Homonyms : Meaning, Examples and Uses
English Language
Structure Work
Second Term Lesson Note
Week 3
Primary 6
Homonyms : Meaning, Examples and Uses
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to
- Say the meaning of the homonyms
- Give examples of homonyms
- Use homonyms in sentences
Entry Behaviour
Pupils have previous knowledge of words like antonyms, synonyms and homophones.
Instructional Materials
- Audio Visual Resources
- Flash cards
- Online Dictionary
- Recommended English Textbook
- Chart
- Hard copy dictionary
Methods of Teaching
- Class Discussion
- Group Discussion
- Asking Questions
- Explanation
- Role Modelling
- Role Delegation
Reference Materials
- Scheme of Work
- Online Information
- Textbooks
- Workbooks
- 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum
Content
What are homonyms ?
Homonyms may be defined as words with the same or similar pronunciations but different spellings and meanings, such as to, too, and two. Or they may be words with both identical pronunciations and identical spellings but different meanings, such as quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe).
Homonyms are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings, spellings, or both.
There are several different types of homonyms:
- Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings. Examples include to, too, and two; or paw (a limb) and paw (to touch or handle).
- Homographs are words that have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations. Examples include wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course).
- Homonyms that are both homophones and homographs are called homonyms proper. An example of a homonym proper is quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe).
It’s important to be careful when using homonyms, as they can be easily confused. This is especially true in written language, where the context of the word may not always be clear.
List of some common homonyms:
- bear (to carry) and bear (the animal)
- bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree)
- bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment)
- beat (to strike repeatedly) and beat (to be superior to)
- bleat (the sound a sheep makes) and bleat (to complain loudly)
- board (a piece of wood) and board (to get on a vehicle)
- brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle) and brake (to stop or slow down)
- brake (a type of fern) and brake (to break something)
- brake (to check or slow down) and brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle)
- can (a container) and can (to be able to)
- carp (a type of fish) and carp (to complain or criticize)
- cell (a small room) and cell (a unit in a living organism)
- close (to shut) and close (near in distance or time)
- course (a path or route) and course (a series of lessons)
- deer (a hoofed animal) and deer (a term of address)
- fair (just and honest) and fair (a public event)
- flour (a type of grain) and flour (to coat with flour)
- flower (a plant) and flower (to produce flowers)
- gait (a manner of walking or running) and gait (a pathway or road)
- grate (a framework of parallel bars) and grate (to make a harsh noise)
More examples of Homophones
- Son – a male offspring Sun – the star at the center of the solar system
- Weak – not strong Week – seven days
- Hate – intense or passionate dislike Eight – the number 8
- Mail – to send a letter or package through the post office Male – a person who identifies as a man or has male characteristics
- Right – correct or just Write – to mark symbols on a surface to represent language
- Hear – to perceive sound through the ear Here – in this place
- Bear – a large mammal found in various parts of the world Bare – unclothed or uncovered
- Peel – to remove the outer layer of something Peal – a loud ringing of bells
- Break – to separate or cause to become separated into pieces Brake – a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle
- Cell – a small room or compartment, or the basic unit of life Sell – to exchange for money
- Pole – a long, thin piece of wood or metal Poll – a survey of public opinion
- Flour – a powder made from ground grains Flower – a plant’s reproductive structure
- Plain – simple or unadorned Plane – a flat surface or level
- Right – correct or just Rite – a religious or ceremonial tradition
- Roll – to move in a circular motion Role – a function or part played by a person or thing
- Sole – the bottom of a foot or shoe Soul – the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being.
- Plain – simple or unadorned Plane – a flat surface or level
- Right – correct or just Rite – a religious or ceremonial tradition
- Roll – to move in a circular motion Role – a function or part played by a person or thing
- Sole – the bottom of a foot or shoe Soul – the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being.
Evaluation
- Which of the following is a type of homonym? A) Homophone B) Homograph C) Homonym proper D) All of the above
- Which of the following is an example of a homophone? A) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal) B) bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree) C) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment) D) All of the above
- Which of the following is an example of a homograph? A) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course) B) paw (a limb) and paw (to touch or handle) C) to, too, and two D) All of the above
- Which of the following is an example of a homonym proper? A) quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe) B) close (to shut) and close (near in distance or time) C) deer (a hoofed animal) and deer (a term of address) D) All of the above
- Which of the following words is not a homophone? A) paw (a limb) and paw (to touch or handle) B) beat (to strike repeatedly) and beat (to be superior to) C) bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree) D) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment)
- Which of the following words is not a homograph? A) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course) B) brake (a type of fern) and brake (to break something) C) brake (to check or slow down) and brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle) D) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal)
- Which of the following words is not a homophone or homograph? A) quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe) B) close (to shut) and close (near in distance or time) C) deer (a hoofed animal) and deer (a term of address) D) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course)
- Which of the following pairs of words is not a homophone or homograph? A) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal) B) bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree) C) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment) D) brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle) and brake (to stop or slow down)
- Which of the following pairs of words is a homophone and a homograph? A) close (to shut) and close (near in distance or time) B) deer (a hoofed animal) and deer (a term of address) C) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course) D) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal)
Answers
- D) All of the above
- D) All of the above
- A) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course)
- A) quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe)
- D) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment)
- D) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal)
- D) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course)
- D) brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle) and brake (to stop or slow down)
- B) deer (a hoofed animal) and deer (a term of address)
Homophones In Sentences
- I need to break this habit before it breaks me.
- I need to use the brake to slow down the car.
- The cell phone is an essential part of modern life.
- I sell my handmade crafts at the local market.
- The pole vaulter cleared the bar with ease.
- The poll results show that the majority of people support the proposal.
- The flour and sugar are the main ingredients in this cake recipe.
- The knight in shining armor saved the damsel in distress.
- I always have trouble sleeping at night.
- The bare tree looked lonely in the winter landscape.
- He peeled off his shirt after the run.
- The story he told was nothing but a tall tale.
- He looked pale and weak after the long hike.
- He filled the pail with water from the well.
- The peace treaty was signed by both sides.
- I need to buy a new piece of furniture for my living room.
- The plain white dress was elegant in its simplicity.
- The plane took off smoothly and soared into the sky.
- We are doing the rite for the deceased.
- He rolled the dough into a perfect circle.
- He played the role of the villain in the play.
- He put on his sole shoes before leaving.
- He had a deep connection with his own soul
- Who told my son to sit in the sun?
- The weak boy did not come to school this week.
- I hate when people are mean to others.
- I can’t believe I just won eight hundred dollars!
- I need to mail this letter before it gets too late.
- It’s important to do what is right, even when it’s hard.
- I’m going to write a book about my adventures.
Presentation
The lesson presentation is done step by step. The class teacher or subject teacher does the following
- Begin by introducing the concept of homonyms and explaining that they are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings, spellings, or both.
- Provide examples of homophones, such as to, too, and two; or paw (a limb) and paw (to touch or handle). Ask the students to identify which words in the examples are homophones.
- Provide examples of homographs, such as wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course). Ask the students to identify which words in the examples are homographs.
- Provide examples of homonyms that are both homophones and homographs, such as quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe). Ask the students to identify which words in the examples are homonyms proper.
- Give the students a list of homophones, homographs, and homonyms proper and ask them to identify which category each word belongs to.
- Provide the students with a variety of written passages that include homophones, homographs, and homonyms proper. Ask them to identify and correct any errors in the passages.
- Encourage the students to use homophones, homographs, and homonyms proper in their own writing, and remind them to be careful to use the correct spelling and meaning for each word.
- Provide ongoing practice with homophones, homographs, and homonyms proper through various activities and exercises, such as matching games, word scrambles, and crossword puzzles.
Evaluation
- What is a homophone? A) A word that has the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings B) A word that has the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations C) A word that has the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings D) None of the above
- What is a homograph? A) A word that has the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings B) A word that has the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations C) A word that has the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings D) None of the above
- What is a homonym proper? A) A word that has the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings B) A word that has the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations C) A word that has the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings D) A word that is both a homophone and a homograph
- Which of the following pairs of words is a homophone? A) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal) B) bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree) C) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment) D) All of the above
- Which of the following pairs of words is a homograph? A) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course) B) paw (a limb) and paw (to touch or handle) C) to, too, and two D) All of the above
- Which of the following pairs of words is a homonym proper? A) quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe) B) close (to shut) and close (near in distance or time) C) deer (a hoofed animal) and deer (a term of address) D) All of the above
- Which of the following words is not a homophone? A) paw (a limb) and paw (to touch or handle) B) beat (to strike repeatedly) and beat (to be superior to) C) bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree) D) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment)
- Which of the following words is not a homograph? A) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course) B) brake (a type of fern) and brake (to break something) C) brake (to check or slow down) and brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle) D) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal)
- Which of the following pairs of words is not a homophone or homograph? A) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal) B) bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree) C) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment) D) brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle) and brake (to stop or slow down)
ANSWERS
- A) A word that has the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings
- B) A word that has the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations
- D) A word that is both a homophone and a homograph
- D) All of the above
- D) All of the above
- D) All of the above
- D) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment)
- D) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal)
- D) brake (a device for slowing or stopping a vehicle) and brake (to stop or slow
Evaluation
- What are homophones? A) Words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings B) Words that have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations C) Words that have the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings D) None of the above
- What are homographs? A) Words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings B) Words that have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations C) Words that have the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings D) None of the above
- What are homonyms proper? A) Words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings B) Words that have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations C) Words that have the same pronunciation and spelling but different meanings D) Words that are both a homophone and a homograph
- Which of the following pairs of words is a homophone? A) bear (to carry) and bear (the animal) B) bark (the sound a dog makes) and bark (the outer layer of a tree) C) bat (a flying mammal) and bat (a piece of sports equipment) D) All of the above
- Which of the following pairs of words is a homograph? A) wind (air in motion) and wind (to follow a course) B) paw (a limb) and paw (to touch or handle) C) to, too, and two D) All of the above
Conclusion
In conclusion, Homonyms are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings, spellings, or both. There are several different types of homonyms, including homophones, which have the same pronunciation but different meanings and spellings; homographs, which have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations; and homonyms proper, which are both homophones and homographs. It is important to be careful when using homonyms, as they can be easily confused. This is especially true in written language, where the context of the word may not always be clear. By understanding the different types of homonyms and practicing using them correctly, students can improve their language skills and communicate more effectively in both spoken and written language.
To conclude the lesson, the class teacher or subject teacher does a brief review of what he or she has just taught the pupils. He ask you questions that are related to the topic to ascertain if the learners have actually assimilated and understood the new topic that has just been taught
