Literal meaning (to prod with a finger or object):
* I poked the fire with a stick to get it going.
* She gently poked her sleeping baby's cheek.
* The dog poked its nose into the bag of treats.
Figurative meaning (to prod or encourage):
* I poked at my friend's new phone, trying to get a look at it.
* The teacher poked the student to finish their homework.
* I poked fun at my friend's new haircut, but I was just kidding.
Other uses:
* The bear poked its head out of the cave.
* The sun poked through the clouds.
* I poked around in the attic, looking for old toys.
The meaning of "poke" can depend on the context of the sentence. Be sure to consider the surrounding words to determine the intended meaning.