Homonyms and Homophones
NIT WARANGAL
Introduction
A homophone is a word that has the same
sound as another word but different meaning
and spelling. This can be compared with a
homonym, which has the same spelling and
Sounds the same but has a different meaning.
Example
The words 'rain', 'reign' and 'rein' are
homophones. 'Set' is a homonym
Homonyms- list
Activity - 1
Take any 10 Homonyms and collect their meanings
For example:
Close (verb)-
Meaning : to end
Usage : She closed the meeting with a short speech.
Close (adjective)-
Meaning:
having direct family connections or shared beliefs, support,
and sympathy
Usage: In those early months, there's a very close bond between
mother and child.
Homophone List
1. cell, sell
cell (noun): A cell is a small area or room, usually in a prison. A cell can also
be one of the smallest divisions of a living organism.
• The prisoner spent 10 years in his cell.
to sell (verb): To exchange a product or service for money.
• We would like to sell our car, but we don’t think we’d get very much money for it.
2. flour, flower
flour (noun): This is the main ingredient in bread. It’s a powder made from
ground grains.
• Tony wanted to make a cake, but he didn’t have any flour, so he couldn’t.
flower (noun): The decorative, colorful part of a plant.
• If you want to give flowers to somebody you love, avoid white roses. They are
often given when someone dies.
Homophone list
3. meat, meet
meat (noun): Edible flesh from an animal.
Vegetarians don’t eat meat.
to meet (verb): When you are introduced to a person for the first time. It can also
refer to later meetings.
I’m excited to travel to England so
can meet some new people!
4. right, write
right (adjective): This can mean either a synonym of “correct” or the opposite of
“left.”
I should turn right when I get to 10th Street, right?
to write (verb): The action of making words or marks to represent ideas.
Jerry’s dream is to write a novel, but he hasn’t decided what the book should
be about.
Homophone list
5. sight, site
sight (noun): This is the sense that you use when you see or look.
Blind people can’t see. They have no sight.
site (noun): This is a synonym for “place.” The most common modern use is in
the word “website.”
There’s an awesome site for language learners
6. wait, weight
to wait (verb): This means to stay in one place or to anticipate something.
It was snowing a lot, so the bus came late. I had to wait in the cold for 20
minutes.
weight (noun): This word indicates how heavy something is.
Every year around Christmas, many people gain a lot
of weight because they eat lots of food but don’t exercise.
Homophone list
7. wear, where
to wear (verb): To have clothing or accessories on your body.
I hate wearing ties. They’re uncomfortable, hot, and hard to tie. Do you wear ties?
where (interrogative): A question word used to ask for a location.
Where should we meet for dinner? Personally, I’d
like to meet at the new Chinese restaurant in town.
8. Hole, Whole
Hole ( Noun)
a hollow place in a solid body or surface.
• "the dog had dug a hole in the ground“
Whole (adjective)
all of; entire.
"he spent the whole day walking"
Activity- 2
provide homophones for any 15 of the following words along with
meanings
1. read 2. steel 3. tour 4. rose 5. weather
6. mist 7. hi 8.cereal 9.scent 10.bread
11. Board 12.not 13. site 14. higher 15. would
16. break 17.tire 18.heard 19.some 20. air
21. piece 22.allowed 23.be 24. root 25. whale
26. heal 27.flower 28.soul 29.which 30. bear
Provide appropriate Homophone for the
following blanks
1. We must try our best to_____ (caste / cast) away all
prejudices.
2. The ________(hair / hare) has a short tail.
3. The flesh of Kangaroo sells very ___ (deer / dear)
4. What is the______ (prize / price) of it.
5. We_____ (peel / peal) the orange with a knife.
6. The time is half (passed / past) ten.
7. Nobody can ______ what I tell ________ (hear / here)
8. _______ _______ you till now? (Were / Where)
9. I have not _____ the ______ cover book till now. (red / read)
10. Last ........., she was ......... (weak / week)
