By Patricia C. McKissack
Illustrated by Merry Pinkney
Vocabulary - Homophones
Homophones

 Homophones are words that sound the same but are
spelled differently and have different meanings.
ax/acts
ate/eight
bare/bear
hair/hare
halve/have
rose/rows
see/sea
Homophones

 Can you spell the homophones that match these
words sounds?
there their, they’re
buy
bye
hear
here
peace piece
Homophones

 When homophones are used in writing, the meaning
of the sentence will help you understand which
spelling to use.
 The meanings of ax and acts are very different from
each other. Which word would you put in this
sentence:
 The guard counted the weapon and found the _____
was missing.
Vocabulary

scald
permission
autograph
fare
blurted
clenched
chiseled
spectacular
Which word in the set is a homophone?
Vocabulary

scald
permission
autograph
fare
blurted
clenched
chiseled
spectacular
Which words can you put in a sentence?
Vocabulary

scald
permission
autograph
fare
blurted
clenched
chiseled
spectacular
Which words can you define?
Use the context.

“It was a hot day and the Mississippi sun
was doing its best to scald the boys with
its hot rays.”
In this sentence scald means:
a. heat
b. burn
c. warm
Correct

The correct answer was
b. burn.

Use the context.

“Ummm, I’ll ask my mom if I can go. I
need her permission.”
In the passage, permission means:
a. getting the ok from a parent
b. asking a parent
c. knowing it is okay to go
Correct

The correct answer was
a. getting the ok from a parent.

Correct

Vocabulary

“In Joe’s house there was a picture of Dr.
King with his autograph on the bottom.”
In the passage, autograph means:
a. to write about yourself
b. a book about you
c. your name in your handwriting
Correct

The correct answer was
c. your name in your handwriting.

Vocabulary

“Why don’t you boys take the bus to the
drugstore? I’ve got the bus fare right
here.”
In the passage, the word fare means:
a. honest and truthful
b. cost of the ride
c. ticket to ride
Correct

The correct answer was
b. cost of the ride .

Vocabulary

“No Ma’am,” Paul blurted out suddenly.
In the passage, the word blurted means:
a. yelled
b. said
c. whispered
Correct

The correct answer was
a. yelled.

Vocabulary

Paul’s hand was clenched in a fist as they
headed for the two empty stools.”
In the passage, the word clenched means:
a. sweating
b. pounding
c. squeezed
Correct

The correct answer was
c. squeezed.

Vocabulary

A man with a frown that looked like it
was chiseled out of stone blocked their
way.
In the passage, the word chiseled means:
a. angry
b. carved
c. still
Correct

The correct answer was
b. carved.

Vocabulary

“Have a spectacular afternoon.” she said.
“Two friends like you, that shouldn’t be a
problem.”
In the passage, the word spectacular means:
a. good
b. great
c. excellent
Correct

The correct answer was
c. excellent.

Vocabulary Challenge

Use both of these words in one meaningful
sentence. Be sure each word is used according
to the meaning of its spelling.
blew/blue
read/reed
ball/bawl
loan/lone
add/ad
great/grate
peace/piece
reign/rain/rein
shoe/shoo