Homophones and Homographs — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Read: 'The strange object glittered on the shelf, catching everyone's curious eyes.' What does object mean?
A) a thing that can be seen
B) a goal in a game
C) to argue against
D) a verb meaning oppose
Object as a noun, stressed on the first syllable, means a physical thing, while the verb means to oppose.
2. Read: 'I must object to that unfair rule before the meeting ends.' What does object mean?
A) a small toy
B) to disagree or oppose strongly
C) a tiny thing
D) a goal post
Here object, stressed on the second syllable, is a verb meaning to express disagreement or opposition firmly.
3. Read: 'She tied a silky bow around the white birthday box.' What does bow mean?
A) the front of a ship
B) to bend forward politely
C) a knot of looped ribbon
D) a wooden weapon
Bow here names a looped knot of ribbon used for decoration, not a bend or weapon or ship's front.
4. Read: 'After the song, the violinist gave a graceful bow to the cheering audience.' What does bow mean?
A) a ribbon knot
B) a ship's front
C) a stringed weapon
D) to bend forward in respect
Bow here is the verb meaning to bend forward in respect or thanks, often performed by musicians after applause.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A strong wind blew through the open window during the storm.
Wind, rhyming with pinned, names moving air, different from the verb wind meaning to coil or wrap.
2. She had to wind the old clock every Sunday morning.
Wind, rhyming with mind, is a verb meaning to turn the mechanism, different from the noun for moving air.
3. He felt one tear slide silently down his cheek at the ceremony.
Tear with a long e names a drop from the eye, while tear with a short e means to rip something.
4. Be careful not to tear the delicate paper while wrapping the gift.
Tear rhyming with bear means to rip, different from the homograph that names a salty drop from the eye.
5. The musician played a low bass note during the slow ballad.
Bass rhyming with face means a low musical pitch or instrument, unlike the bass that names a freshwater fish.