The first meaning for multiplication is developed for equal groups situations, calculated by "repeated addition". For example, in the early years of school, 4 × 3 is interpreted as 4 groups of 3 and it is calculated by repeated addition first and later by fluent use of multiplication tables.
Equal Groups: A first meaning for multiplication and division.
Multiplication: 4 equal groups of 3 stars, so 12 altogether.
4 groups of 3 = 4 × 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3
Division: 12 stars in 4 equal groups so 3 in each group.
Many difficulties arise when students have equal groups as their only meaning for multiplication and only see the operation as a shortcut for repeated addition.
There are many real world problems that are solved with multiplication, but which do not have an equal groups structure. Students also need to understand that multiplication and division also apply in situations of multiplicative comparison, and they need to learn to interpret multiplication and division through these situations. Working with numbers other than whole numbers, especially fractions or decimals between 0 and 1, requires further meanings for multiplication, in particular multiplicative comparison.