Jamming to Create a Bank of Multiple-Meaning Words
I love multiple-meaning words. And I appreciate the challenge those words pose for some people, people for whom English is a second language and for the teachers who help them decipher this challenge. Multiple-meaning words can be used humorously or can cause confusion. Taking time to think about what we’re saying may make a difference to others.
Why Multiple-Meaning Words Matter
These words are embedded in our conversations, as well as what we read. These words are part of everyday life. Multiple-meaning words take on different meanings in different contexts. Both content and context matter with these words. They enrich our vocabulary. These words matter for three primary reasons.
- Because multiple-meaning words make us pay attention to the context in which a word is used, our understanding of language nuances deepens.
- Understanding and using multiple meaning words helps us be more precise in our language, which makes us better communicators.
- As we get better at communicating, we learn that multiple-meaning words provide a means for us to employ puns and homophones, which can sometimes lead to more layers in our communication and humor.
Types of Multiple-Meaning Words
We can identify several types of multiple-meaning words.
- Homonyms are words that are spelled the same and have different meanings. They may also have different pronunciations. Take for example bark, which is the covering of a tree or the sound a dog makes. Sometimes we encounter verbs and nouns, such as spring quick movement vs flowing water) or even bank (side of a stream or driving a vehicle on a slant).
- Homophones are words that sound the same and have different meanings and spellings. A bear is a large furry animal while bare refers to something uncovered. See the confusion?
- Then there are homographs, words that are spelled the same and have different meanings and pronunciations. These often cause confusion in reading comprehension, which is where context is crucial. An example might be bow, which is either a knot with two loops and two loose ends or a bend of one’s head or upper body as a sign of respect.
- Recently I learned the name for capitonyms, a word whose meaning changes according to whether its initial letter is capitalized or not. Often homonyms, but not always, they are actually a specific type of homograph. As an example, Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, whereas cancer is a disease caused by abnormal cells in the body.
Teaching Multiple-Meaning Words
There are many ways we can help learners increase their awareness, understanding and vocabulary of multiple meaning words.
- Play word games
- Help learners track their multiple-meaning vocabulary
- Discuss the familiar and introduce/review the new
- Find ways for learners to identify when multiple-meaning words are being used
- Use visual aids to help learners make connections with content and context
Use questions (6.) and make your question the kind that positions students as meaning-makers and asks them to make meaning, to go beyond just finding and repeating information. This is where identification and tracking of words by learners can really be expanded. It will empower learners to learn how to independently ask the kinds of questions that guide meaning-making for them individually, particularly if their questions are applicable to a variety of texts or situations.
Context is crucial when it comes to deeply understanding the meaning and using a word with multiple meanings. Beyond words and phrases, even intonation patterns of a speaker can provide hints about the meaning of words being used. Which word is emphasized? Is the speaker seeking information or telling a funny story? Has a gesture been used? In reading, we use the words before and after, along with pictures for context. In listening, we use the words, the voice and the gestures as context clues.
Reading the Xanth series by Piers Anthony many years ago made me smile. If it is possible, I thought the books got punnier and punnier as the series went through the alphabet. It was as if the author was having fun with the stories and the language. Whether reading or listening, multiple-meaning words are part of our daily life. Understanding them and using them can deepen our comprehension and our communication. Help learners have fun with this challenge. Engage them to think about how they know which meaning of a word is being used. And then take the next step – use their new word to communicate with others.
Resources
100 English Words With Multiple Meanings (word-lists.com)
Multiple Meaning Words: Unraveling the Fun of Homonyms - ESLBUZZ
Examples
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