Monday, January 29, 2024

Heteronyms

Quite a few English learners find it difficult or confusing to use heteronyms. Heteronyms are two or more words that are spelled identically but have different sounds and meanings, such as tear meaning “rip” (and being pronounced /teər/) and tear meaning “liquid from the eye” (and being pronounced /tɪər/ )

 

Try to fill in the following blanks with heteronyms.

    1.   Phil thought it was time to pop the question to Janet. So he decided to

______________ a nice ______________ to his girl.

*hint: the word begins with the letter “p”

 

 

    2.   More people ______________ in the ______________ than in the mountains.

*hint: the word begins with the letter “d”

 

    3.   The insurance was _______________ for the _____________ in his hospital bed.

*hint: the word begins with the letter “i”

 

    4.   I had to ___________ the _____________ to a series of tests.

*hint: the word begins with the letter “s”

 

    5.   When shot at, the __________  ___________ into the bushes.

*hint:  the word begins with the letter “d”

 

    6.   We must __________ the ____________ furniture shown at the store.

*hint: the word begins with the letter”p”

 

    7.   The bandage was ____________ around the soldier’s _______________.  

*hint: the word begins with the letter “w”

 

    8.   Why don’t you stop by my place this weekend? I ____________ pretty near your house. Let’s just have some beer and watch this popular political _____________ streaming show together.

*hint: the word begins with the letter “l”

 

 


 

 

Answer Keys

1. present /prɪˈzɛnt/ as a verb vs present /ˈprɛz(ə)nt/ as a noun

2. desert / dɪˈzɜːrt/ as a verb vs desert /ˈdɛzərt/ as a noun

3. invalid /ɪnˈvalɪd/ vs invalid /ˈɪnvəlɪd/ both as an adjective

4. subject /səbˈdʒɛkt/ as a verb  vs   subject /ˈsʌbdʒɛkt/ as a noun

5. dove /dʌv/ as a noun  vs  dove /dəʊv/ as a verb in its past tense

6. polish /ˈpɒlɪʃ/ as a verb vs Polish /ˈʊlɪʃ/ as a noun

7. wound /waʊnd/ as verb in past participle form vs wound /wuːnd/ as a noun

8. live /lɪv/ as a verb vs live /laɪv/ as an adjective

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