Intervention English Level 1 - Section 4 - Varied Meanings of Words

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky

Intervention English Level 1 Section 4 teaches learners how familiar words can carry different meanings depending on context, syntax, and usage. Through examples such as “bark,” “bank,” and “fire,” the lesson demonstrates that the same word may refer to different objects or actions in different sentences. Guided activities help students use dictionaries to identify multiple meanings, build sentences showing contrasts, and select synonyms that fit underlined words.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Vocabulary

Introduction

Identifying Varied Meanings of Familiar Words

Activity 4.1

Activity 4.2

Determining Meaning: Context and Grammar

Intervention English Level 1 SECTION 4 VARIED MEANINGS OF WORDS SECTION 4 VARIED MEANINGS OF WORDS READING Vocabulary INTRODUCTION Hello! You are warmly welcome to this section of the Intervention English Language lesson. In the previous section, you learned about the real-life connections between words and their usage. In this section, we will look at how we can use our knowledge of words and their different meanings to enrich our language skills. This section will help you identify new meaning for familiar words and apply them correctly in speech and writing. You will be equipped with the skills to use the appropriate vocabulary to describe situations in your daily activities. Make sure you follow the lesson carefully and do all the learning activities that are provided in the course of the lesson. | By the end of the lesson, you as the student will be able to; | | --- | | | | Identify new meanings for familiar words and apply them correctly. | Key Ideas Familiar words refer to words that are easy to recognise or frequently used. Context refers to the immediate surrounding or environment in which a word or a sentence is used. Syntax is the grammatical role of the word in the sentence. IDENTIFYING VARIED MEANINGS OF FAMILIAR WORDS Familiar words are words that are easy to recognise since they are frequently used. They may be common words to us but their meaning in terms of usage may differ. For instance, let us examine the pair of sentences below. 1. Manu was given local medication prepared from the tree bark. 2. The dog’s bark woke her up. 2 SECTION 4 VARIED MEANINGS OF WORDS In the first sentence, the word ‘bark’ refers to the cover or the protective outer sheath of a tree which is mostly used for local medication. However, in the second sentence, the word ‘bark’ relates to the noise made by a dog. Also, the word‘bank’ may have different meanings based on how it is used. It may refer to a financial institution or a space around or on the edge of a river. For example: 1. Ama and Kassim took a stroll on the river bank. (‘bank’ here means a space around or the edge of a river) 2. The bank refused to pay the customer. (the meaning of the word ‘bank’ here is a financial institution) From the illustrations or examples given, it is clear that the same word may relate to different meanings according to how they are used. This is to say that words are better understood when they are used in sentences or context. Activity 4.1 Answer the questions below a) Use your dictionary to look up for at least two different meanings of the words below: i. Transport _____________________________________________________ ii. Pen _____________________________________________________ iii. Match _____________________________________________________ b) Use each of the words to form two sentences to show two different meanings: i. Transport _____________________________________________________ ii. Pen _____________________________________________________ iii. Match _____________________________________________________ Well done! You can observe that, some of the meanings of the words from the dictionary are familiar while other meanings maybe unfamiliar to you. This means 3 SECTION 4 VARIED MEANINGS OF WORDS that, until a word is used, we cannot just assign or give it a particular meaning. Let us take a look at examples with the word ‘fire’. 1. Fire a) familiar meaning-flame i. The fire burnt down the house. ii. The fire has destroyed the entire village. b) Unfamiliar meaning/ new meaning-to shoot i. The military will fire into the air. ii. Armed robbers always fire their victims. c) Unfamiliar/new meaning-to sack i. Your boss will fire you for not doing your work. ii. They won’t fire you for coming late. Thisisto help you understand that, the same word may have two or more meanings in relation to its use. Therefore, you have to look at

FAQs

How does the lesson explain that familiar words can have different meanings?

It explains that familiar words are easy to recognize, but their meaning in real usage may differ. Students must look at how the word is used in a sentence.

What examples are used to show multiple meanings of the same word?

The lesson uses “bark,” “bank,” and “fire” to show that the same word can mean different things depending on context.

What should learners consider when determining the meaning of a word in a sentence?

Learners are encouraged to consider context, syntax, word structure, collocation, synonyms and antonyms, dictionary definitions, subject knowledge, tone, and register.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Rizky