• 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 judge will rule on the case tomorrow. (rule) (an instruction / a strip for measuring lines / make an official decision / reign over a country) → make an official decisionPrompt: 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 / a lamp / gentle, not strong / not dark) → gentle, not strongPrompt: 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 / a stick for hitting a ball / to blink / a flying animal) → a flying animalPrompt: 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. Can you lead the team onto the pitch? What does "lead" mean here? (a pencil tip / a heavy metal / a dog's rope / guide in front) → guide in frontPrompt: 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"? (bed / seed) → 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. The band played live on TV. What does "live" mean here? (had their home there / very slowly / performed as it happened, not recorded / in black and white) → 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. "Please close the door." Does "close" rhyme with "nose" or "dose"? (dose / nose) → nosePrompt: 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.