Identifying Synonyms, Antonyms, and
Homophones
What do you do when you are
reading, and you come
across a phrase you don't
know?
SYNONYMS
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.
SYNONYMS
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.

SYNONYMS
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.

ANTONYMS
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.
ANTONYMS
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.

ANTONYMS
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.

HOMOPHONES
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.
HOMOPHONES
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.

HOMOPHONES
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.
