Definition: Homophones are words that sound the same when pronounced but have different meanings and often different spellings.
Meaning: The term “homophone” comes from the Greek words “homo” (meaning same) and “phone” (meaning sound). Therefore, homophones are words that share the same sound but have different meanings.
Examples:
- Flour/Flower:
- Flour: A powder obtained by grinding grain, typically wheat, and used to make bread, cakes, and pastry.
- Flower: The seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs that are typically surrounded by a brightly colored corolla and a green calyx.
- Sentence: I bought a bag of flour to bake a cake and a bouquet of flowers for my mother.
- Knight/Night:
- Knight: A man who served his sovereign or lord as a mounted soldier in armor.
- Night: The period of darkness in each twenty-four hours; the time from sunset to sunrise.
- Sentence: The knight rode off into the night to complete his quest.
- Sun/Son:
- Sun: The star around which the earth orbits.
- Son: A boy or man in relation to either or both of his parents.
- Sentence: My son loves to watch the sun set in the evening.
Remember, homophones can be tricky, but they’re also fun. They add a layer of complexity to language that makes communication interesting. Happy learning!