Vocabulary · 3 min read
Multiple-Meaning Words · Figurative Language as Vocabulary · Dictionary and Reference Skills
Many English words have more than one meaning. These are called multiple-meaning words or homographs. Context determines which meaning applies in a given sentence.
For example, the word "bark" can mean the outer covering of a tree or the sound a dog makes. The word "bat" can mean a flying mammal or a stick used in baseball. The word "bank" can mean a financial institution or the side of a river.
When the STAAR test presents multiple-meaning words, students must read the surrounding sentences carefully to determine the correct meaning. The wrong answer choices often include other valid definitions of the word that do not fit the context.
Strategy for Multiple-Meaning Words
Read the sentence containing the word.
Substitute each answer choice into the sentence.
Determine which meaning makes sense with the surrounding text.
Verify by reading the sentence with your chosen answer.
Figurative language uses words in non-literal ways to create imagery or emphasize meaning. Understanding figurative expressions is part of vocabulary knowledge.
Similes compare two unlike things using "like" or "as." Example: "Her smile was as bright as the sun."
Metaphors compare two unlike things without using "like" or "as." Example: "The classroom was a zoo."
Idioms are expressions whose meanings cannot be understood from the individual words. Example: "It's raining cats and dogs" means it is raining heavily, not that animals are falling from the sky.
Personification gives human qualities to non-human things. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees."
Hyperbole uses extreme exaggeration for effect. Example: "I've told you a million times."
Word Relationships
Understanding relationships between words strengthens vocabulary knowledge.
Synonyms are words with similar meanings (big/large, happy/joyful, fast/quick).
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings (hot/cold, up/down, old/new).
Analogies show relationships between word pairs. For example: Hot is to cold as up is to down. Both pairs show opposite relationships.
Categories group words by shared characteristics. For example: Apple, banana, and orange belong to the category of fruits.
Although the STAAR test primarily assesses context-based vocabulary skills, students should understand basic dictionary conventions.
Guide words appear at the top of dictionary pages and show the first and last entry words on that page. They help locate words alphabetically.
Entry words are the words being defined, typically shown in bold.
Pronunciation guides use symbols to show how words are pronounced.
Parts of speech indicate whether a word functions as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb, or other part of speech.
Multiple definitions are numbered when a word has more than one meaning.
Vocabulary Test-Taking Strategies
Always read the entire sentence and surrounding sentences before answering.
Look for context clue signal words.
Break unfamiliar words into recognizable parts (prefixes, roots, suffixes).
Substitute each answer choice into the sentence to test for meaning.
Eliminate answer choices that do not fit the context.
For figurative language, think about the author's intended meaning rather than literal meaning.
For multiple-meaning words, choose the definition that fits this specific context.
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