Common Difficult Homonyms

We will identify various homonyms and their pronunciation and meaning.

 ITS VS IT’S

ITS-of or belonging to it
The baby will scream as soon as its mother walks out of the room.

IT’S-contraction for it is
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Multiple Choice

What time is it?

(It's, Its) almost 12 noon.

• It's

• Its

Multiple Choice

The dog pee on ____bed. Better go clean it.

• It's

• Its

LOSE VS LOOSE

LOSE -verb, to misplace or not win
The Chiefs will lose to the 49ers next year! lol

LOOSE–noun, to not be tight; verb (rarely used)–to release

Jose's pants are too loose, they are going to fall down.

Multiple Choice

I don't want to play today. I'm afraid we will ______ the game.

• lose

• loose

Multiple Choice

I lost weight, and now my suits fit me too _______.

• lose

• loose

PRINCIPAL VS PRINCIPLE

PRINCIPAL-adjective, most important; noun, a person who has authority

The principal (adj) ingredient in chocolate chip cookies is chocolate chips.
The principal (noun) of the school does the announcements each morning.

PRINCIPLE-a general or fundamental truth
The study was based on the principle of gravity.

Multiple Choice

The new_________ will decide if we have open lunch next year.

• principle

• principal

Multiple Choice

I would never take money for a grade. That goes against my__________.

• principles

• principals

THAN VS THEN

THAN – use with comparisons
I would rather go out to eat than eat at the dining hall.

THEN – at that time, or next
I studied for my exam for seven hours, and then I went to bed.

Multiple Choice

Go to the cafeteria _______ go to the office and pick up your backpack.

• then

• than

Multiple Choice

I am taller ______ the average American male. I am exactly 6 feet tall with shoes on.

• then

• than

THEIR, THERE AND THEY’RE

THEIR-possessive form of they
Their house is at the end of the block.

THERE-indicates location (Key: think of “here and there“)
There goes my chance of winning the lottery!

THEY’RE-contraction for “they are”
They’re in Himachal for the summer–again!

Multiple Choice

______ going to be late to class. They missed the bus.

• They're

• There

• Their

Multiple Choice

Please put your backpack over _______ by my desk.

• they're

• there

• their

Multiple Choice

_______ little brother is a troublemaker just like them.

• They're

• There

• Their

Multiple Choice

They said ______ was no more room on the bus, so they had to wait for the next one.

• they're

• there

• their

THROUGH, THREW, THOROUGH AND THOUGH
THROUGH-by means of; finished; into or out of
He went through the front doors undetected.

THREW-past tense of throw.
She THREW away the pictures of her ex-boyfriend.

THOROUGH– careful or complete
The officers did a thorough investigation.

THOUGH-however; nevertheless
He’s really a sweetheart though he looks mean on the outside.

THRU-abbreviated slang for through; not appropriate in standard writing
We will go through the drive-thru at McDonald's.

Multiple Choice

Jorge ______the ball and it hit me on the nose.

• through

• thorough

• though

• threw

• thru

Multiple Choice

She________her old phone away because it was no longer turning on.

• through

• thorough

• though

• threw

• thru

Multiple Choice

I will pass_______your neighborhood to pick you up tomorrow.

• through

• thorough

• though

• threw

• thru

Multiple Choice

The counselors are very________in the way they create schedules. You have to tell them what electives you want for next year.

• through

• thorough

• though

• threw

• thru

Multiple Choice

She got in a fight at the Taco Bell drive-_______with the cashier. How dumb is that?!

• through

• thorough

• though

• threw

• thru