Words with Multiple Meanings

Multiple Meaning Words

Dictionary Skills - A Story

Long ago, in ancient times before Google was created, old people like your teachers, had to look words up in a book called a dictionary. :) Dictionaries still exist in current times, but we usually use Google to look up words. However, Dictionary Skills are still important because they help with critical thinking, and this lesson will help you understand what a dictionary definition offers even if it is from Google. The end.

Multiple Choice

How many of these definitions are verbs?

Knot (not)

n. 1. a loop made by fastening string

v. 2. to make a knot in

n. 3. a small hard spot in a peice of wood

n. 4. a unit for measuring the speed of a ship

• 1

• 2

• 3

• none

Multiple Choice

How many definitions does the word knot have?

Knot (not)

n. 1. a loop made by fastening string

v. 2. to make a knot in

n. 3. a small hard spot in a peice of wood

n. 4. a unit for measuring the speed of a ship

• 3

• 4

• 5

• 6

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: What is the adjective form of the word minuscule?

• minuscular

• minusculious

• minusculely

• miniscule

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: The word deliberate can be used as what two parts of speech?

• adjective and verb

• interjection and verb

• adjective and adverb

• adjective and interjection

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: What part of speech is the word trepidation?

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• preposition

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: The word vacillate comes from a word that means what?

• to waver

• to change between one state and another

• to be unable to choose between different courses of action

• to sway from one side to another

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: The word stupendous comes from a word that means what?

• to be stunned

• remarkable

• extremely large in amount

• so great in importance as to amaze

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: What part of speech is the word import?

• noun

• adjective

• verb

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: From what language does the word contour originate?

• English

• American

• Latin

• French

Context Clues

When you don’t know the meaning of a word in a sentence, you can look around the word for context clues. 

Luna didn’t want to conform to other people’s ideas, or be like everyone else. Instead, she wanted to express her own ideas, even if no one agreed with her. 

Look around the word conform for context clues to what it might mean!

Open Ended

What context clues did you see in the sentence?

Luna didn’t want to conform to other people’s ideas, or be like everyone else. Instead, she wanted to express her own ideas, even if no one agreed with her. 

Which definition best fits the meaning of conform?

Multiple Choice

Which definition best fits the meaning of conform in the sentence?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: Which sentence correctly uses the first definition of obstruct?

• The terrorists' plan was obstructed by the witness's report.

• We expected an ocean view, but our view of the beach was obstructed by the construction crane.

• The snowbanks completely obstructed the roads in and out of our neighborhood.

• An emergency meeting of the basketball team obstructed our ability to get practice over with early.

Multiple Choice

Refer to the dictionary entry in the photo: Which sentence correctly uses the second definition of rebound?

• My grades rebounded after I stayed after school for tutoring.

• The softball rebounded off the catcher's mit and hit the batter in the eye.

• The game turned on a great rebound.

• Every great player must be able to recover a rebound.