English

Homophones and Homonyms

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These are often confused by adults and children. However once you get to play around with them they are quite easy. Let us first of all look at what they are.

Homophone

Homophones are words that sound the same but are spelt differently.

Homonyms

Homonyms are also words that sound the same but which are spelt the same. However they have different meanings.

Let's look first of all at homophones

Sea Water  See  Using your eyes
Right Opposite of left  Write  To put pen to paper
There Place/location  Their Belonging to someone
Which A choice of more than one Witch Someone who does magic
Steel Made from iron  Steal Take from someone

One reason for looking at homophones is because they sometimes cause confusion.
This is often true with there and their.
There is a place or a location.
Whilst their is something that belongs to someone.

Look at the following sentences and see if you know which one to use.

The boys had left (there/their) bikes over (there/their) by the bike shed.

The mother pointed to the bags on the floor and asked "Who has left (there/their) bags (there/their)?"

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Answers

The boys' had left their bikes over there by the bike shed.

The mother pointed to the bags on the floor and asked. "Who has left their bags there?"

That wasn't too hard was it?

Let us move on to homonyms.

Homonyms

Remember that homonyms are words that sound and are spelt the same, but have different meanings.
Here are some examples:

club ( somewhere to dance)
club ( large, heavy object that people get hit with)

fine ( money you owe for bring things back late)
fine (feeling okay)

rock (a type of music)
rock (made of stone)

What is the difference between a homophone and a homonym then?

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Homophones SOUND the SAME, but are spelt differently.

Homonyms SOUND the SAME, are SPELT the SAME, but have different meanings.

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Note, if you are a teacher and you want more FREE English resources you can visit
The Teacher's Library of Resources, sister site of ICTeachers. 
click here to go there now!