How children learn words with multiple meanings
Official title: Context and multiple meanings: Homophone learning in early childhood
Funded at North Dakota State University · NIH-10873553 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young kids learn that some words sound the same but mean different things, and it’s designed for parents and educators who want to understand more about how children pick up language skills naturally.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Dakota State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fargo, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $434,929 |
| NIH project number | 1R15HD115135-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10873553 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0 to 11 years who are in the process of developing their language skills.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are not in the early stages of language development or who have significant language impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how young children understand that some words can have more than one meaning, focusing on homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings. Using a unique learning task, children will be observed as they learn new words for new objects without direct teaching, allowing researchers to see how they naturally acquire this knowledge. The goal is to better understand the processes behind language development in early childhood, which can inform educational practices and support early literacy skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of language acquisition in children, leading to improved educational strategies that support early literacy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding language acquisition processes, but this specific focus on homophones is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
North Dakota State University
Fargo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conwell, Erin — North Dakota State University
- Study coordinator: Conwell, Erin
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.