Chapter: 09. A Comedy Of Manners
Word Wonder: Understanding Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs
This section introduces you to some fascinating categories of words in English that can sometimes be tricky! Let’s break them down.
Homonyms:
The word “homonym” comes from “homo” (meaning “same”) and “nym” (meaning “name” or “word”). So, homonyms are words that are spelled the same and sound the same, but have completely different meanings. The example from the chapter, ‘act’, is a perfect illustration:
“I must act before it is too late to help her.” (Here, ‘act’ means to perform an action.) “The second act of the play is more entertaining than the first.” (Here, ‘act’ refers to a section of a play.)
Both words are spelled A-C-T and pronounced the same, but their meanings are distinct. Think of other examples like “bank” (a financial institution vs. the edge of a river) or “bark” (the sound a dog makes vs. the outer covering of a tree). Homophones:
“Homophone” means “same sound” (“homo” + “phone”). These words sound exactly the same when you say them aloud, but they are spelled differently and have different meanings. This is why they can be tricky in writing!
The chapter gives examples:
allowed (permitted) and aloud (out loud, audibly) steal (to take something dishonestly) and steel (a strong metal) ball (a round object) and bawl (to cry loudly)
Many common spelling mistakes come from confusing homophones. Always think about the meaning you intend before choosing the spelling. Homographs:
“Homograph” means “same writing” (“homo” + “graph”). These words are spelled exactly the same, but they have different meanings, and sometimes, even different pronunciations! This is what makes them especially challenging.
The chapter provides examples:
“Arjun was armed with a bow and an arrow.” (Pronounced to rhyme with “go”; meaning a weapon for shooting arrows.) “The disciples bow their heads when the monk enters the stage.” (Pronounced to rhyme with “cow”; meaning to bend the head or body in respect.)
Here, the spelling B-O-W is identical, but the pronunciation and meaning change. Context is key with homographs! You need to read the whole sentence to understand which meaning and pronunciation is intended. Understanding these three categories will greatly improve your vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing accuracy. Pay close attention to how words are used in sentences!
A. Choose the correct word to fill in the blanks.
He pulled gently on the of the horse.
a. rains
b. reins
c. reigns b. reins (Reins are straps used to guide a horse.) My conversation with the author my interest and I decided to read his book.
a. peaked
b. piqued
c. peeked b. piqued (To ‘pique’ someone’s interest means to stimulate or arouse it.) ‘I wouldn’t pay a for those shoes,’ said Meg.
a. cent
b. scent
c. sent a. cent (A ‘cent’ is a unit of money.) Her car was away by the municipal authority for parking in the wrong place.
a. towed
b. toed
c. toad a. towed (To ‘tow’ means to pull something, usually a vehicle, behind another.) B. The words given below are homographs. Make sentences to bring out the two meanings. You may consult a dictionary for pronunciation.
(MY-noot - meaning extremely small) The scientist examined the minute details of the cell under the microscope. (MIN-it - meaning a unit of time) Please wait for just one minute, I’ll be right there. (ROHZ - meaning a flower) My grandmother loves the smell of a freshly bloomed rose in her garden. (ROHZ - past tense of rise) The sun rose majestically over the mountains at dawn. (SWOL-oh - meaning to make food or drink go down one’s throat) It was difficult to swallow the bitter medicine. (SWOL-oh - meaning a type of bird) A graceful swallow flew swiftly across the summer sky. (PUR-mit - meaning a document giving official permission) You need a special permit to enter the restricted area. (per-MIT - meaning to allow) The teacher did not permit talking during the test. (LIV - meaning to be alive) Most animals live in their natural habitats. (LYV - meaning broadcast in real-time) The band performed a live concert for their fans worldwide. (SOH - meaning to plant seeds) The farmer will sow the corn seeds in the spring. (SOU - meaning a female pig) The farmer had a large sow and her litter of piglets. (WIND - meaning moving air) The strong wind blew my hat off my head. (WEYEND - meaning to twist or turn) Please wind the clock every morning to keep it accurate. (SPRING - meaning a season) Many flowers bloom in the spring. (SPRING - meaning a coiled metal device or to jump suddenly) The toy car uses a tiny spring mechanism to move. (SPRING - meaning a source of water) We found a natural spring in the forest that provided fresh water. 
Word Wonder - Textbook