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Lexical Inference Training for Homonyms: Two Randomized Controlled Trials for Children with English as a First and an Additional Language

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Title: Lexical Inference Training for Homonyms: Two Randomized Controlled Trials for Children with English as a First and an Additional Language
Language: English
Authors: Sophie A. Booton (ORCID 0000-0003-3959-1250), Julia M. H. Birchenough, Katie Gilligan-Lee (ORCID 0000-0002-5406-2149), Fiona Jelley (ORCID 0000-0002-6161-7130), Victoria A. Murphy (ORCID 0000-0001-9399-0653)
Source: British Journal of Educational Psychology. 2026 96(2):875-895.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Young Children, Child Language, Native Language, English (Second Language), Language Processing, Semantics, Ambiguity (Semantics), Lexicology, Inferences, Randomized Controlled Trials, Metacognition, Language Acquisition, Receptive Language, Reading Comprehension, Transfer of Training, Error Patterns, Training
DOI: 10.1111/bjep.70056
ISSN: 0007-0998
2044-8279
Abstract: Background: Many words have multiple meanings, which present challenges to learning, yet research has yet to identify effective interventions for homonyms. Lexical inference may be a promising strategy. Aim: To evaluate a brief, novel lexical inference intervention for homonyms. Samples: Children aged 7-8 years (Study 1: N = 180, Study 2: N = 76). Study 2 included children with English as an Additional Language (EAL, n = 37). Methods: In two randomized controlled trials, participants were assigned to either inference training or control (Study 1: spatial training; Study 2: implicit exposure through reading). Their receptive knowledge of taught and untaught homonyms was measured before and after the intervention, and in Study 2, metacognitive and inference skills too. Results: Those in the inference interventions showed greater gains in receptive knowledge than control groups. In Study 2, children also showed improvement in the inference test with homonyms, and while children with EAL had a specific challenge with receptive knowledge of homonyms compared to their EL1 peers, the intervention was equally effective for both groups. Receptive knowledge and inference with homonyms predicted unique variance in reading comprehension. The intervention showed limited transfer to untaught words, although patterns of errors provided some indication of improved understanding. Conclusions: A brief inference training is effective for gaining knowledge of homonyms, with limited transfer to untaught words, and the intervention is equally effective for children with EAL and EL1. The findings also showed the importance of homonym understanding and inference for children's reading comprehension.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505300
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Lexical Inference Training for Homonyms: Two Randomized Controlled Trials for Children with English as a First and an Additional Language
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sophie+A%2E+Booton%22">Sophie A. Booton</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3959-1250">0000-0003-3959-1250</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julia+M%2E+H%2E+Birchenough%22">Julia M. H. Birchenough</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Katie+Gilligan-Lee%22">Katie Gilligan-Lee</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5406-2149">0000-0002-5406-2149</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fiona+Jelley%22">Fiona Jelley</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6161-7130">0000-0002-6161-7130</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Victoria+A%2E+Murphy%22">Victoria A. Murphy</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9399-0653">0000-0001-9399-0653</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22British+Journal+of+Educational+Psychology%22"><i>British Journal of Educational Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 96(2):875-895.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 21
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Children%22">Young Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Language%22">Child Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Native+Language%22">Native Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Processing%22">Language Processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Semantics%22">Semantics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ambiguity+%28Semantics%29%22">Ambiguity (Semantics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lexicology%22">Lexicology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inferences%22">Inferences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Randomized+Controlled+Trials%22">Randomized Controlled Trials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metacognition%22">Metacognition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Acquisition%22">Language Acquisition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Receptive+Language%22">Receptive Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reading+Comprehension%22">Reading Comprehension</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transfer+of+Training%22">Transfer of Training</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Error+Patterns%22">Error Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Training%22">Training</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/bjep.70056
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  Data: 0007-0998<br />2044-8279
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background: Many words have multiple meanings, which present challenges to learning, yet research has yet to identify effective interventions for homonyms. Lexical inference may be a promising strategy. Aim: To evaluate a brief, novel lexical inference intervention for homonyms. Samples: Children aged 7-8 years (Study 1: N = 180, Study 2: N = 76). Study 2 included children with English as an Additional Language (EAL, n = 37). Methods: In two randomized controlled trials, participants were assigned to either inference training or control (Study 1: spatial training; Study 2: implicit exposure through reading). Their receptive knowledge of taught and untaught homonyms was measured before and after the intervention, and in Study 2, metacognitive and inference skills too. Results: Those in the inference interventions showed greater gains in receptive knowledge than control groups. In Study 2, children also showed improvement in the inference test with homonyms, and while children with EAL had a specific challenge with receptive knowledge of homonyms compared to their EL1 peers, the intervention was equally effective for both groups. Receptive knowledge and inference with homonyms predicted unique variance in reading comprehension. The intervention showed limited transfer to untaught words, although patterns of errors provided some indication of improved understanding. Conclusions: A brief inference training is effective for gaining knowledge of homonyms, with limited transfer to untaught words, and the intervention is equally effective for children with EAL and EL1. The findings also showed the importance of homonym understanding and inference for children's reading comprehension.
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  Data: 2026
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      – SubjectFull: Child Language
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