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: SPRING

“When spring arrived, the trees burst into bloom, and the air filled with the scent of fresh flowers. My friends and I went hiking, and one of them managed to spring up the steep hill faster than the rest of us. At the top, we stopped to drink water and noticed a natural spring flowing out from the rocks. The cool water was so refreshing after the climb. Later that afternoon, my notebook fell apart because the metal spring in the binding had come loose. We laughed, and another friend decided to spring into action and fix it with tape. The day left me tired but happy.”

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
    Spring = /sprɪŋ/ → sounds like bring

  • Intonation Practice
    “Spring is my favorite season.”
    “She can spring over the fence.”
    “The notebook’s spring broke.”
    “We drank water from the spring.”
    “He decided to spring into action.”

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

SEVERAL MEANINGS

  1. A season of the year.

  2. To jump upward or forward.

  3. A coil of metal.

  4. A natural source of water.

IDIOMS/EXPRESSION

  • Spring into action – start acting quickly.

  • Full of the joys of spring – very lively and happy.

  • No spring chicken – not young anymore.