LA.5.1.6.9Archived Standard

The student will determine the correct meaning of words with multiple meanings in context;
General Information
Subject Area: X-Reading/Language Arts (former standards - 2008)
Grade: 5
Strand: Reading Process
Standard: Vocabulary Development - The student uses multiple strategies to develop grade appropriate vocabulary.
Date Adopted or Revised: 01/07
Status: State Board Approved - Archived
Assessed: Yes
Test Item Specifications
  • Item Type(s): This benchmark may be assessed using: MC item(s)
  • Also assesses LA.5.1.6.6 The student will identify shades of meaning in related words (e.g., blaring, loud).
  • Clarification :
    The student will analyze words that have multiple meanings and determine the correct meanings of the words as used in the text. 

    For shades of meaning, the student will analyze the word or phrase to determine small, subtle differences in meaning between related words (e.g., glance, glare, and peek all refer to the concept of looking, but each word has a different meaning or connotation).

  • Content Limits :
    Grade-level appropriate texts should be used to assess words with multiple meanings or shades of meaning. 

    The words should be assessed using words at or below grade level. 

    Excerpted text must contain clear and sufficient context for determining the meaning of the assessed word.

  • Content Focus :
    Multiple Meanings
    Analyze Words in Text
    Shades of Meaning
  • Text Attributes :
    Texts should be literary or informational.

    Other stimuli may include, but are not limited to, illustrations with captions, graphics, and charts.

    Texts must contain words with multiple meanings, or shades of meaning, and must provide clear and sufficient information or context for the student to determine the correct meaning.
  • Distractor Attributes :
    Distractors may include, but are not limited to
    • correct meanings of the assessed word but inappropriate to the text;
    • meanings drawn from the text but unrelated to the meaning of the assessed word or question;
    • incorrect connotation of a word based on the use of the word in the text (use only to assess shades of meaning);
    • words constructed similarly to the correct response (e.g., same affix); and
    • plausible but incorrect distractors based on the text.
Sample Test Items (3)
  • Test Item #: Sample Item 1
  • Question: The sample item below is based on “The Great Garden Experiment” on page H–20.

    Read these sentences from the passage.

    Dad looked at the picture on the front of the seed package. “I don’t like zucchini much,” he said.

    Mom got a determined look in her eyes.

    We bought the zucchini seeds.

    Which sentence uses the word determined as used in the sentences above?

  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: MC: Multiple Choice

  • Test Item #: Sample Item 2
  • Question: The sample item below is based on “The Great Garden Experiment” on page H–20.

    What is Dad doing when he is “sticking up for Mom”?
  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: MC: Multiple Choice

  • Test Item #: Sample Item 3
  • Question: The sample item below is based on “The Great Garden Experiment” on page G–19. 

    Read these sentences from the passage. 

    “Don’t know what I’ll feed my pigs until I can find some corn for sale.” He walked away, muttering to himself. 

    How would the effect of these sentences be different if the author had used the word “talking” instead of muttering?

  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: MC: Multiple Choice

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

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Student Resources

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Parent Resources

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