A synonym is
a word having the same or nearly the same meaning of another
word.
A homonym is a word that is pronounced the same but is
spelled differently and has a different meaning.
Both synonyms and homonyms are valuable to the students,
especially when writing in English. They can definitely
broaden the students’ vocabulary.
Here are some synonym
POPULAR
well-known favourite widely liked widespread
Appreciated current
SUITABLE
becoming acceptable fitting satisfactory
Appropriate coherent
IMPORTANT
significant primary required essential
Valuable indispensable
INTERESTING impressive
exciting sensational striking
Stimulating
UNINTERESTING boring tiresome tedious wearisome
Dull monotonous flat
BEAUTIFUL pretty
lovely graceful elegant exquisite
Attractive enchanting gorgeous magnificent
It can be an interesting activity for the students to make up
their own list of synonyms. The teacher can supply them with a
list of adjectives if they need a little “push” in the right
direction.
Now for some Homonyms.
Ant………aunt flower…..flour
Ate………eight made……maid
Bare……..bear know……no
Close……clothes meat……meet
Dear…….deer mail……male
Horse……hoarse
A useful activity
using homonyms is letting the students write each one in a
sentence.
Ex. My aunt lives in New York.
There was an ant on the leaf.
In this way they
are sure to make note of the differences in meaning, as well as
spelling.
All of their work can be photocopied so each student has a copy
to refer to.
A Nice Thought
“As a general
rule, the most successful man in life is the man who has the
best information.”