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: TRIP

“Last summer, we went on a trip to the mountains. The scenery was beautiful, and we hiked along the winding trails. Halfway up, I stumbled over a root and had a small trip, but I didn’t get hurt. Later, while plugging in my laptop, I overloaded the circuit, and the breaker tripped, shutting off the lights until Dad reset it. That evening, as we told stories by the fire, my aunt reminded us of another trip she had taken years ago, filled with funny mistakes and adventures. Through travel, accidents, electricity, and making memories, it was great to have family-time.”

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
    Trip = /trɪp/ → sounds like sip

  • Intonation Practice
    “We took a trip to the mountains.”
    “Be careful not to trip over the cord.”
    “The breaker will trip if it’s overloaded.”
    “She laughed at her little trip in the hallway.”

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

SEVERAL MEANINGS

  1. A journey or excursion.

  2. To stumble or fall.

  3. A breaker or switch shutting off.

  4. A mistake or slip.

IDIOMS/EXPRESSION

  • Trip up – make a mistake.

  • Power trip – abusing authority.

  • On a trip – acting strangely.

  • Head trip – playing with emotions.