Determining Multiple Meanings of Words

Determine the Meaning of Words

Today we will look at different strategies used to help readers determine the meaning of unknown words or multiple-meaning words.

Open Ended

When you see the word "coach" what do you think of?

Multiple-meanings

• Some of you may have said someone who teaches you a sport

• Some of you may have said to give someone instructions

• Some may have even said a horse-drawn carriage

• Whatever definition you gave, it is understood that the word coach has multiple meanings

• To truly understand the meaning of a word we must look at how it is used in context

Dictionary

• One way to figure out the meaning of a word that does not make sense in the given context is to use a dictionary

• Readers can use the dictionary to look up the multiple meanings of a word, then determine how it is being used in the text

Multiple Choice

Determine the meaning of the word bear in the following sentence.

The bear has two cubs.

• (v) carry the weight of; support.

• (v) endure (an ordeal or difficulty).

• (n) a large, heavy mammal

• (n) a large, heavy, cumbersome man

Multiple Choice

Determine the meaning of the word bear in the following sentence.

I cannot bear loud music.

• (v) carry the weight of; support.

• (v) endure (an ordeal or difficulty).

• (n) a large, heavy mammal

• (n) a large, heavy, cumbersome man

Multiple Choice

What is Diction?

• An author's perspective on a topic

• An author's claim

• An author's choice of words

• An author's opinion

Multiple Choice

What is tone?

• An author/speaker's attitude towards the topic.

• The volume of the Author's voice

• The dictionary meaning of a word

• The emotional association of a word

Multiple Choice

Connotation is

• The dictionary meaning of a word

• The emotion or feeling associated with a word

• The dictionary meaning of a word

• The intensity of a word.

Multiple Choice

Read the following passage and determine whether it evokes positive or negative connotative meaning.

Deserts encompass almost one fifth of the Earth’s land surface. Vast stretches of empty sand stretch over a barren, secluded landscape. The endless sea of sand shifts constantly with the wind over the solitary scene. Scarce foliage inhabits the stark environment. The desolate land supports little life. Solitary snakes and lizards seek out enough food to exist. The extreme heat of the day withers the land, making it barren and dry. The night is cold and desolate.

• Positive

• Negative

Multiple Choice

1. Buster was a puny dog. He couldn’t even scare that cat that lived next door.

What is the denotative meaning of the word “puny” in the sentence above?

• small

• large

• noisy

• heavy

Idiom

• Definition- An idiom is a phrase or expression that is not meant to be taken literally, but is used to exaggerate a point.

• Example- It's raining cats and dogs.

Alliteration

• Definition- Repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close together. Similar to a tongue twister.

• Example- Silly sally sold sea shells by the sea shore.

Oxymoron

• Definition- A figure of speech where two contradictory things appear together (opposites)

• Examples- Jumbo shrimp, deafening silence

Onomatopoeia

• Definition- the process of creating a word that imitates or resembles the sound that it describes.

• Examples- Chirp, meow, boom, zap, pow!

Multiple Choice

Silly sally sold sea shells by the sea shore.

• Methaphor

• Idiom

• Personification

• Alliteration

Multiple Choice

My keys grew legs and ran away!

• Alliteration

• Personification

• Idiom

• Metaphor

Multiple Choice

Chirp, meow, boom, zap, pow!

• Onomatopoeia

• Personification

• Oxymoron

• Metaphor

Multiple Choice

Which one: The raindrops jumped and danced on the window?

• hyperbole

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

Multiple Choice

Which one: The new pillows were fluffy marshmallows?

• hyperbole

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

Multiple Choice

Which figure of speech: Belinda's fingers were icicles after her ice skating lesson?

• hyperbole

• metaphor

• simile

• personification

Multiple Choice

Which phrase uses literal language?

Literal Language

Literal Language – You say exactly what you mean. 

You make no comparison, and you do not exaggerate or understate the situation.

  The car is blue.

  He caught the football.

Multiple Choice

Literal or Figurative??

Her teeth are like stars because they come out at night.

• literal language

• figurative language

Multiple Choice

Literal or Figurative??

When she sings, her voice is like velvet.

• literal language

• figurative language

Multiple Choice

Literal or Figurative??

Grant always turns in his homework.

• literal language

• figurative language

Figurative Language

 Does not mean what it says.  You have to figure out what it means

          

 I’ve got your back.

            

You’re a doll.