What does this word mean here?

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! Lots of words have more than one meaning. A test might ask what a word means in this passage. So the sentence around it matters most.

Here's how to do it. Find the word in the passage. The bright girl solved the puzzle first. Read the whole sentence. Bright could mean shining, or it could mean clever. Now put each meaning in the word's place. The shining girl solved the puzzle? That doesn't fit. The clever girl solved the puzzle. That one makes sense.

Watch the same word in a different sentence. The bright lamp lit the room. A clever lamp? No. A shining lamp. Yes. The word is the same, but the sentence changes its meaning.

Let's try one together. He felt the sharp wind on his face. What does sharp mean here? Try each meaning in its place. Say it out loud!

Very cold and strong! A wind can't have a pointed end, or be good at maths.

Here's a common mistake. Choosing the meaning you know best. She went to the bank of the river. Lots of people think of a place for money. But a river doesn't have one of those. Here, bank means the side of the river.

Your turn! Read the sentence. What does fair mean here? Pick the right card. You've got fifteen seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! Treating everyone the same! Try it in the sentence: the referee treated everyone the same.

Quick review. Find the word, and read the whole sentence. Put each meaning in the word's place. Don't just pick the meaning you know best. See you next time!