Multiple Meaning Words

What Are Multiple Meaning Words?

• Multiple Meaning Words (also called Homonyms) are words that are spelled the same and sound the same, but have different meanings.
• Think of them as "Double Agents." One word can do two (or more) completely different jobs.
• To understand which meaning is being used, you have to look at the context (the other words in the sentence).

Common Multiple Meaning Words Here are some famous words that wear more than one "hat":

• BAT:

1. A wooden club used in sports.
2. A nocturnal animal that flies.

• BARK:

1. The sound a dog makes.
2. The outer skin of a tree trunk.

• WATCH:

1. A small clock you wear on your wrist.
2. The act of looking at something carefully.

• RING:

1. A piece of jewelry for your finger.
2. The sound a phone or a bell makes.

How to Find the Right Meaning When you see a word with multiple meanings, use the "Detective Method":

1. Read the whole sentence.
2. Look for "Clue Words."

• Example: "I hit the ball with my bat."
• The Clue: "Hit" and "Ball" tell you this bat is a sports tool, not a flying animal.

Why Do We Learn This?

• Reading Comprehension: It stops you from getting confused when a word doesn't seem to make sense at first.
• Vocabulary: It helps you realize that you actually know more words than you think—some words just have hidden "extra" meanings!
• Jokes and Riddles: Most funny puns and riddles use multiple-meaning words to trick your brain!

Lesson Summary

• Some words are spelled the same but have different jobs.
• These are called Multiple Meaning Words or Homonyms.
• Use the rest of the sentence to find out which meaning is the right one.