Can you find the words below that are spelt similarly, and sometimes even pronounced similarly, but have very different meanings? Check their pronunciation and meaning in a dictionary. (i) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse. (ii) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes. (iii) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
The similarly spelt words are refuse and refuse. The first refuse is a verb meaning to decline, while the second refuse is a noun meaning garbage.
The similarly spelt words are dove and dove. The first dove is a noun referring to a bird, while the second dove is a verb, the past tense of dive.
The similarly spelt words are invalid and invalid. The first invalid is an adjective meaning not valid, while the second invalid is a noun referring to a sick person.
Explanation
The textbook section 'Homophones' asks students to identify words that are spelt similarly but have different meanings. In each sentence, the same word is used twice with different grammatical roles and meanings. (i) 'refuse' (verb) vs 'refuse' (noun), (ii) 'dove' (noun) vs 'dove' (verb), and (iii) 'invalid' (adjective) vs 'invalid' (noun).