Homonyms ByRichard Sidaway

Writing it down

Unlike some other European languages, English is a little tricky when it comes to writing. How a word is pronounced and how it is actually spelt can be very different things. Take two simple verbs like ‘have’ and ‘save’—shouldn’t they be pronounced the same? Why do ‘sir’, ‘her’ and ‘fur’ all rhyme, but ‘fork’ and ‘work’ don’t?

Same spelling, different meaning

Imagine, then, a situation where two words are spelt and pronounced exactly the same way, but have completely different meanings. Welcome to the world of homonyms. Take, for example, the word ‘fair’—it can be a kind of festival, an adjective to describe the colour of your hair or how you should play a game. Or ‘leg’, which can be attached to a person, or a table and can also be a distance you travel, or a part of a competition.

Don’t take it literally

So how do you know which meaning someone is referring to?—You don’t, except by the context. Obviously, if someone asks you to ‘give them a hand’, they don’t want you to remove what is at the end of your arm.

What’s in a name?

Sometimes even the context doesn’t help much—the result can be amusing. These sentences play with the double meaning of a noun:

I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.

Have you heard about the cross-eyed teacher who couldn’t control his pupils?

A small boy swallowed some coins and had to go to hospital. When his grandmother phoned to ask how he was, the nurse said: ‘No change yet’.

(See explanations of these jokes after Activity 5.)

More ambiguity

And these examples play with the different meanings of a verb:

I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

No one knew she had a dental implant, until it came out in a conversation.

A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

(See explanations of these jokes after Activity 5.)

Double trouble

And sometimes a word can be a noun and a verb, but have different meanings. Can you work this one out?

Time fl ies like an arrow. Fruit fl ies like a banana.

(See explanations of these jokes after Activity 5.)

If you liked these homonyms, you will be pleased to know that English has plenty more!

Homonym: a word that has the same spelling and the same pronunciation as nother word, but a different meaning

Activity 1

Before you read, match the word or phrase to a de fi nition.

1 . a t t a c h e d 2 . b o i l e d 3 . c r o s s -e y e d 4 . p r o n o u n c e d 5 . r e m o v e 6 . s p e l t 7 . s w a l l o w e d 8 . t a k e i t l i t e r a l l y 9 . t r i c k y

a. cooked in water at 100oC

b. how letters are ordered in a word

c. joined or connected to something

d. not easy to deal with

e. passed from the mouth to the stomach

f. take something off or away

g. the way words sound

h. understand word for word

i. with both eyes looking at your nose

Activity 2

Now complete the sentences using words and phrases from the text. Make any changes to the words that are necessary.

1. He (..........) the coffee quickly and ran to catch the train.

2. I never remember how that word is (..........). Is it with one ‘p’ or two?

3. It was (..........) for us to get home on the bus with so many bags.

4. She looked at the fl y on her nose and went (..........).

5. The word ‘either’ can be (..........) in two different ways.

6. There’s a message (..........) to the package. What does it say?

7. To make tea, the water has to be (..........).

8. When actors fi nish performing, they have to (..........) their make-up and costumes.

9. When the boy heard it was raining cats and dogs, he (..........) and thought there were animals falling from the sky!

Activity 3

Put the words in the correct order to make a true sentence about the text.

1. can have / English. / pronunciation in / the same / The vowels ‘e’, ‘i’ and ‘u’

2. can be / differently in / English. / pronounced / The vowels ‘a(chǎn)’ and ‘o’

3. different / have many / meanings. / The same English / words can

4. can change / depending on / of a word / the context. / The meaning

5. a double meaning / in the same / make jokes when / sentence. / there is / You can

Activity 4

Use one word from the table to complete each pair of sentences.

c h a n g e f a i r f l y h i t i n t e r e s t l e g

Example:

a.I can’t buy a house at the moment. The banks are charging too much (interest).

b.Can I (interest) you in dessert? We have chocolate mousse or three types of ice cream.

1. a. I’m going to watch the second (..........) of the Champions Cup tonight. b. He hurt his (..........) so he can’t walk very well at the moment.

2. a. It suddenly (..........) me that I would never see her again. b. He lost control of the car and it (..........) a tree.

3. a. I think she wanted a tip, but I didn’t have any (..........). b. They were looking for a (..........) in lifestyle, so they emigrated.

4. a. A good referee should be (..........) to both sides. b. Who’s that woman with the (..........) hair—I think I recognise her.

5. a. Waiter! There’s a (..........) in my soup. b. I always wanted to learn how to (..........). Is it expensive?

Activity 5

Do you have words in your language that are written the same but have double meanings?

Explanations of jokes in the text

I used to be a banker, but I lostinterest. (I became bored with the job / I lost money) Have you heard about the cross-eyed teacher who couldn’t control hispupils? (students / parts of his eyes)

A small boy swallowed some coins and had to go to hospital. When his grandmother phoned to ask how he was, the nurse said: ‘Nochangeyet’. (no difference in the situation / no money)

I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then ithitme. (the ball hit me / I suddenly realised)

No one knew she had a dental implant, until itcame outin a conversation. (became known / fell out)

A boiled egg in the morning ishard to beat. (can’t be better / dif fi cult to mix with a fork)

Timefl ieslike an arrow. (time goes quickly) Fruitfl ieslike a banana. (insects enjoy eating fruit)