centre 30 S T U D Y PA G E S

Homographs: words that are spelled the same

Homographs are words that have the same spelling but have different pronunciation
and meaning. In the examples here, the pronunciation is shown at the end of each
example.
bow I strongly object to these cuts in public
The actors came back on stage and took a spending. /əbd
ekt/
bow. /baυ/ project
He learned to hunt with a bow and arrow. The housing project will create 5000 new
UK /bəυ/ US /boυ/ homes.
close UK /prɒd
.ekt/ US /prɑ.d
ekt/
Close your eyes and count to ten. He’s trying to project a more confident
UK /kləυz/ US /kloυz/ image. /prəd
ekt/
Please keep close to the path, it’s easy to refuse
get lost. I won’t do it – I absolutely refuse! /rfjuz/
UK /kləυs/ US /kloυs/ Put empty bottles here and other refuse in
content the bin. /ref.jus/
Soft drinks have a high sugar content. row
UK /kɒn.tent/ US /kɑn.tent/ I had a blazing row with my girlfriend
I was content just to stay at home and last night. /raυ/
read. /kəntent/ I looked quickly along the row of books.
contract UK /rəυ/ US /roυ/
Your muscles will contract if you get cold. tear
/kəntrkt/ She noticed a tear in the corner of his eye.
The new export contract is worth £16 UK /tər/ US /tr/
million. To open the packet, tear along the dotted
UK /kɒn.trkt/ US /kɑn.trkt/ line. UK /teər/ US /ter/
desert used
He was planning to desert his family and There used to be a farm here, years ago.
go abroad. UK /dz t/ US /dz rt/ /just/
It hasn’t rained in this part of the desert Explosives were used to enter the building
for years. /dez.ət/ /juzd/
lead wind
Just follow the signs and they will lead Wind speeds reached 102mph last night.
you to the exit. /lid/ /wnd/
Gold is heavier than lead. /led/ You have to wind the handle to the left.
minute /wand/
Can I speak to you for a minute, Mr wound
Trent? /mnt/ He wound the rope around his arm.
We’ve got a small house with a minute /waυnd/
garden. In the fight, one young man received a
UK /manjut/ US /manut/ knife wound. /wund/
object
This small stone object is over 5000 years
old.
UK / ɒb.d
kt/ US / ɑb.d
kt/