📖 ReadingGrade 4Lesson 2
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Identify Homonyms and Homophones

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Distinguish between homonyms and homophones
  • 2Identify the correct meaning of a homonym based on context
  • 3Choose the correct homophone to complete a sentence
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Mini Lesson

Some words sound alike or look alike but have different meanings. Understanding these words is an important reading skill.

Homonyms

Homonyms are words that are spelled the same AND sound the same but have different meanings. You use the context of the sentence to figure out which meaning is intended.

  • bat — a flying animal / a wooden bat used in cricket
  • bank — a place to keep money / the side of a river
  • light — not heavy / the opposite of dark
  • bark — the sound a dog makes / the outer layer of a tree
  • ring — a circular piece of jewelry / the sound of a bell

Homophones

Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Context and spelling both matter.

  • there / their / they're — place / belonging to them / they are
  • to / too / two — direction / also or excessive / the number 2
  • hear / here — to listen / this place
  • right / write — correct or a direction / to form letters
  • flower / flour — a plant blossom / a powder used in baking
Homonyms vs HomophonesHomonyms vs HomophonesHOMONYMSame spellingSame soundDifferent meaningbat (animal)bat (cricket)same word, 2 meaningsHOMOPHONEDifferent spellingSame soundDifferent meaninghear (listen)here (place)2 words, same sound
How to Choose the Right WordHow to Choose the Right Word1Read the whole sentence2Check: same spelling or different?3Think about the meaning needed4Choose the word that fits
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For homophones, read the whole sentence before choosing. The meaning of the sentence will tell you which spelling is correct.

Vocabulary
homonym
A word spelled and pronounced the same as another but with a different meaning.e.g. "Bat" the animal and "bat" used in baseball are homonyms.
homophone
A word that sounds the same as another but is spelled differently and means something different.e.g. "There", "their", and "theyre" are homophones.
context
The words and sentences around a word that help reveal its meaning.e.g. In "a bat flew at night", the context tells you it is the animal.
meaning
What a word stands for or refers to.e.g. The meaning of "calm" is peaceful and quiet.
spelling
The order of letters used to write a word.e.g. "To" and "two" have different spellings but sound alike.
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← Lesson 1: Use Greek and Latin RootsLesson 3: Understand Idioms and Figurative Language →