Meaning and Examples of Homonyms

What are Homonyms?

As you may have noticed, some words in English have got the same spelling and sound but with entirely different meanings. This is the concept behind homonyms.

Sometimes, students may find it tough to construct sentences containing homonyms within them. Similarly, some students also find it difficult to decipher or interpret sentences with homonyms in them.

You can read on synonyms here.

In this article, we will construct sentences containing homonyms, while also interpreting their meanings in the respective sentence where they are used.

Homonyms are words with the same spellings, same sounds but different meanings

Please read on figures of speech here.

Below are sentences containing homonyms with their respective meanings:

 

Keen

We have a keen match against Ronaldo’s team and Messi seems to be keen.

• Keen: An involvement of people competing very hard for something.

• Keen: Very interested in something.

 

Tear

Regardless the tear you shed, Mr. Frank will still tear your examination scripts.

• Tear: The drop of liquid that comes out from a person's eye when they cry.

• Tear: To damage something by pulling or cutting it apart.

 

Jot

There isn't any jot of truth in what he said, so I didn't jot anything down.

• Jot: A very small amount of something.

• Jot: To write something quickly.

 

Ball

James took the ball with him to the ball last night.

• Ball: A round leather or rubber object that is played, thrown or kicked in the game of sports.

• Ball: A large formal party where people dance.

 

Mass

The young man carried a mass of the priest's clothes on his head before the mass was celebrated.

• Mass: A large amount or quantity of something.

• Mass: A religious celebration of Christ’s last supper.

 

Instant

Prepare instant noodles for me because I will be back in an instant.

• Instant: A food that can be made very quickly and easily usually by adding hot water.

• Instant: A very short period of time. It also means 'to happen immediately'.

Please read WAEC 1998 questions here.

 

Vent

The pretty lady had to vent her rage on the tailor for giving her coat a nasty vent.

• Vent: To express an angry feeling.

• Vent: A long thin opening or cut at the bottom or back of a jacket or coat.

 

Novel

This novel is novel.

• Novel: A story book in which the characters and events are usually imaginary.

• Novel: New and interesting.

 

Lie

The lady told a lie this morning before she went to lie in the hospital bed.

• Lie: To say some that is not true.

• Lie: To put one’s body in a flat position on a surface.

 

Utter

The statement the thief had utter was utter nonsense.

• Utter: Said.

• Utter: Total or complete.

 

Yen

Douglas had the yen to by a lamborghini car but unfortunately, he does not have enough yen on him.

• Yen: A strong desire for something.

• Yen: The unit of money in Japan.

 

Rest

We will rest our case when the rest of the student take their necessary rest.

• Rest: Have no more to say about something.

• Rest: Remaining part of something.

• Rest: To relax, sleep or do nothing after a period of activity.

 

Address

I was able to address the victims after going through the address you gave me.

• Address: A formal speech made in front of an audience.

• Address: Details of where somebody lives or works.

 

Orient

When Tony needed someone to orient him on karate, he visited the orient.

• Orient: To direct someone on something.

• Orient: The eastern part of the world especially China and Japan.

 

Wave

The captain with waves was fortunate to be recognized by his waves after the ship sank under the waves.

• Wave: A curring shape on a person's hair.

• Wave: A movement of the arms and hand from side to side.

• Wave: A raised line of water that moves across the surface of the sea and ocean.

 

Toast

Vivian wanted to toast the bride and groom before making us some toast for breakfast.

• Toast: The act of wishing someone happiness by raising one’s glass of wine and drinking at the same time.

• Toast: Slices of bread that are made brown and crisp by placing them close to direct heat.

 

Fair

Although the games occured on a fair day, the fair lady still had a fair performance.

• Fair: Bright and not raining.

• Fair: Pale in color.

• Fair: Not too bad, quite good and acceptable.

Please read on idioms here.

 

Saw

I saw the movie yesterday and that reminded me of the old saw - 'make haste while the sun shine'.

• Saw: Past tense of see.

• Saw: A short phrase or sentence that states the general truth about life.

 

Racket

As soon as the players began to argue during the racket, the referee instructed them to stop making such a terrible racket.

• Racket: A game of two or more people played with racket and a small hard ball in a court with four walls.

• Racket: A loud unpleasant noise.

 

Plaque

The young girl was patient enough to fix the plaque on the wall before removing the plaque on her teeth.

• Plaque: A flat piece of stone or metal with a name and date on it, fixed on the wall in memory of a person or an event.

• Plaque: A soft substance that grows on the teeth and encourages the growth of harmful bacteria.

 

Lean

Lean at the lean man at your own peril.

• Lean: To rest against something in a slopping position.

• Lean: A thin person and without much flesh.

 

Earnest

Despite her unappreciated earnest effort, Deborah still remained an earnest woman.

• Earnest: More serious with more effort than before.

• Earnest: Very serious and sincere about yourself.

 

Arch

A soon as the bridge with an arch collapsed, he had the accident and was lucky to only hurt his arch.

• Arch: A curved structure that supports the weight of something above it, such as a bridge or the upper part of a building.

• Arch: The raised part of the foot between the sole and the heel.