Homophones
Watch these videos and learn what HOMOPHONES are:
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and different meanings, for example:
meat
meet
These words are called homophones from the Greek words homo (meaning same) and phonos (meaning sound). Some other examples:
Sometimes it is hard to remember which spelling to use because
Both words look right - they are both real words.
Both words sound the same - so the sounds won't help you.
So how can you remember which word is which?
1. Link the words with others that you know:
hear - with your ears
here - a place
Did you hear that strange noise?
Don't put it here, put it over there.
1) You hear with your ears
2) Here is a place - like there and where:
2. Look at the letter that is different. Think of a link that helps you remember the meaning. Draw pictures and write the words in a cross, like this:
leek - vegetable
leak - let out liquid
Leeks taste a bit like onions.
The broken tap is leaking.
1) Leeks are green.
2) The tap leaks with water
current -
1) flow of eg. water
2) ongoing, in use
currant - small dried grape
1) The river had a strong current.
2) Read about current events in the paper.
This cake is full of currants.
Think of
1) river with e and current with e
2) cake with a and currant with a -
or think of the currants in the cake as being ants.
3. Look for small words within the main word:
peace - opposite of war
piece - part, section
If the baby is asleep there is peace and quiet.
Don't eat it all, leave me a piece.
A piece of pie
In each of the examples above, you had to target the letters that were different and think of a way to remember which word had which meaning.
Your turn now. Look at these two words:
beech - a tree
beach - sand by the sea