Skill 20
Know (No) Your Homonyms
Homonyms. Just looking at the prefix of this word, you might suspect that it has to do with things that are the same. If you thought that, you would be exactly correct! Homonyms are words that sound the same but are spelled differently and mean different things. Here is a good example: to, too, two. The word to means “toward” or “in the direction of,” as in the sentence “I am going to the store.” The word too means “also,” as in the sentence “I like cake and chocolate ice cream too.” Too also means “in excess,” as in “That band was playing music too loudly.” Finally, two is the number, as in the sentence “I bought two books.”
Knowing about homonyms is important because it helps build and refine your vocabulary.
The chart below lists a few common homonyms. Once you learn to recognize homonyms, you’ll start noticing many more in the words people use every day.
Test Yourself!
Read the sentence and indicate which of the homonyms should be used. Circle the letter of your choice.
We had a wonderful time building sandcastles on the _____.
beach
beech
We danced to the _____ of the music.
beet
beat
We found the lost watch in the trash _____.
been
bin
The evening sky was a bright _____.
blue
blew
He and his pals went hunting for wild _____.
bore
boar
We heard the story so many times that we were _____.
bored
board
After he started studying karate, he become much _____ in his dealing with bullies.
boulder
bolder
He pumped the _____ to stop the car on the icy road.
brake
break
Even though it was a sensitive subject, I decided to _____ the issue with her.
brooch
broach
At the end of our visit, I waved good- _____.
by
bye
buy
The tourists visited the US _____ building in Washington DC.
capital
capitol
With her inheritance, she purchased a two _____ diamond ring.
carrot
carat
karat
The _____ of gardenias filled the room.
scent
cent
sent
The musician strummed a _____ on his guitar.
cord
chord
cored
The architect chose the _____ for the new building on the highest point of the hill.
sight
site
cite
His explanation didn’t seem to have a _____ of truth to it.
kernel
colonel
Her face turned pink when he gave her that _____.
compliment
complement
It was amazing to see so many _____ in the park.
dear
deer
The teacher tried hard to _____ a response from the shy child.
elicit
illicit
It was the _____ time that the mistake was made.
forth
fourth
The horse had an unusual _____ as it trotted down the field.
gait
gate
She was _____ down the path by her guide dog.
lead
led
Because the taxes were not paid, the agency put a _____ on his property.
lien
lean
His shirt was so short that his _____ showed.
navel
naval
The athlete was careful not to _____ his exercise after the last injury.
overdo
overdue