
  2. Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "Don't tear your coat on the fence." Does "tear" rhyme with "bear" or "deer"? (deer / bear) → bearPrompt: First work out what the word means in this sentence.

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: Words with more than one meaning.
  • 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

  • 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-4.

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

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Homographs: same spelling, different meaning (wind, tear, bow)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Use the sentence to decide. Can you lead the team onto the pitch? What does "lead" mean here?

    • A. a dog's rope
    • B. a pencil tip
    • C. guide in front
    • D. a heavy metal

  2. Question 2

    Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "Lead is a heavy metal." Does "lead" rhyme with "bed" or "seed"?

    • A. seed
    • B. bed

  3. Question 3

    Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "Wind the wool into a ball." Does "wind" rhyme with "find" or "pinned"?

    • A. pinned
    • B. find

  4. Question 4

    Use the sentence to decide. We live in a busy city. What does "live" mean here?

    • A. carrying electricity
    • B. full of energy
    • C. have your home
    • D. not recorded

  5. Question 5

    Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "We watched a live concert." Does "live" rhyme with "five" or "give"?

    • A. give
    • B. five

  6. Question 6

    Use the sentence to decide. Don't desert your friends when they need you. What does "desert" mean here?

    • A. visit
    • B. leave and abandon
    • C. feed
    • D. bake

  7. Question 7

    Read the sentence and choose how the word is said. "Please close the door." Does "close" rhyme with "nose" or "dose"?

    • A. dose
    • B. nose

  8. Question 8

    Use the sentence to decide. Be careful not to tear the page. What does "tear" mean here?

    • A. fold
    • B. read
    • C. cry
    • D. rip

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Answer key: Homographs: same spelling, different meaning (wind, tear, bow)

  1. 1. C. guide in front

  2. 2. B. bed

  3. 3. B. find

  4. 4. C. have your home

  5. 5. B. five

  6. 6. B. leave and abandon

  7. 7. B. nose

  8. 8. D. rip