Multiple Meaning Words Wolfe 2014

 Multiple Meaning Video Multiple Meaning Video  Multiple meaning words are words that have various meanings.You have to use context clues to figure out which definition of the word is being used in the given sentence.

 The word cram is a familiar word; however, it has multiple meanings that could confuse the reader. Look at the dictionary entry below to learn all the meanings of cram.

 cram (kram) v.  to pack tight  to eat quickly  to prepare hastily for an exam  to force or stuff something into a small space  Definition 1: Erin crammed her suitcase full of clothes for her trip to Europe.  Definition 2: Jacob was in a hurry, so he crammed his sandwich and left.  Definition 3: The night before the test, Jonah and Ivan crammed for the test.  Definition 4: Ava crammed tissue paper into her nose when she had a bloody nose.

Multiple Meaning Words are words that have several meanings depending upon how they are used in a sentence. We use CONTEXT CLUES to help us figure out which meaning is correct.

 Examples How many meanings can you think of for the words in bold?  The decisive battle for the Second Punic War was the Battle of Zama. During the war, the Romans fought against the forces of Hannibal from Carthage. At Zama, the Romans were able to gain the upper hand when they defeated the exhausted Carthaginians. The victory left the Carthaginians vulnerable.  Citizen Kane is considered one of the best movies of all time. The main character of the movie is based upon the American newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst. The movie follows the life of the character as he pursues power and wealth.

Let’s Practice Read the underlined word in each sentence. Choose the sentence in which the word has the same meaning as in the original sentence. Are you ready?

 1. She took a trip to Florida. A. Be careful, or you will trip! B. We planned our trip together. C. I trip over things very often. The correct answer is B.

 2. I turned on the light so I could see better. A. The feather was very light. B. She wore light colors because it was going to be a hot day. C. There is only one light in the living room. The correct answer is C.

 3. Will you check my answers for me? A. Mom wrote a check for the fieldtrip. B. I will check and see if the cat is in the house. C. If you get a check it means the answer is wrong. The correct answer is B.

 4. Will you show me how to bake a pie? A. I want to show you my new toy. B. I went to the show with dad. C. My favorite television show is on tonight. The correct answer is A.

 5. Mom put money into her bank account. A. A teller works at a bank. B. The river had a very high bank. The correct answer is A.

 6. Mary likes to come to my house and play with me. A. He starred in our class play. B. I like to play checkers. C. My favorite play is "My Fair Lady." The correct answer is B.

 7. The peas were in a can. A. I can do it by myself. B. Can you help me do the dishes? C. Mom gave me a can of peanuts for the party. The correct answer is C.

 8. The sign said do not enter. A. Please sign your name on the paper. B. Can you sign the word cat? C. I read the sign on the wall. The correct answer is C.

 9. I have a new watch. A. Did you watch me jump rope? B. My watch is lost. C. I don't watch many television shows! The correct answer is B.

 10. I always receive good marks in school. A. The marks on my report card were great! B. My fingers left marks on the glass. C. I have marks on my clothes where the milk spilled on them. The correct answer is A.

Study Island Practice  Practice here Practice here

Resources  ary/palmasola/mmbb.htm ary/palmasola/mmbb.htm