Completing Homograph Sentences Quiz

1. The school will ___ a full investigation into the matter. Which pronunciation of the homograph best completes the sentence?

CON-duct (stress on first syllable)

Con-DUCT (stress on second syllable)

When 'conduct' is used as a verb, meaning to organize or carry out, the stress is placed on the second syllable (con-DUCT). The pronunciation CON-duct (stress on the first syllable) is used for the noun, meaning behavior or management.

Explanation

When 'conduct' is used as a verb, meaning to organize or carry out, the stress is placed on the second syllable (con-DUCT). The pronunciation CON-duct (stress on the first syllable) is used for the noun, meaning behavior or management.

2. He set a new world ___ in the 100-meter dash. Which pronunciation of the homograph best completes the sentence?

Re-CORD (stress on second syllable)

REC-ord (stress on first syllable)

When 'record' is used as a noun, referring to a documentation or a best achievement (as here), the stress is placed on the first syllable (REC-ord). The pronunciation re-CORD (stress on the second syllable) is used for the verb, meaning to save data or document.

Explanation

When 'record' is used as a noun, referring to a documentation or a best achievement (as here), the stress is placed on the first syllable (REC-ord). The pronunciation re-CORD (stress on the second syllable) is used for the verb, meaning to save data or document.

3. I saw a single ___ fall from her eye. Which pronunciation of the homograph best completes the sentence?

Tear (rhymes with stare)

Tear (rhymes with here)

The word 'tear' referring to a drop of liquid from the eye is pronounced with a long 'e' sound, rhyming with 'here' or 'fear'. The pronunciation rhyming with 'stare' is used for the verb 'to rip' or the resulting rip (a physical tear).

Explanation

The word 'tear' referring to a drop of liquid from the eye is pronounced with a long 'e' sound, rhyming with 'here' or 'fear'. The pronunciation rhyming with 'stare' is used for the verb 'to rip' or the resulting rip (a physical tear).

4. The guest speaker will ___ his findings tomorrow. Which pronunciation of the homograph best completes the sentence?

PRES-ent (stress on first syllable)

Pre-SENT (stress on second syllable)

When 'present' is used as a verb, meaning to offer or show, the stress is placed on the second syllable (pre-SENT). The pronunciation PRES-ent (stress on the first syllable) is used for the noun (a gift) or the adjective (current time/nearby).

Explanation

When 'present' is used as a verb, meaning to offer or show, the stress is placed on the second syllable (pre-SENT). The pronunciation PRES-ent (stress on the first syllable) is used for the noun (a gift) or the adjective (current time/nearby).

5. The farmer watched the female pig, the ___, nurse her piglets. Which pronunciation of the homograph best completes the sentence?

Sō (rhymes with snow)

Sau (rhymes with cow)

The word 'sow' referring to a female pig (noun) is pronounced 'sau,' rhyming with 'cow' or 'bough'. The pronunciation 'sō' (rhymes with 'snow' or 'sew') is used for the verb, meaning to plant seeds.

Explanation

The word 'sow' referring to a female pig (noun) is pronounced 'sau,' rhyming with 'cow' or 'bough'. The pronunciation 'sō' (rhymes with 'snow' or 'sew') is used for the verb, meaning to plant seeds.

6. Which sentences correctly use 'desert' as a verb meaning 'to abandon'?

The troops decided to desert their post.

The arid desert covers a vast area.

He felt his luck had deserted him.

The verb 'to desert' (meaning to abandon or forsake) is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable (de-SĔRT). The noun 'desert' (meaning dry, arid land) is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable (DĔS-ert).

Explanation

The verb 'to desert' (meaning to abandon or forsake) is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable (de-SĔRT). The noun 'desert' (meaning dry, arid land) is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable (DĔS-ert).

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7. Which sentences use 'content' as an adjective meaning 'satisfied' or 'happy'?

She was content with her job performance.

The content of the bottle was water.

He felt content after the meal.

The table of contents is at the front.

When 'content' is used as an adjective meaning 'satisfied,' the stress shifts to the second syllable (con-TENT). When it is a noun meaning 'subject matter' or 'capacity,' the stress is on the first syllable (KŎN-tent).

Explanation

When 'content' is used as an adjective meaning 'satisfied,' the stress shifts to the second syllable (con-TENT). When it is a noun meaning 'subject matter' or 'capacity,' the stress is on the first syllable (KŎN-tent).

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8. Which options describe the homograph 'bow' that is pronounced like 'boh' (rhymes with snow)?

The part of a ship.

An act of bending at the waist.

A decorative knot in hair or on a gift.

The weapon used with arrows.

Bow' pronounced like 'boh' (rhymes with snow) is used for a knot (C) or a weapon (D). The pronunciations 'bau' (rhymes with cow) are used for the front of a boat (A) or the verb meaning to bend at the waist (B).

Explanation

Bow' pronounced like 'boh' (rhymes with snow) is used for a knot (C) or a weapon (D). The pronunciations 'bau' (rhymes with cow) are used for the front of a boat (A) or the verb meaning to bend at the waist (B).

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9. Which sentences use 'close' as an adjective meaning 'near' or 'imminent'?

Please close the book gently.

The weather forecast suggests a storm is close.

His friend lives close to the school.

They had to close the store early.

When 'close' is an adjective meaning 'near' or 'intimate,' it is pronounced with a voiceless 's' sound (clōs). When 'close' is the verb meaning 'to shut' or 'finish' (options A and D), it is pronounced with a voiced 'z' sound (clōz).

Explanation

When 'close' is an adjective meaning 'near' or 'intimate,' it is pronounced with a voiceless 's' sound (clōs). When 'close' is the verb meaning 'to shut' or 'finish' (options A and D), it is pronounced with a voiced 'z' sound (clōz).

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10. Which sentences use 'invalid' as an adjective meaning 'not correct' or 'not based on truth'?

The parking permit was found to be invalid.

The logic presented in the argument was invalid.

The old woman was an invalid and needed constant care.

When 'invalid' is an adjective meaning 'not correct' (A and B), the stress is placed on the first syllable (IN-valid). When it is a noun referring to a sick person (C), the stress is on the second syllable (in-VAL-id).

Explanation

When 'invalid' is an adjective meaning 'not correct' (A and B), the stress is placed on the first syllable (IN-valid). When it is a noun referring to a sick person (C), the stress is on the second syllable (in-VAL-id).

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11. True or False: The verb "to wind a clock" (to crank or turn) is pronounced with a short 'i' sound (like pin).

True

False

The verb 'to wind' (to crank or turn) is pronounced with a long 'i' sound (wīnd), rhyming with 'find'. The short 'i' sound (wĭnd) is reserved for the noun 'wind,' which is moving air. Therefore, the statement is false.

Explanation

The verb 'to wind' (to crank or turn) is pronounced with a long 'i' sound (wīnd), rhyming with 'find'. The short 'i' sound (wĭnd) is reserved for the noun 'wind,' which is moving air. Therefore, the statement is false.

12. True or False: The noun 'lead' (the heavy metal) is pronounced identically to the past tense of the verb 'to lead' (led).

True

False

The noun 'lead' (the heavy metal) is pronounced with a short 'e' sound (lĕd). This pronunciation is exactly the same as the past tense verb 'led'. The present tense verb 'to lead' is pronounced with a long 'e' sound (lēd).

Explanation

The noun 'lead' (the heavy metal) is pronounced with a short 'e' sound (lĕd). This pronunciation is exactly the same as the past tense verb 'led'. The present tense verb 'to lead' is pronounced with a long 'e' sound (lēd).

13. True or False: The word 'compact' has the same pronunciation when referring to a small car and when it means to press something tightly.

True

False

When 'compact' is a noun (like a small car) or an adjective (tightly packed), the stress is on the first syllable (KŎM-pact). When it is a verb meaning to press something tightly, the stress shifts to the second syllable (com-PĂCT). Therefore, the pronunciation is different.

Explanation

When 'compact' is a noun (like a small car) or an adjective (tightly packed), the stress is on the first syllable (KŎM-pact). When it is a verb meaning to press something tightly, the stress shifts to the second syllable (com-PĂCT). Therefore, the pronunciation is different.

14. True or False: If two people have a row (a quarrel), the word is pronounced to rhyme with snow.

True

False

When 'row' means a quarrel or noisy dispute, it is pronounced 'rau' (rhymes with cow). The pronunciation 'rō' (rhymes with snow) is used when 'row' means a line or to propel a boat with oars. Therefore, the statement is false.

Explanation

When 'row' means a quarrel or noisy dispute, it is pronounced 'rau' (rhymes with cow). The pronunciation 'rō' (rhymes with snow) is used when 'row' means a line or to propel a boat with oars. Therefore, the statement is false.

15. True or False: The noun 'refuse' (trash) is stressed on the second syllable (re-FUSE).

True

False

The noun 'refuse' (meaning garbage or waste) follows the common noun/verb pattern, stressing the first syllable (RĔF-use). The stress on the second syllable (re-FUSE) is used for the verb, meaning to deny.

Explanation

The noun 'refuse' (meaning garbage or waste) follows the common noun/verb pattern, stressing the first syllable (RĔF-use). The stress on the second syllable (re-FUSE) is used for the verb, meaning to deny.

16. Yesterday, she read a chapter, and the word 'read' is pronounced like the color __________.

The sentence is in the past tense because it says yesterday. In the past tense, read is pronounced “red,” which sounds exactly like the color red. Even though the spelling stays the same, the pronunciation changes based on tense.

Explanation

The sentence is in the past tense because it says yesterday. In the past tense, read is pronounced “red,” which sounds exactly like the color red. Even though the spelling stays the same, the pronunciation changes based on tense.

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17. When describing something as 'extremely tiny,' the word 'minute' is pronounced with the first syllable sounding like the word __________.

When minute means very small, it is pronounced “my-noot.” The first syllable sounds like “my.” This is different from minute meaning 60 seconds, which is pronounced “min-it.”

Explanation

When minute means very small, it is pronounced “my-noot.” The first syllable sounds like “my.” This is different from minute meaning 60 seconds, which is pronounced “min-it.”

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18. When 'object' is used as a verb, meaning to disagree or protest, the stress falls on the __________.

When object is used as a verb, it is pronounced ob-JECT, with stress on the second syllable. Stress changes help us tell whether a homograph is being used as a noun or a verb.

Explanation

When object is used as a verb, it is pronounced ob-JECT, with stress on the second syllable. Stress changes help us tell whether a homograph is being used as a noun or a verb.

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19. To separate the ingredients requires the word to be used as a __________.

The word separate is a verb when it means to divide or split something. In this form, it describes an action being performed, which makes it a verb rather than a noun or adjective.

Explanation

The word separate is a verb when it means to divide or split something. In this form, it describes an action being performed, which makes it a verb rather than a noun or adjective.

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20. When 'produce' refers to fresh fruits and vegetables, the word is pronounced with the stress on the __________ syllable.

When produce is a noun meaning fruits and vegetables, the stress is on the first syllable: PRO-duce. When it is used as a verb (to make or create), the stress shifts to the second syllable.

Explanation

When produce is a noun meaning fruits and vegetables, the stress is on the first syllable: PRO-duce. When it is used as a verb (to make or create), the stress shifts to the second syllable.

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Usage Practice: Completing Sentences with the Correct Form of a Homograph