English lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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.
- Use the clues in the sentence. What does the word in brackets mean? We had to postpone the match because of the storm, so we will play next week. (postpone) (put off until later / watch on TV / cancel forever / win easily) → put off until laterPrompt: Look at the other words in the sentence. What do they tell you?
- 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 / extremely long / full of jokes / using few words) → using few wordsPrompt: Look for signal words: unlike, despite, so…that, a colon or dash that explains.
- Use context clues. What does the word in brackets most likely mean? The plant thrived in the sunny window, growing three new leaves a week. (thrived) (wilted / was eaten / was moved / grew well) → grew wellPrompt: Look for signal words: unlike, despite, so…that, a colon or dash that explains.
Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? I can't bear to watch scary films. (bear) (a large furry animal / bare / carry / put up with) → put up withPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
- What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? Turn right at the traffic lights. (right) (something you are allowed / correct / the opposite of left / fair) → the opposite of leftPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- What does the word in brackets mean in THIS sentence? Can you match the socks into pairs? (match) (find things that go together / be equal to / a game between teams / a stick that makes fire) → find things that go togetherPrompt: Many words have more than one meaning.
- 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 / a kind of boat / to shout / the sound a dog makes) → the outer layer of a treePrompt: 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