1. Identifying Synonyms, Antonyms, and Homophones

2. What do you do when you are reading, and you come across a phrase you don't know?

3. A synonym is a word that means the same or about the same as another word. Looking for words with the same meaning can help you figure out unknown words.

4.  The way to use synonyms to help you figure out a word is something like this:  Read and think about this sentence. “The kitten’s velvety fur felt soft.”  Now try to figure out what velvety means. How did the kitten’s fur feel? It felt soft.  Based on this clue, you can infer that velvety is another word, or synonym for soft.

5.  Now try these examples: 1. My flute teacher can demonstrate many things. Today he will show me how to play a new song. 2. Long ago, France thought that the U.S. was too powerful. It wanted to be strong like the U.S. So France tried to control Mexico. 3. The small Mexican army defeated the French. People in Mexico were proud their army beat the French army.

6. An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. Looking for words with the opposite meaning may help you figure out unknown words.

7.  The way to use antonyms to help you figure out a word is something like this:  Read and think about this sentence. “We wore hats to stay warm on a chilly day.”  Now try to figure out what chilly means.  Hats are worn to protect you from cold.  Based on this clue, you can infer that chilly is the opposite of, or antonym for warm. Therefore, chilly means cold.

8.  Now try these examples: 1. Sunset is my favorite time of the day, but dawn is my mother’s favorite. 2. One day the bus came early. Jim and his mother ran, but they were too late to catch it. 3. The music teacher helped Sue onto the piano bench to play a few notes. Sue spread her fingers apart. She could reach more keys that way than when she held them together.

9. A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but have different meanings and spellings. As you read watch out for homophones. Make sure you don’t mix up the meanings of different words that sound the same. Use the text to help you.

10.  When you come across a homophone check something like this:  Read and think about this sentence. “This week was very long due to all the homework I had for school.”  Now check the meaning of week in this sentence.  School happens on certain days.  Based on this prior knowledge, the word week in this sentence is a group of days.

11.  When you come across a homophone check something like this:  Read and think about this sentence. “I have been so sick, and unable to eat, I felt very weak.”  Now check the meaning of weak in this sentence.  When you are sick and don’t eat you have little energy.  Based on this prior knowledge, the word weak in this sentence is not strong, lacking energy and tired.