Cleary_How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear_Homonyms and Homophones

by Brian P. Cleary illustrated by Brian Gable

THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT LE FT BL BLAN ANK K

ar y ,  To m y  sis ter M  t he da y o n  w ho was merr y  y  she was to marr . .C. — B P

 H om o n ym s :  s t ha t d r  o  w   e r  o m  e  T w o or m a  s  e  h  t d   e c ar e pr o n o u n t h e  sam e  b u t a nd s p e l  led  n t m ea n i n g s  ha v e d i f f er e  :  H om o p h o n e sd s t ha t r  o  w   e r  o m r  e  T w o o m a  s  e  h  t d   e c ar e pr o n o u n er e n t s p e l  l in g s  f   f  i d   e  v a  h   t  u  g s  b   n  i  n a  e m  t  n a nd d i f f er e

by Brian P. Cleary illustrated by Brian Gable J

M ILLBROOK P RESS / M INNEAPOLIS

Homonyms

are words that sound and also look alike.

But they have different meanings, as in “Can you pass that can, Mike?”

ay I  s  i     M “ l  w   O r i  t  h    y   a 

ast al l  a l    o c  d o  n  n

 a

o u  i 

n

g  t h e 

Ma y

   ”  ?  t  s

coa

These words are a blast if you say them quite fast,

like

“ Wh  y    d on  ’ t  w e t oa  s    t   w it h    s om   e 

t oa  s  t  ? ” 

A light may be light, like a small paper kite. A trunk can be found in a trunk.

   nch wo  i r m  o   A n r  

s    n 

a    i   

l       C     o       

u    

l            d            s          

a      

c      

l                       

 e    

 a

 s   

 .

c

 a

 l           

 e   

A lean cat could lean on a skunk.

But punch cannot punch , and at breakfast or lunch,  y ou  r  j am   ca nno  t  j am   o n a t r  um    p et  .

A bowl cannot bowl, but a    r l  l    might just    r l  l    if it’s not made as flat as a crumpet.  o

 o

Now, some words sound identical

but are spelled in different ways. Th ese words are known as h omoph ones, like praise

and preys

and prays.

Though h omoph ones have matching sounds, their meanings aren’t th e same.

And there isn’t any question, they’re as fun as any game.

 A

b ee

n b e. 

ca

A flea can flee.

A burr o can burr ow a hole.

A horse can get hoarse from talking, of course. A ewe could take you on a stroll.

A fowl can be foul. A toad can be towed. An

h ei   r   m 

u s   t  n

’ t      e   

 r      r      i      n  

t        h       e    

i  . 

a     r   

 A

 e  l a  h   w

can

wail .

A male can mail . A pair might just pare a big pear .

A bust can be bused by a driver you trust,

and Barry can bury a berry.

A band could be banned if th ey get out of hand,

and Mary ( who’s merry) can marry.

But the sea cannot see, and it’s clear as can be  th at    a  

b      a      l          l       

w  

l  

i   l  n   t  o

wh en i     l t       w ’ s       

b a

 r       o        

.

l                          l                         

 e    

 d       

A moose has no use for a bottle of mousse, and a creek doesn’t creak when it’s old.

But a bear  should be bare, and it wouldn’t be rare if wood would be kept in a shed.

A Sioux

migh t not sue if he knew that the gnu that he bought wasn’t new like you said.

My niece could see Grease  both in Greece and in Nice.

A C zech could be writing a check.

A maid could be made

to be very afraid when she heard a big herd on the deck.

 e   h t   h

Y     l  d o  u  u c o

 c   r  a    e s

wh il e  i 

wh 

ol e   w   o      

 r     

 ,

l            d           

t  s  p u 

n a n d

i r ed  ,    h   w   t i

in each inn

l 

and beneath every stone.

 o ’ d f   y i    n      d u

    n         A

d   

 th an t h e  se   g 

n o     m  

o    r   

 p le    

e   

 r    e    a  t  

s u r es

a  

v e r ba  l  t r   a s u r e  s  —  e

the homonym and homophone !

So, what are homonyms and homophones? Do you know?