Homonyms, Homophone and Homograph

English Lesson
Grade 9B

Mr. Rizal

​Learning Objective

Homophones and homonyms: Learners are able to recognise and apply homonyms and homophones.[C3]

​Guess the meaning of this words

1. Minute

2. Bass

3. Polish

4. Bow

5. Close

6. Lead

7. Bear

8. Ring

9. Fan

10. Band

11. Bat

12. Kind

13. Part

14. Park

15. Class

16. Fair

​Guess the meaning of this words

• minute (the noun meaning “60 seconds”; the adjective meaning “very small”)

• bass (the fish; the instrument)

• Polish (from Poland) and polish (to make something shiny)

• bow (the noun referring to a ribbon tied in a decorative way; the verb meaning to bend reverently)

• close (the adjective meaning “nearby”; the verb meaning “to shut”)

• lead (the metal; the verb meaning “to act as a leader”)

​Guess the meaning of this words

• bear (the animal; the verb meaning “to carry”)

• ring (a circle; a type of jewelry; what a phone does)

• fan (the appliance that makes wind; an admirer/appreciator)

• band (music group; a ring or strap)

• bat (the animal; a baseball bat)

• kind (the adjective meaning “nice”; the noun meaning “type”)

• part (a component of something; a line in one’s hair; the verb meaning “to separate”)

• park (a noun meaning an outdoor space; a verb meaning what you do to a car)

• class (lesson; category; classiness)

• fair (equitable or according to the rules; a carnival)

​Homonyms

Homonyms
1. Homonyms are words which sound alike or are spelled alike but have different meanings.
2. In a strict sense, a homonym is a word that both sounds and is spelled the same as another word.
3. Think of the word “lie” which can mean “not true” or “resting position.”
4. They are written and pronounced the same. Likewise, “train” is a mode of transport or could mean physical/mental exercise. 
5. In loose terms, both homographs and homophones are a kind of homonym because they either sound the same (homophone) or are spelled the same (homograph).

Homophones

Homophones are words that sound the same but are different in meaning or spelling.

• ate (past tense of eat) / eight (number 8) 

• be (verb) / bee (the yellow/black flying animal) 

• blew (past tense of blow) / blue (the colour) 

• buy (purchasing) / by (proposition or adverb) / bye (farewell) 

• ad (advertisement) / add (increase) 

​Homograph

Homographs are spelled the same, but differ in meaning or pronunciation.

Content (/kənˈtent/)

• Con-TENT = happy or satisfied (adjective)

• CON-tent = all that is contained inside something (noun)

• Desert (/dezət/)

  • DE-sert = a hot, arid region (noun)

  • DEE-sert = to leave (verb)

    Present (/prɪˈzent/)

    • PRE-sent = at this moment or right now/a gift (noun)

    • Pre-SENT = to give something to someone (verb)