Is there a difference in meaning between these two sentences

Is there a difference in meaning between these two sentences, "I was watching a movie BY eating some popcorn" and "I was watching a movie eating some popcorn"? Is adding or removing the "by" make a difference in meaning? If not, are they the same?

Yes, there is a difference in meaning between the two sentences:

1. "I was watching a movie by eating some popcorn."

- This suggests that eating some popcorn is the method by which you were watching the movie. It implies a cause-and-effect relationship where eating popcorn is instrumental to watching the movie, which doesn't quite make logical sense since eating popcorn is not a method for watching a movie. This sentence is grammatically correct but semantically odd.

2. "I was watching a movie eating some popcorn."

- This simply describes two actions happening at the same time: watching a movie and eating some popcorn. It means that while you were watching the movie, you were also eating popcorn. This sentence is natural and commonly used.

So, adding "by" introduces a method or means relationship which is not appropriate in this context, whereas omitting "by" just describes simultaneous actions, which makes sense here. Therefore, the sentences are not the same, and the removal of "by" changes the meaning to a more logical and natural one.