Subjects
Arts & Humanities
--Language Arts
Grade
3-5
6-8
9-12
Brief Description
Can your students tell a homonym from a heteronym? Heres plenty of heteronym practice, and a printable work sheet too.
Objectives
Students will
Keywords
homonym, heteronym, word meaning, spelling
Lesson Plan
Your students have undoubtedly heard of homonyms (words that sound the same but are spelled different and have different meanings, for example, their and there or write and right), but have they heard of heteronyms? Heteronyms are words that share the same spelling but have different pronunciations and meanings.
Write the following sentences on a black/whiteboard or a sheet of chart paper:
Word | Pronunciation/Meaning 1 | Pronunciation/Meaning 2 |
does | (DUZ) performs | (DOZE) more than one female deer |
refuse | (refuse) to deny | (REFFyoos) garbage |
bass | (BASS, rhymes with mass) a fish | (BASE) a string instrument |
polish | (PAHLish) shine | (POElish) from Poland |
row | (ROUW) a fight | (ROH) steer a boat |
sewer | (SOwer) one who sews | (SOOwer) place for human waste |
subject | (SUBjekt) theme of study | (subJEKT) to force upon someone |
number | (NUMber) one, two, three | (NUMMER) more numb |
Next, present this Heteronym Practice work sheet to students. Have them work on their own or in pairs to rewrite each sentence by using a synonym or short meaning for each of the underlined heteronyms.
These are the sentences found on the work sheet:The following table provides the answers to the work sheet. Note: Students might give responses that vary slightly from these. Please accept reasoned responses.
1. They were too close to the door to close it.
2. The bandage was wound around the wound.
3. The farm was used to produce produce.
4. Paul had to desert his car in the desert.
5. He thought it was time to present the present.
6. When shot at the dove, it dove into the bushes.
7. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
8. She was content with the content of the letter she composed.
9. Father was not going to contest the results of the contest.
10. A permit from City Hall will permit you to fish in the river.
Word | Pronunciation/Meaning 1 | Pronunciation/Meaning 2 |
1. close | (CLOS) near | (CLOZE) to shut |
2. wound | (WOWND) coiled up, wrapped | (WOOND) to injure |
3. produce | (proDOOS) bring forth, grow | (PROdoos) vegetables |
4. desert | (dihZURT) to leave | (DEZert) arid/dry region |
5. present | (PREZent) a gift | (preeZENT) to give |
6. dove | (DUV) a bird | (DOEV) jumped off |
7. sow | (SOUW) a pig | (SO) to plant seed |
8. content | (kunTENT) satisfied, happy | (KAHNtent) text |
9. contest | (kunTEST) to argue, dispute | (KAHNtest) a match of skill, game |
10. permit | (PERmit) a document giving permission | (perMIT) to allow some event to occur |
Finally, post a chart on the wall that looks like the one below. Challenge students to write a sentence for each pair of heteronyms on the chart. You might offer a reward for the best/most thoughtful sentences. You might have students work on their own or in pairs. You will likely get better sentences when students are allowed to work in pairs.
Word | Pronunciation/Meaning 1 | Pronunciation/Meaning 2 |
wind | (WHINEd) to coil up | (WINd) the blowing air |
tear | (TARE) to rip | (TEER) fluid in eye |
lead | (LEED) to guide | (LED) a metallic element |
perfect | (PERfekt) exactly correct | (perFEKT) to make correct |
object | (ubJEKT) to complain | (AHBjekt) a thing |
Assessment
Assess students work sheet or original sentence efforts. The answer key to the work sheet appears above in the Lesson Plan section.
Lesson Plan Source
EducationWorld.com
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
GRADES K - 12
NL-ENG.K-12.2 Reading for Understanding
NL-ENG.K-12.3 Evaluation Strategies
NL-ENG.K-12.4 Communication Skills
NL-ENG.K-12.6 Applying Knowledge
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
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08/31/2010