SPEAK with understanding
→ Read or Listen to the passage. Locate all of the meanings of the homonym or heteronym. Studying for a test: limit and time your responses to 30-60 seconds.

HOMONYM: ROCK

“On our hike, we rested on a large rock that sat at the top of the hill. Its surface was warm from the sun. My cousin pulled out his phone and played classic rock songs, and we all sang along. The music echoed through the trees. A sudden gust of wind made the old tree nearby begin to rock back and forth, creaking with every movement. My little brother found a chair on the porch that would rock smoothly, and he spent nearly an hour swinging gently in it while eating a snack. The day mixed nature, music, and motion in a way that made it unforgettable.”

How many meanings did you find?

List of the different ways that this word can be used.

SPEAK w/ P I E

(Pronunciation Intonation Expression)

  • Pronunciation
    Rock = /rɑk/ → sounds like sock

  • Intonation Practice
    “He sat on a rock by the trail.”
    “She listens to rock every weekend.”
    “The chair will rock gently.”
    “The old tree began to rock in the wind.”

  • Expression Tip
    Remember: The word will be stressed differently depending on how it is being used.

SEVERAL MEANINGS

  1. A stone or boulder.

  2. A style of music.

  3. To sway or move back and forth.

  4. A rocking chair’s motion.

IDIOMS/EXPRESSION

  • Between a rock and a hard place – stuck with no easy option.

  • Rock the boat – cause trouble or change.

  • Solid as a rock – very reliable.

  • Rock bottom – the lowest point.