Words That Wear Many Hats: Exploring Multiple Meaning Words

English Language Arts Grades Pre-K 1:51 Video
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Lesson Description

An engaging lesson introducing Pre-K students to the concept of multiple meaning words using visual examples and interactive activities. We'll learn that some words sound and look the same, but can mean different things!

Video Resource

Multiple Meaning Words

Samantha McNamara

Duration: 1:51
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Multiple meaning words
  • Same spelling, different meanings
  • Context clues

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify that some words have more than one meaning.
  • Students will be able to provide an example of a multiple meaning word.
  • Students will be able to differentiate between the meanings of a word based on context (with prompting).

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know that some words can mean different things. For instance, ask if they have ever heard the word 'bat' used in different ways. Briefly introduce the topic of 'multiple meaning words' as words that sound the same but have different meanings.
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Play the YouTube video "Multiple Meaning Words" by Samantha McNamara (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoOzJRXrCMU). Encourage students to watch and listen carefully to the examples provided.
  • Discussion and Examples (10 mins)
    After the video, discuss the words presented. For each word (wave, watch, bowl, bat, light, bark, park, ring), ask students to share what they saw in the video and explain the two different meanings shown. Guide them with prompting if needed.
  • Interactive Game: Picture This! (10 mins)
    Show pictures representing different meanings of the same word (e.g., a picture of a baseball bat and a picture of a flying bat). Ask students to identify the word and describe what they see in each picture, highlighting the different meanings.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the concept of multiple meaning words. Ask students to try and think of other words that might have more than one meaning. Praise their efforts and encourage further exploration.

Interactive Exercises

  • Word Association
    Say a multiple meaning word (e.g., 'park') and have students act out or draw one of its meanings (e.g., pretending to swing on a swing set or drawing a car in a parking lot).
  • Meaning Match
    Prepare cards with pictures representing different meanings of the same word. Have students match the pictures that go together because they share a common word.

Discussion Questions

  • Can you think of a time you heard a word used in two different ways?
  • Why is it important to know that some words have multiple meanings?
  • Can you use the word 'light' in two different sentences, each with a different meaning?

Skills Developed

  • Vocabulary acquisition
  • Listening comprehension
  • Critical thinking
  • Categorization

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

A word can have more than one...

Correct Answer: Meaning

Question 2:

Which of these can you eat soup out of?

Correct Answer: A bowl

Question 3:

Which of these can fly?

Correct Answer: A bat

Question 4:

What do you wear on your finger?

Correct Answer: A ring

Question 5:

Which one helps you see in the dark?

Correct Answer: Light

Question 6:

Where can you play with your friends?

Correct Answer: A park

Question 7:

Which one tells time?

Correct Answer: A watch

Question 8:

Which word describes a big push of water in the ocean?

Correct Answer: Wave

Question 9:

What does a dog do?

Correct Answer: Bark

Question 10:

Where can you put your car?

Correct Answer: A park

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

You can eat soup in a ________.

Correct Answer: bowl

Question 2:

A ________ can fly at night.

Correct Answer: bat

Question 3:

I wear my _______ on my finger.

Correct Answer: ring

Question 4:

I can turn on the ______ to see.

Correct Answer: light

Question 5:

A dog will ______.

Correct Answer: bark

Question 6:

I can play at the ________ with my friends.

Correct Answer: park

Question 7:

The _______ tells me the time.

Correct Answer: watch

Question 8:

There is a big __________ in the ocean.

Correct Answer: wave

Question 9:

Dogs have _______ on trees.

Correct Answer: bark

Question 10:

Cars use a _______________.

Correct Answer: park

Educational Standards

PK.4.R.3:Students will begin to acquire new vocabulary and relate new words to prior knowledge. PK.1.L.1:Students will actively listen using agreed-upon rules with prompting. PK.1.S.3:Students will ask and answer questions with prompting. PK.4.W.1:Students will begin to use new vocabulary to produce and expand complete sentences in shared language activities.

Teaching Materials

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