Homonyms Exercises with Answers (Free Worksheet)

Homonyms—words that sound alike but have different meanings—can often cause confusion in writing and speech. Do you struggle with words like “bare” and “bear” or “flour” and “flower”? How can you ensure you’re using the right word in the right context? Mastering homonyms enhances vocabulary, improves communication, and sharpens grammar skills. This blog provides Homonyms Exercises with Answers to help learners practice and gain confidence. Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s get started!

What are Homonyms?

A homonym is a word that shares the same spelling or pronunciation with another word but has a different meaning. It is crucial to understand what homonyms are as they help expand your vocabulary and improve your ability to use language effectively. Homonyms are often used in puns, jokes, and other forms of wordplay, adding humour and creativity to language.

Let us look at some of the examples of homonyms:

Homonyms	Meaning 1	Meaning 2
Bow	To bend at the waist.	The front of a ship.
Lead	A heavy metal	To guide
Record	To write down information	A vinyl disk

Also Read: Homophone vs Homonym vs Homograph

Homonyms Exercises with Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Homophones)

Instructions: Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. I don’t know _____ (whether/weather) we should go outside.
2. They’re going to _____ (write/right) a letter.
3. Do you _____ (know/no) the answer?
4. The ship sailed across the _____ (sea/see).
5. Please sit _____ (here/hear).

Answers:

1. whether
2. write
3. know
4. sea
5. here

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice (Homographs)

Instructions: Choose the correct meaning of the underlined word.

1. She had to tear the paper.
   • a) a drop of liquid from the eye
   • b) to rip
2. The bass was playing loudly.
   • a) a type of fish
   • b) a low-frequency sound
3. He wanted to present a gift.
   • a) to show
   • b) a gift
4. The dove was a symbol of peace.
   • a) a state of calm.
   • b) to make quiet.
5. He had to polish the silver.
   • a) someone from Poland.
   • b) to make shine.

Answers:

1. b) to rip
2. b) a low-frequency sound
3. a) to show
4. a) a state of calm.
5. b) to make shine.

Exercise 3: Matching Pairs (Homophones)

Instructions: Match the words with their correct meanings.

Pair	Fruit
Pear	b) A cloth used to propel a boat
Sale	c) Two-of-a-kind
Sail	d) A reduction in price
Plain	e) Simple or a flat area

Answers:

1. c) Tow of a Kind
2. a) Fruit
3. d) A reduction in price
4. b)A cloth used to propel a boat
5. e) Simple or a flat area

Exercise 4: Sentence Creation

Instructions: Create two sentences for each word, using its different meanings.

1. Rose
   1. a.
   2. b.
2. Minute
   1. a.
   2. b.

Answers:

1. Rose
   1. a. She was given a red rose.
   2. b. The sun rose early this morning.
2. Minute
   1. a. Please wait a minute.
   2. b. The minute details were hard to see.

Exercise 5: True or False

Instructions: Determine if the following statements are true or false.

1. The words “flour” and “flower” are homographs.
2. The words “read” (present tense) and “read” (past tense) are homographs.
3. All homophones have different spellings.
4. The word “bank” only has one meaning.
5. “fair” and “fare” are Homophones.

Answers:

1. False
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. True.

Also Read: Homophone vs Homonym: Key Differences & Examples

Homonyms Exercises (Free Worksheet)

To help you master this topic, we have prepared this worksheet for you which will be quite helpful for you. You can easily save and download this worksheet for future reference. You can check your performance at the end of this worksheet.

Check Answers:

1. Well

• The little girl felt well after taking her medicine. (Meaning: in good health)
• We collected water from the well in the ground. (Meaning: a deep hole in the ground from which water is drawn)

2. Right

• Turn right at the next intersection. (Meaning: direction)
• You are right about the answer. (Meaning: correct)

3. Bark

• The dog gave a loud bark. (Meaning: the sound a dog makes)
• The bark of the tree was rough. (Meaning: the outer layer of a tree)

4. Palm

• She held the bird gently in the palm of her hand. (Meaning: the inner surface of the hand)
• We relaxed under the shade of the palm tree. (Meaning: a type of tree)

5. Rose

• She received a beautiful red rose. (Meaning: a type of flower)
• The sun rose early this morning. (Meaning: to get up or ascend)

Also Read: What are Homophones?

Bonus Homonyms Exercise with Answers

Instructions: Read each sentence and determine the meaning of the underlined homonym based on the context. Then, provide a different sentence using the other meaning of the same homonym.

1. Sentence: The carpenter used a plane to smooth the wood.
   

• Meaning of “plane”: A tool used for smoothing wood.
• New Sentence: ____________________________________________________

2. Sentence: The boxer threw a powerful punch.
   

• Meaning of “punch”: A blow with the fist.
• New Sentence: ____________________________________________________

3. Sentence: The audience gave a loud cheer.
   

• Meaning of “cheer”: A shout of encouragement or approval.
• New Sentence: ____________________________________________________

4. Sentence: The river bank was eroded by the flood.
   

• Meaning of “bank”: The land alongside a river.
• New Sentence: ____________________________________________________

5. Sentence: He had to address the envelope before mailing it.
   

• Meaning of “address”: To write the recipient’s details on an envelope or package.
• New Sentence: ____________________________________________________

Answers:

1. Sentence: The carpenter used a plane to smooth the wood.

• Meaning of “plane”: A tool used for smoothing wood.
• New Sentence: The plane took off on time. (Or: The geometric plane was explained in math class.)

2. Sentence: The boxer threw a powerful punch.

• Meaning of “punch”: A blow with the fist.
• New Sentence: I’d like a fruit punch, please. (Or: The hole punch made neat circles.)

3. Sentence: The audience gave a loud cheer.

• Meaning of “cheer”: A shout of encouragement or approval.
• New Sentence: Let’s cheer up and watch a funny movie. (Or: She added a cheer to the end of her email.)

4. Sentence: The river bank was eroded by the flood.
   

• Meaning of “bank”: The land alongside a river.
• New Sentence: I deposited money at the bank. (Or: The plane made a sharp bank to the right.)

5. Sentence: He had to address the envelope before mailing it.

• Meaning of “address”: To write the recipient’s details on an envelope or package.
• New Sentence: The speaker will address the audience after the introduction. (Or: Please address your concerns to the manager.)

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