Today’s English Lesson: Homonyms
A homonym is a word that sounds exactly like another word and shares the same spelling — but they can have completely different meanings. Consider the following unusual homonyms that not only have different meanings, but actually are complete opposites:
You dust for fingerprints, or dust your furniture (cover with black powder, or remove similar small particles)- Seatbelts buckle, and cars buckle (fasten together, fall apart)
- There’s first-degree murder, and first-degree burns (from the most severe to the least)
- You can fix a toy, or fix a dog (make it work properly, or make it never work again!)
- Food can be garnished, and wages can be garnished (added to, or taken away)
- Stars can be out, and lights can be out (visible, or not visible)
- I can be out of my office, or work out of my home (not be somewhere, or be somewhere)
- A lantern puts out heat, and a fireman puts out fires (produce, or extinguish)
- They can screen a movie, or screen your calls (publicize something, or avoid something)
- A house weathers a storm, and smoking weathers your skin (withstands damage, or damages something)
Under various linguistic definitions, these words may not even count as homonyms since the pairs might be related enough to be considered polysemes. Given all the intricacies, I certainly don’t blame anyone for having difficulty with the language. French, anyone?
