Homophones, Homonyms, and Homographs

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: My friends are coming over to _______ house after school.

• their

• there

• they're

• thar

Answer explanation

The word 'their' is a possessive pronoun showing ownership. 'There' refers to a place, and 'they're' is a contraction for 'they are'.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1G

CCSS.L.K.4A

Sort these word pairs into the correct categories: Homophones or Homonyms.

Groups:

(a) Homophones (sound same, different spelling/meaning)

,

(b) Homonyms (sound and spelled same, different meaning)

• watch / watch

• bat / bat

• knight / night

• right / right

• see / sea

• ate / eight

Answer explanation

Homophones sound alike but are spelled differently (see/sea). Homonyms are spelled and sound the same but have different meanings (a baseball bat vs. an animal bat).

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

Match each homophone to its correct meaning.

• Consumed food

• ate

• A large body of salt water

• bare

• A male child

• son

• Uncovered or naked

• sea

Answer explanation

Each word is matched with its correct definition. These are homophones, meaning they sound like other words (eight, see, sun, bear) but have different meanings and spellings.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1G

CCSS.L.K.4A

Which word correctly completes the sentence: It is a basic _______ of science that gravity pulls objects down.

• principal

• principle

• princepall

• principull

Answer explanation

'Principle' means a fundamental rule or belief. 'Principal' refers to the head of a school or the main part of something. The context calls for a rule of science.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1G

CCSS.L.K.4A

Sort the sentences based on the meaning of the homograph 'tear'.

Groups:

(a) To rip or pull apart

,

(b) A drop of water from the eye

• The sad movie made a tear come to his eye.

• Be careful not to tear the paper.

• A single tear rolled down her cheek.

• He saw a small tear in his new shirt.

Answer explanation

The homograph 'tear' can be pronounced differently. When it means to rip (tare), it's a verb or noun. When it means a drop from the eye (teer), it's a noun.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

Which statement best defines a homophone?

• Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings.

• Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.

• Words that have opposite meanings.

• Words that are spelled and sound the same but have different meanings.

Answer explanation

Homophones, like 'two' and 'too,' sound identical but are spelled differently and mean different things. Homonyms are spelled the same.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1G

CCSS.L.K.4A

In which sentence is the word 'desert' used to mean 'to abandon or leave behind'?

• The Sahara is a very large desert.

• I hope my friends don't desert me at the party.

• For dessert, we had ice cream.

• The desert is hot during the day.

Answer explanation

The homograph 'desert' has two meanings. As a noun (DE-sert), it's a dry place. As a verb (de-SERT), it means to abandon. The correct option uses it as a verb.

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

Choose the words that correctly complete the sentence: My parents said I'm not ________ to read my book _____ during the movie.

• allowed, aloud

• aloud, allowed

• aloud, aloud

• allowed, allowed

Answer explanation

'Allowed' means permitted. 'Aloud' means to speak or read in a way that can be heard. The sentence means 'I'm not permitted to read out loud.'

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1G

CCSS.L.K.4A

Sort these word pairs into the correct category: Homophones, Homonyms, or Homographs.

Groups:

(a) Homophones

,

(b) Homonyms

,

(c) Homographs

• bow (for arrows) / bow (to bend at the waist)

• lead (to guide) / lead (a metal)

• which / witch

• right (correct) / right (a direction)

• can (a metal container) / can (to be able to)

• flour / flower

Answer explanation

Homophones sound the same (flour/flower). Homonyms are spelled and sound the same (right/right). Homographs are spelled the same but can have different sounds (lead/lead).

Tags

CCSS.L.5.5C

Match each tricky homophone to its correct meaning.

• To receive or agree to something

• than

• Used for comparisons

• accept

• A result or consequence (noun)

• weather

• The atmospheric conditions outside

• effect

Answer explanation

These homophones are often confused. 'Accept' is to receive, while 'except' is to exclude. 'Effect' is a result, while 'affect' is to influence. 'Weather' is climate, while 'whether' introduces a choice. 'Than' compares, while 'then' indicates time.

Tags

CCSS.L.4.1G

CCSS.L.K.4A