Students may wonder why some words can have two or more different meanings that seem to have nothing in common. In Brian Barratt’s article, “ 50 words with multiple meanings: A History of Homonyms,” he explains that’s because the English language has words that have come from many other languages. Words that look alike may have come from different sources, and even if they came from the same source, their meanings might have changed through the years.
Homonym Practice Activities
Remind students that homonyms are words that look alike and sound alike, but have more than one meaning. Write these words on the dry board or on a transparency:
- season
- dash
- row
- bowl
- cape
Ask the students to give two meanings for each word. Guide them to see that season can mean a part of a year or to make food taste better. Dash can mean to run fast, or it can be a written symbol. Call on students to use season in a sentence where it means a part of the year and another sentence where the word means to make food taste better. Continue until students have given two meanings and two sentences for each word.
Write these sentences and possible answers on the board:
- We saw a _________fly out of the cave.
- He swung the ________and struck out.
- bird
- rope
- bat
- ball
Give several more examples on the board.
Homonyms on Standardized Tests
Students are already familiar with many of the words that have more than one meaning. They use them in speech and writing, and recognize them when they read. Although the students may be familiar with multiple meaning words, they sometimes run into problems when they take standardized tests. It’s important for them to become familiar with the format that they will see on the tests.
Assessment Homonyms
Have students make up questions similar to the ones that you demonstrated on the board. Ask them to trade papers and check their classmates’ work. Give them practice with the kind of worksheets they are likely to encounter on their achievement tests.
Even though students may be comfortable with reading, writing, and hearing common words that look alike and sound alike but have different meanings, they will find some homonyms confusing, It's important to explain the concept and to give them practice using and understanding homonyms. Students who have had adequate instruction on homonyms will have less confusion when they hear or read unfamiliar ones.
DeLene Sholes - DeLene Sholes is a former teacher, principal, and curriculum coordinator who writes from her home in Grayton Beach, Florida.
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