HomonymsTheir are mini words inn the English language that sound alike but are spelled differently and half different meanings. We knead two learn how to recognize them sew that we don’t make mistakes when we right.

What are homonyms?

Homonym: a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and a different spelling.

Several Commonly Confused Words

there/they’re/their: Their is a possessive pronoun used as an adjective. There is an adverb meaning “at or in that place.” They’re is a contraction meaning “they are.”

Examples: They’re going to the lake tonight to get

their skis. They were up there for such a short

time.

Several Commonly Confused Words

Your, you’re: You’re is the contraction meaning “you are”. Your is the possessive case of you.

Examples: You’re the most creative student in the

class. Your art will be submitted to the

contest.

Several Commonly Confused Words

Its/it’s: Its is the possessive form of it. It’s is the contraction “it is”.

Examples: The train ran off its tracks. It’s going to take a long time to repair

the train.

Several Commonly Confused Words

To/too/two: To is the preposition at the beginning work of an infinitive. Too is an adverb that means “also” or “having an abundance of.” Two is a number.

Example: That two-year-old girl has too much

energy for me to keep up with!

Several Commonly Confused Words

Affect/effect: Affect is a verb meaning “to influence” or “to pretend.” Effect is a noun that means “a result”; effect can also be a verb meaning “to cause.”

Examples: Jim’s attitude affected her friends

positively. The effects of Dwight’s attitude are

obvious. Pam’s positive attitude effected

success.

Several Commonly Confused Words

Accept/Except: Accept is a verb that means “to receive” or “to take.” Except is a preposition meaning “excluding” or “other than.”

Examples: Bill accepted the job at the mall. Everyone got a job except Ted.

Several Commonly Confused Words

Whose/who’s: Whose is a possessive case of who. Who’s is the contraction meaning who is.

Examples: Who’s the girl sitting next to Chloe? She’s the woman whose name was

called twice.

Several Commonly Confused Words

Capital: a city or location of government

Capitol: a building or statehouse

Desert (des’-ert): a dry, barren, sandy region

Desert (de-sert’): to abandon or leave

Dessert: a sweet, final course of a meal

Loose: not tight Lose: To suffer a loss

Principal: the head of a school Principle: a rule of conduct or a

fundamental truth

Threw: past tense of “throw”, tossed

Through: a preposition meaning “in one side and out the opposite side”

IT’S GAME TIME!

Directions

In your group, you will decide which word fills in the blank. You must spell the word correctly in order to get the point.

On the white board, just write the word, not the sentence.

Warnings: Some words are words we did not go over just now but that you have seen before…

Question 1

The soft music had a soothing (affect, effect) on the child.

Question 2

By this time of year, the snow has melted everywhere (accept, except) in the mountains.

Question 3

Mallory was happy to (accept, except) the invitation to the party.

Question 4

A bicyclist can wear out a set of (brakes, breaks) quickly.

Question 5

Montgomery is the (capital, capitol) of Alabama.

Question 6

I’m making brownies for (desert, dessert).

Question 7

(It’s, its) time for summer break.

Question 8

Can you (hear, here) the difference between the live and studio recordings of the song?

Question 9

If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss your (plain, plane).

Question 10

My father would never (desert, dessert) me in a time of need.

Question 11

We are fortunate to have a very sweet and fun (principal, principle).

Question 12

(Plain, plane) fruits and vegetables can be delicious.

Question 13

It’s a matter of (principal, principle) that we do not cheat on tests.

Question 14

The stars appear to be stationary, but we know that (their, there, they’re) moving at very high speeds.

Question 15

That noise is from a jet plane going (threw, through) the sound barrier.

Question 16

The girls completed (their, there, they’re) displays for the science fair.

Question 17

Coach (threw, through) the basketball towards me.

Question 18

The children in the backseat kept asking, “When will we get (their, they’re, there)?”

Question 19

(Who’s, Whose) going to the beach this summer?

Question 20

My stepsister and I built (to, too, two) snow forts yesterday.

Question 21

“(Your, You’re) late!” my friend complained.

Question 22

(Your, You’re) dog is (to, too, two) sleepy to learn any new tricks today.

Question 23

The pilot must decide very quickly (weather, whether) she should parachute to safety or try to land the crippled plane.

Question 24

That sounds like a (weak, week) excuse to me.

Question 25

My family is going (to, too, two) New Orleans.

Question 26

Our team hated to (lose, loose) the game.