HETERONYM: LEAD
“During our field trip, the teacher asked Maya to lead the group through the museum. She walked at the front, guiding the others past paintings and exhibits. Later, in science class, the guide showed us an old water pipe made of lead and explained why the heavy metal was no longer safe for use in homes. That evening, my brother practiced his lines for the school play. He had the lead role and needed to remember every word perfectly. The next morning, we read an article where a runner held the lead in a marathon until the very last stretch.”
How many meanings did you find?
List of the different ways that this word can be used.
What are your thoughts:
What does being asked to lead the group tell you about Maya’s character?
Why do you think the guide showed the class an old lead pipe?
How might the runner have felt while holding the lead during the race?
SPEAK with P • I • E
P — Pronunciation
LEAD — leed (like read present tense) → to guide
LEAD — led (like red) → the heavy metal
LEAD — leed (like read present tense) → main role in a performance
LEAD — leed (like read present tense) → position in front during a competition
I — Intonation
Maya will LEAD the group through the museum.
The old pipes were made of LEAD.
He practiced his lines for the LEAD role.
The runner kept the LEAD until the final stretch.
E — Expression
LEAD (leed → guide) → responsible, confident, directing others
LEAD (led → metal) → factual, informative, scientific
LEAD (leed → main role) → proud, important, central
LEAD (leed → first place) → competitive, energetic, motivated
