{"id":5310,"date":"2016-02-02T09:00:38","date_gmt":"2016-02-02T14:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=5310"},"modified":"2016-01-07T01:58:38","modified_gmt":"2016-01-07T06:58:38","slug":"having-fun-with-homonyms-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/having-fun-with-homonyms-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Having fun with homonyms in English"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>

Image from http:\/\/www.funnybits.mobi\/2012\/11\/werewolf-wearwolf-warewolf-aware-wolf.html<\/p><\/div>\n

Homonyms are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently, and have different meanings. The picture above shows how a person can play with homonyms in a humorous way. The first words in this graphic \u201ca werewolf,\u201d is a word that describes a mythical creature that is part wolf, part man. By using the homonym \u2018wear,\u2019 in place of \u2018were,\u2019 the homonym a \u201cwearwolf\u201d is made. This isn\u2019t technically a word in English, but it certainly describes the picture of a man wearing a wolf very well. Next, we have the homonym \u2018ware\u2019 and \u2018wolf\u2019 making \u201cwarewolf.\u201d Ware is an English word used to indicate that something is for sale. Lastly, my favorite, is an \u201caware wolf.\u201d This homonym phrase is made by using the word \u2018aware,\u2019 which means knowledgeable, and \u2018wolf\u2019. This is just one example of a group of English homonyms, some of which are made-up words, which are used as wordplay. There are a lot more homonyms in English and today we are going to exploring some of them.<\/p>\n

Take a look at this sentence, which has an example of a well-known and commonly used set homonyms.<\/p>\n

“The two<\/strong><\/em> women wanted to<\/strong><\/em> go shopping and out to<\/em><\/strong> lunch too<\/strong><\/em>.”<\/p>\n

To, too, and two are homonyms.<\/p>\n

One of the key features of homonyms to keep in mind is that they are words that sound alike, so when a person is speaking, the only way to know which homonym is being used is to listen to the context. When homonyms are written it is easy to see which word is being used as the spelling is different, but in spoken English knowing this can be a little tricky, especially for ESL learners.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at some common English homonyms so you can familiarize yourself with these for when you hear them in the future. Remember these words SOUND<\/em> alike when spoken, even though some LOOK<\/em> very different when written.<\/p>\n

ate \u2013 eight<\/strong>
\naisle \u2013 I\u2019ll<\/strong>
\nbe \u2013 bee<\/strong>
\nbight \u2013 bite \u2013 byte<\/strong>
\nbuy \u2013 by \u2013 bye<\/strong>
\ncent \u2013 scent \u2013 sent<\/strong>
\ncite \u2013 sight \u2013 site<\/strong>
\ndew \u2013 do \u2013 due<\/strong>
\newe \u2013 you<\/strong>
\neye \u2013 I<\/strong>
\nfir \u2013 fur<\/strong>
\nfor \u2013 fore \u2013 four<\/strong>
\nhi\u2013 high<\/strong>
\nidle \u2013 idol<\/strong>
\nknot \u2013 not<\/strong>
\nknows \u2013 nose<\/strong>
\nknew \u2013 new<\/strong>
\nmaid \u2013 made<\/strong>
\nmeet \u2013 meat<\/strong>
\nor \u2013 oar<\/strong>
\npoor \u2013 pour<\/strong>
\npraise \u2013 prays<\/strong>
\nrain \u2013 reign \u2013 rein<\/strong>
\nread \u2013 red<\/strong>
\nroad \u2013 rode<\/strong>
\nseas \u2013 sees \u2013 seize<\/strong>
\nsew \u2013 so \u2013 sow<\/strong>
\ntea \u2013 tee<\/strong>
\ntheir \u2013 they\u2019re \u2013 there<\/strong>
\nware \u2013 wear \u2013 where<\/strong>
\nway \u2013 weigh \u2013 whey<\/strong>
\nweather \u2013 whether<\/strong>
\nwon \u2013 one<\/strong>
\nyou\u2019re \u2013 your \u2013 yore<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some fill in the blank sentences in which you have to try and figure which homonym goes where. These shouldn\u2019t be too hard to figure out if you pay attention to the context.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Did you __________ that _________dogs are allowed in the park? It\u2019s not a dog park.
\nno – know<\/strong><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0We didn\u2019t ________ any whales in the __________.
\nsee – sea<\/strong><\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0There is no need to ______ scared of a little bumble __________.
\nbe – bee<\/strong><\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0I can\u2019t wait to _________ Beyonc\u00e9 when she is ________ in concert.
\nhere – hear<\/strong><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0___________ are you ever going to _________ that ridiculous shirt?
\nwear – where<\/strong><\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0James _________ that book with the _______ cover for class.
\nred – read<\/strong><\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0My mother __________ the horse down the ___________ to the neighbors for help.
\nrode – road<\/strong><\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0We ________ dinner at _________ o\u2019clock.
\neight – ate<\/strong><\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0You can call this a paddle ________ an __________; they are the same thing.
\noar – or<\/strong><\/p>\n

10.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0I\u2019m sorry my _________ isn\u2019t very good, can you read what source they _______ on this web_________.
\nsite – sight – cite<\/strong><\/p>\n

Scroll down for the answers.<\/p>\n

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\nAnswers:<\/strong>
\n1.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0know, no
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0see, sea
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0be, bee
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0hear, here
\n5.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Where, wear
\n6.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0read, red
\n7.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0rode, road
\n8.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0eight, ate
\n9.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0or, oar
\n10.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0sight, cite, site<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Homonyms are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently, and have different meanings. The picture above shows how a person can play with homonyms in a humorous way. The first words in this graphic \u201ca werewolf,\u201d is a word that describes a mythical creature that is part wolf, part man. By using the…<\/p>\n

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