Writing and Literacy Workshop
Quiz 1: Mostly homophones
Practice: Choose the correct word
1. That food had a bad (effect / affect) on me.
2. The vehicle was (stationary / stationery).
3. The first man into space was a Russian
(astronaut / cosmonaut).
4. He travelled to Tokyo on the (bullet train/
pull-it train).
5. (‘You’re / your) the best player in (you’re /
your) team,’ the girl said.
Real thing: Pick the correct word
1. A masterful musician is called a (maestro;
minestrone).
2. When you pay something off over time this is
called (higher purchase; hire purchase).
3. In Australia, when something is going to be
alright, we say, (‘She’ll be ‘appy / She’ll be
apples’).
4. With (who / whom) are you going to the
dance?
Pick the correct word.
5. They are going to (raze / raise / rays) that
building to the ground.
6. After pushing him to the ground, the bully
(knead / kneed / need) him in the stomach.
7. This is my favourite (pear / pair / pare) of
shoes.
8. The instructor (road, rode, rowed) alongside
Gia to help her overcome her fear of horses.
Pick the correct word
9. All eyes were on the bride as she walked
down the (isle / aisle / I’ll).
10. The (scent / cent / sent) of that perfume is
very strong.
11. The fact that he’s not invited to the party is
certain to (peek / peak / pique) his pride. [create
a feeling of irritation or resentment]
12. Raj tried in (vane / vain / vein) to get hold of
him.
Pick the correct word
• 13. She wants to (bye / by / buy) him a special
gift.
• 14. Prince Charles is (heir / air / hair / hare) to
the British throne.
• 15. If you (pore / poar / pour) over that book
in the poor light, you’ll hurt your eyes.
• 16. (Reign / Rain / Rein) in your enthusiasm;
they’ll charge us more if you look interested.
Pick the correct word
• 17. This car is so wide, no wonder it comes with
built-in parking (censors / sensors / censers).
• 18. If you don’t (sees / seize / seas) this opportunity
to migrate to Australia, you’ll miss out forever.
• 19. Sachin Tendulkar is Manav’s (idol / idyll / idle).
• 20. The fashion designer is sure to (site / sight / cite)
some unusual source as the inspiration behind his
outrageous collection.
Pick the correct word
• 21. The will clearly states that he wants his
grandson to perform the last (rights / rites /
writes).
• 22. I don’t think she can (sew / sow / so) the
button on for you.
• 23. This bag is so heavy, it’s going to (whey /
way / weigh) you down.
• 24. What is the (principal / principle) reason
for going to college?
Pick the correct word
• 25. Lewis Hamilton (lead / led) the way in the
British Grand Prix.
• 26. Vera (complemented / complimented) the
girl on her tidy appearance.
• 27. The driver was barely (conscience /
conscious / consciousness) after the crash.
• 28. Gus opened his umbrella and (preceded /
proceeded) to dance across the lawn.
Pick the correct word
• 29. Only a small (amount / number) of
students volunteered for the experiment.
• 30. The rat responded to the bell by pressing
the bar in (its / it’s) cage.
• 31. The boss told them to take the money out
of (pretty cash / petit cash / petty cash).
• 32. Take the pressure off those muscles and
(lessen / lesson ) the pain.
Pick the correct word
• 33. My grandfather took the orange juice out
the fridge and (passed / past) me a cup.
• 34. I don’t have the (patients / patience) to
listen to one of her lectures.
• 35. Every citizen has a (role / roll) to play.
• 36. I’m not sure (whether / weather) I’ll be
able to attend the wedding.
Pick the correct word
• 37. Several bricks in the wall have come (loose
/ lose).
• 38. I am totally (disinterested / uninterested)
in grammar.
• 39. The old man gave a chilling (prophesy /
prophecy).
• 40. Smoking in the building is not (aloud /
allowed).
Pick the correct word
41. I am no longer (dependant / dependent) on
my parents for money.
42. He was (loath / loathe) to admit that he was
wrong.
43. The criminal used to (float / flout / flaunt)
the law by committing crimes. [openly
disregard; mock]
44. We couldn’t go sailing because of the (averse
/ adverse) climatic conditions.
Pick the correct word
• 45. He gave the scenery a (cursory / cursive)
glance as he went running by. [brief, casual]
• 46. He was very compassionate and always
felt (antipathy / empathy) with suffering
beings.
• 47. On a visa, you’re not allowed to fail two
(consequential / consecutive) terms.
• 48. The house (comprises / composes) four
rooms, a bathroom and a laundry.
Pick the correct word
• 49. The log was so heavy, I couldn’t (budget /
budge it).
• 50. What are you (inferring / implying) when
you say I lack intestinal fortitude?
• 51. The homeless were sleeping in a (vacant /
vacuous) lot downtown.
• 52. How many animals have you (bread / bred
/ breed) on the farm?
Pick the correct word
• 53. Jim is (altogether / all together) a better
player than John.
• 54. In the lab, I have many (assistance /
assistants).
• 55. The question was so hard, I had to (rack /
wrack) my brain to get the answer.
• 56. In the Kasbah we came across a (bizarre /
bazaar) selling many charming wares.
Pick the correct word
• 57. The boxer (fainted / feinted) with his left
hand and then hit him with his right.
• 58. I like it when the buck (gambol / gamble)
in the bush.
• 59. Would you like a chocolate (mousse /
moose)?
• 60. She offered me a (steak / stake) in the
business; how could I refuse?
Pick the correct word
• 61. It was a delicate situation; I didn’t know
how to (brooch / broach) the subject.
• 62. The warfare was unconventional and the
dictator used (gorilla / guerilla) fighters.
• 63. She lacked an adventurous spirit but I told
her to go out there and give it a (whorl /
whirl).
• 64. We were (holy / holey / wholly) dependent
on them and their equipment.
Pick the correct word
• 65. Your performance in the match was truly
(offal / aweful / awful).
• 66. We prepared well and covered all (bases /
basses / basis / basins).
• 67. He was (build / billed / bill’d) as the best
magician in Europe.
• 68. He was bold but I was (bolder / boulder).
Pick the correct word
• 69. She was part of a very important and
exclusive social (click / clique).
• 70. The woodworker belonged to the
carpenters’ (gild / gilled / guild).
• 71. He shouted himself (hoarse / horse) at the
football match.
• 72. The protestors (incited / insighted) the
crowd to get restless and violent.