20 homophones by their meaning
Answers
ate (verb): This is the simple past tense of the verb “to eat.”
I ate an entire pizza and now I’m really full and tired.
eight (noun): The number after seven and before nine.
Charles will wake up at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.
Interesting note: There is a popular children’s joke that goes like this:
Q: Why was 6 afraid of 7?
A: Because 7 ate 9.
Yes, it’s pronounced “because 7 8 9,” and yes, it’s a pretty bad joke. But most kids’ jokes are bad.
2. bare, bear
bare (adjective): If something is bare, it means that it’s not covered or not decorated.
Tom likes to walk around his house in bare feet. He says it’s more comfortable than wearing shoes.
bear (noun): A large mammal.
When you go camping, you should be careful to not leave any food or anything with a scent in your tent because they can attract bears.
Interesting note: Bears are often popular characters in stories and cartoons.
3. buy, by, bye
to buy (verb): A synonym of “to purchase.” It’s probably one of the first verbs you learned.
I forgot my money at home. Do you think you could buy me lunch and I’ll pay you back tomorrow?
by (preposition): This can be used in many different ways. It’s commonly used to mean “next to” or “near” when describing a location. It can also indicate who created something.
My favorite autobiography is “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” It’s written by Malcolm X and Alex Haley.
bye (exclamation): This is a shortening of “goodbye.”
I’ve got to go now, so bye! See you on Sunday!
Interesting note: This is a set of three homophones, but you could also possibly include the prefix “bi-.” It means “two,” as in “bipedal” (something that uses two legs), but it can also be an adjective as an abbreviation for “bisexual.” So if you include “bi,” then this can actually be a set of four homophones!
4. 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. Like “buy,” it was probably one of the first verbs you learned.
We would like to sell our car, but we don’t think we’d get very much money for it.
Interesting note: Monks (men) and nuns (women) are two groups of religious people who live in monasteries or convents. Their rooms are also called “cells,” and they actually do look a bit similar to a prison cell!
5. dew, do, due
dew (noun): Dew is the name for small drops of water that accumulate (gather) on plants and other objects outside during the night.
When I went outside early in the morning, the dew on the grass made my shoes wet.
to do (verb): This common verb is used to indicate an action. It can also be an auxiliary verb.
What do you usually do on Friday nights?
due (adjective): This is used to indicate the deadline (final day) that something can happen. It’s also used to indicate when a baby will probably be born.
My friend is pregnant. Her baby is due in October.
Interesting note: The soft drink company Mountain Dew played with this homophone set with its motto “Do the Dew.“
6. eye, I
eye (noun): The part of your body that you use to see.
My eyes hurt when I read. I think I need a pair of glasses.
I (pronoun): A first person singular subject pronoun.
I really hope you know what this word means.
Interesting note: This can actually be a three-word homophone if you include the word “aye.” That’s an old-fashioned way of saying “yes.” You might hear people on boats show that they’re following an order by saying “Aye-aye, captain!” And there’s a strange-looking animal called an “aye-aye,” also. I learned that just a minute ago, so even native speakers learn new words every day!
7. fairy, ferry
fairy (noun): A mythical creature that can often do magic.
There is a fairy named Tinkerbell in the story “Peter Pan.”
ferry (noun): A ferry is a boat that moves passengers and vehicles across water. It’s used for long distances or places where there are no bridges.
The ferry in Costa Rica is really hot and incredibly badly organized. At least the trip only takes an hour.
Interesting note: There is a common mythical fairy in some parts of the world called the Tooth Fairy. She’s especially popular in the USA. The story is that when a child loses a tooth, he or she should put the tooth under their pillow. Then, while they sleep, the Tooth Fairy will replace the tooth with a coin.
8. 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.
Interesting note: In some languages, there is an element that has a name similar to “flour.” But in English, the element is called “fluoride,” and the “u” is silent.
Answer:
- One, won
One (noun): The number that comes after 0 but before 2.
My son is one year old today.
Won (verb): The past tense of ‘win’.
The football team won two games in a row.
- Two, to, too
Two (noun): The number that comes after 1 and before 3, a pair.
He bought two packets of crisps.
To (preposition): In the direction of a particular location.
I am going to the shop.
Too (adverb): To a higher degree than desired, also.
The girl was too tired to work. I was tired too.
- Four, for
Four (noun): The number that comes after 3 and before 5.
The clock struck four.
For (preposition): If someone receives something, if something is done for a reason.
I bought John some sweets for his birthday (for him to eat).
- Eight, ate
Eight (noun): The number that comes after 7 and before 9.
There were only eight days left until Christmas.
Ate (verb): Past tense form of ‘eat’.
We ate dinner together then went home.
- Steak, stake
Steak (noun): Prime cut of meat, usually beef.
My all-time favourite meal is steak and chips.
Stake (noun): A strong wooden post with a sharp point at one end.
Vampires can only be killed with a stake through the heart!
- Bean, been
Bean (noun): Edible seed that grows in pods on leguminous plants.
Baked beans on toast is a traditional British dish!
Been (verb): Past tense form of ‘be’.
Where have you been all night?
- Pear, pair
Pear (noun): Common type of fruit.
Would you like a pear from the garden?
Pair (noun): A set of two things (often used together).
He couldn’t find a matching pair of socks.
- Bread, bred
Bread (noun): Type of food.
Our local bakery sells the best wholemeal bread for miles!
Bred (verb): Past tense form of ‘breed’ – to raise or develop animal stock.
In the past, many farmers bred rabbits for meat and fur.
- Cereal, serial
Cereal (noun): Grain used for food (e.g. wheat), type of dried breakfast eaten with milk.
My favourite cereal is cornflakes.
Serial (noun/adjective): A story or programme delivered in instalments, taking place in series.
The serial killer loved watching serials on TV!
- Flour, flower
Flour (noun): Ingredient used to make bread and cakes.
This recipe uses two cups of flour and 1/4 cup of sugar.
Flower (noun): Seed-bearing part of a plant.
Her husband gave her a nice bunch of flowers on her birthday.
- Meat, meet
Meat (noun): Food from the flesh of an animal.
The hotel guests got food poisoning because the meat wasn’t cooked properly.
Meet (verb): Arrange or happen to cross paths with somebody.
I’m going to meet my friend at the train station this evening.
- Chili, chilly
Chili (noun): Small spicy pepper or pod used in cooking.
I ordered the Mexican Hot Pizza, but couldn’t eat the chilli on top!
Chilly (adjective): A bit cold, not warm.
Don’t forget your coat! It’s a bit chilly out today.
- Mussel, muscle
Mussel (noun): Mollusc with purple-brown shell.
I had the mussels as a starter and they were delicious!
Muscle (noun): Type of human body tissue.
What do you prefer in a boyfriend – brains or muscles?!
- Wine, whine
Wine (noun): Alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes.
Chilled white wine goes well with fish.
Whine (noun/verb): Long high-pitched cry, complain.
The little dog shivered by the door and let out a whine.
- Bite, byte
Bite (noun/verb): Tear something apart with teeth.
Let’s grab a bite to eat in town after work!
Byte (noun): Unit of measurement of digital information.
How many bytes are there in each character in MS Word?
- Grate, great
Grate (verb): Shred into small pieces using a food grater.
The recipe says we need to grate the cheese into the sauce.
Great (adjective): Large, prominent, very good.
The Great White Shark is a great hunter!
- Berry, bury
Berry (noun): Small pulpy fruit.
Did you know that watermelons are a type of large berry?
Bury (verb): Put or hide underground.
You shouldn’t bury your head in the sand each time there’s an argument.
- Currant, current
Currant (noun): Type of berry, also of dried berry variety.
We have lots of currant bushes at the bottom of our garden – both red- and blackcurrants.
Current (noun/adjective): Strong flow of water, present or up-to-date.
Surfers should be aware of the strong currents along the south coast of England.
- Leek, leak
Leek (noun): Long white and green stick-like vegetable in the onion family.
Wales is famous for its rainy weather and its giant leeks!
Leak (noun/verb): Hole through which fluid can escape accidentally, drip out.
Our roof has got a leak so we need to fix it before winter comes.
- Maize, maze
Maize (noun): Corn.
It is common for manufacturers to use maize as an ingredient in many processed foods.
Maze (noun): Labyrinth.
Chatsworth House has a maze that is made up of a network of paths and hedges.