CJS IMAGE DICTIONARY

IMPROVE YOUR WORDPOWER: HETEROGRAPHS

HETEROGRAPHS are HOMOPHONES that SOUND
the same but are SPELLED differently with different MEANINGS

e.g. profit & prophet / poor & pour / wait & weight

LEVEL: upper-intermediate/advanced

GOOD LUCK!
(RED indicates the WORDSTRESS e.g. baker)


1)	"I did it my ???????" (Frank Sinatra)	a) raw b) roar c) sew d) sow e) way f) weigh
2)	Never eat a ??????? egg; it might make you ill.
3)	Can you ??????? a button on my coat for me?
4)	How do you ??????? a whale? At a whale???????? station of course!
5)	Farmers mostly ??????? in the spring and reap in the autumn.
6)	A lion's ??????? is a fearsome sound.


1)	"I did it my way." (Frank Sinatra) (here = method)	a) raw b) roar [rɔː] c) sew d) sow [səʊ] e) way f) weigh
2)	Never eat a raw egg; it might make you ill. (here = uncooked)
3)	Can you sew a button on my coat for me? (attach with needle and thread)
4)	How do you weigh a whale? At a whaleweigh station of course!
5)	Farmers mostly sow in the spring and reap in the autumn. (plant crops)
6)	A lion's roar is a fearsome sound. (the sound made by an angry lion)

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1)	Wearing ??????? is not very PC these days.	a) brake b) break c) fir d) fur e) suite f) sweet g) weak h) week
2)	The master ??????? is furnished with a king-sized bed.
3)	I feel too ??????? to work this ???????.
4)	We've been working for hours; let's take a ???????.
5)	The world's largest Douglas-??????? tree is in Vancouver, Canada.
6)	It is vital to maintain the correct level of ??????? fluid in your vehicle.
7)	Her puddings are too ??????? for me; she adds too much sugar to them.


1)	Wearing fur is not very PC these days. (the skin of certain mammals)	a) brake b) break c) fir d) fur [fɜː] e) suite f) sweet [swiːt] g) weak h) week
2)	The master suite is furnished with a king-sized bed. (here = group of rooms occupied as a unit)
3)	I feel too weak to work this week.
4)	We've been working for hours; let's take a break.
5)	The world's largest Douglas-fir tree is in Vancouver, Canada. (coniferous trees in the Abies family)
6)	It is vital to maintain the correct level of brake-fluid in your vehicle.
7)	Her puddings are too sweet for me; she adds too much sugar to them.


1)	A ??????? is an attractive plant; ??????? is milled wheat used principally to make bread.	a) allowed b) aloud c) flour d) flower e) morning f) mourning g) tail h) tale
2)	The dogs ran away, their ??????? between their legs.
3)	Drinking alcohol in public shouldn't be ???????.
4)	Children love fairy-???????. My own favourite was "Sleeping Beauty".
5)	"Good ???????," I said to a man who was just leaving the cemetary as I arrived. "Are you trying to be funny?" he snarled back at me.
6)	Sorry! I was just thinking ???????.
7)	People who have lost someone usually wear black as a sign of ???????.


1)	A flower is an attractive plant; flour is milled wheat used principally to make bread.	a) allowed b) aloud c) flour d) flower e) morning f) mourning [ˈmɔːnɪŋ] g) tail h) tale
2)	The dogs ran away, their tails between their legs.
3)	Drinking alcohol in public shouldn't be allowed. (permitted)
4)	Children love fairy-tales. My own favourite was "Sleeping Beauty".
5)	"Good morning," I said to a man who was just leaving the cemetary as I arrived. "Are you trying to be funny?" he snarled back at me.
6)	Sorry! I was just thinking aloud. (not silently - out loud)
7)	People who have lost someone usually wear black as a sign of mourning.


1)	Dad bought me a new fishing-??????? for my rod for Christmas! Sadly, the first ??????? of this classic film has been lost.	a) air b) heir c) peal d) peel e) real f) reel
2)	He has never had to work because he was ??????? to a vast fortune.
3)	It's much easier to ??????? a banana than a roast chestnut!
4)	The quality of the ??????? in Brittany is said to be the best in Europe.
5)	CAMRA is an organisation campaigning for ??????? ale in the U.K.
6)	I love the ??????? of church bells on a Sunday.


1)	Dad bought me a new fishing-reel for my rod for Christmas! Sadly, the first reel of this classic film has been lost.	a) air b) heir [eə] c) peal d) peel e) real f) reel
2)	He has never had to work because he was heir to a vast fortune. (he inherited it)
3)	It's much easier to peel a banana than a roast chestnut! (strip off the skin)
4)	The quality of the air in Brittany is said to be the best in Europe.
5)	CAMRA is an organisation campaigning for real ale in the U.K. (traditionally-brewed beer)
6)	I love the peal of church bells on a Sunday. (ringing)


1)	"How often do ??????? crash," I asked the stewardess. "Only once," she replied.	a) currant b) current c) plain d) plane e) pole f) poll
2)	The results of the opinion ??????? are very worrying.
3)	A ??????? is a small dried fruit made from a seedless variety of grape.
4)	The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.
5)	The ??????? situation is very dangerous; we need to act with extreme caution.
6)	The ??????? vault is my favourite field event at the Olympic Games.


1)	"How often do planes crash," I asked the stewardess. "Only once," she replied.	a) currant b) current [ˈkʌrənt] c) plain d) plane e) pole f) poll [pəʊl]
2)	The results of the opinion poll are very worrying. (a survey of what people think)
3)	A currant is a small dried fruit made from a seedless variety of grape.
4)	The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain. (a sentence used to improve foreign accents!)
5)	The current situation is very dangerous; we need to act with extreme caution.
6)	The pole vault is my favourite field event at the Olympic Games.


1)	I was ??????? when his car struck mine.	a) hair b) hare c) hoarse d) horse e) stationary f) stationery
2)	I really don't like long ??????? on a man!
3)	Office workers often steal ??????? from their place of work.
4)	Having spoken non-stop for over an hour I was beginning to feel ???????.
5)	She dyed her ??????? green, but everyone just laughed at her!
6)	"A ?????, a ?????: a kingdom for my ?????" (Richard III in Shakespeare's play of the same name)
7)	A ??????? has much longer ears than a rabbit.


1)	I was stationary when his car struck mine. (not moving)	a) hair b) hare c) hoarse d) horse e) stationary f) stationery [ˈsteɪʃnəri]
2)	I really don't like long hair on a man!
3)	Office workers often steal stationery from their place of work. (envelopes, paper etc)
4)	Having spoken non-stop for over an hour I was beginning to feel hoarse. (dry / sore)
5)	She dyed her hair green, but everyone just laughed at her!
6)	"A horse, a horse: a kingdom for my horse." (Richard III in Shakespeare's play of the same name)
7)	A hare has much longer ears than a rabbit.


1)	A ??????? is a seabird related to seagulls, but typically smaller and more slender.	a) chord b) cord c) coarse d) course e) tern f) turn
2)	His plea for greater sympathy struck a ??????? with me.
3)	I find his manner to be ??????? and rude.
4)	One good ??????? deserves another.
5)	Pull the ??????? and your parachute will open.
6)	The marathon ??????? runs through a forest this year.


1)	A tern is a seabird related to seagulls, but typically smaller and more slender.	a) chord b) cord [kɔːd] c) coarse d) course e) tern f) turn
2)	His plea for greater sympathy struck a chord with me. (as in music)
3)	I find his manner to be coarse and rude. (rough / unrefined / boorish)
4)	One good turn deserves another. (If you help someone then you deserve help from them.)
5)	Pull the cord and your parachute will open. (thin, flexible string or rope)
6)	The marathon course runs through a forest this year. (path / where it goes)


1)	The baby was the ??????? survivor of the crash.	a) curb b) kerb c) reek d) wreak e) sole f) soul
3)	This room ??????? of rotting fish.
4)	You need to learn to ??????? your impatience.
5)	I have put heart and ??????? into this project.
6)	She tripped on the ??????? and fell heavily to the ground.
7)	This holiday has ??????? havoc with my diet!


1)	The baby was the sole survivor of the crash. (only - lone)	a) curb b) kerb [kɜːb] c) reek d) wreak [riːk] e) sole f) soul [səʊl]
3)	This room reeks of rotting fish. (smells very bad)
4)	You need to learn to curb your impatience. (limit / reduce / control)
5)	I have put heart and soul into this project. (spirit or immaterial part of a human)
6)	She tripped on the kerb and fell heavily to the ground. (where roadway meets pavement)
7)	This holiday has wreaked havoc with my diet! (did a lot of damage to)


1)	I'd like to give him a ??????? of my mind.	a) assent b) ascent c) peace d) piece e) waist f) waste
2)	A parliamentary bill needs Royal ??????? in order to become law.
4)	To buy trousers you need to know your ??????? size.
5)	??????? seems a distant dream given the refusal to negotiate.
6)	The first ??????? of Mount Everest was in 1953.
7)	The leak was coming from the ??????? pipe.


1)	I'd like to give him a piece of my mind.	a) assent b) ascent c) peace d) piece e) waist f) waste
2)	A parliamentary bill needs Royal assent in order to become law. (formal approval)
4)	To buy trousers you need to know your waist size. (body area between ribs and hips)
5)	Peace seems a distant dream given the refusal to negotiate.
6)	The first ascent of Mount Everest was in 1953. (climb)
7)	The leak was coming from the waste pipe. (here = unwanted water and/or sewage)


1)	I told the doctor that the ??????? had been getting steadily worse.	a) altar b) alter c) forth d) fourth e) pain f) pane
2)	The ??????? finger of one's hand is usually the weakest.
3)	Only one of the window ??????? was broken in the attack.
4)	His bride to be left him at the ???????.
5)	"Go ??????? and multiply," said the mother snake. "But I'm an adder," protested her offspring.
6)	I am not going to ??????? my plans at this late stage.


1)	I told the doctor that the pain had been getting steadily worse. (what hurts!)	a) altar b) alter [ˈɔːltə] c) forth d) fourth [fɔːθ] e) pain f) pane [peɪn]
2)	The fourth finger of one's hand is usually the weakest.
3)	Only one of the window panes was broken in the attack. (individual piece of glass in door/window)
4)	His bride to be left him at the altar. (table at front of Christian church with cross on etc)
5)	"Go forth and multiply," said the mother snake. "But I'm an adder," protested her offspring.
6)	I am not going to alter my plans at this late stage. (change)


1)	The ??????? the bar, the more difficult the jump obviously is!	a) cereal b) serial c) cue d) queue e) higher f) hire
2)	TV ??????? usually end on a dramatic note to encourage viewers to return next time.
3)	The check-out ??????? at the supermarket was so long that I decided to shop elsewhere.
4)	The train times for my trip are inconvenient, so I'm going to ??????? a car from Hertz.
5)	Playing pool one day, Hank attacked his opponent with his ???????.
6)	Breakfast ??????? may contain too much added sugar, so be selective.
7)	Anne said: "It's getting late.", which was clearly my ??????? to leave. (sign)


1)	The higher the bar, the more difficult the jump obviously is!	a) cereal b) serial [ˈsɪərɪəl] c) cue d) queue [kjuː] e) higher f) hire
2)	TV serials usually end on a dramatic note to encourage viewers to return next time.
3)	The check-out queue at the supermarket was so long that I decided to shop elsewhere.
4)	The train times for my trip are inconvenient, so I'm going to hire a car from Hertz.
5)	Playing pool one day, Hank attacked his opponent with his cue. (long stick for striking ball)
6)	Breakfast cereals may contain too much added sugar, so be selective.
7)	Anne said: "It's getting late.", which was clearly my cue to leave. (sign)


1)	He's not a town ??????? ; he just works as a clerk for the town ???????.	a) canvas b) canvass [ˈkænvəs] c) council d) counsel e) doe f) dough [dəʊ] g) councillor h) counselor
2)	A marriage ??????? gives advice to couples having difficulties in their marriage.
3)	A ??????? is a female deer: Bambi for example.
4)	Artists paint on a ???????, the same material that tents used to be made of.
5)	If you ask me he needs the ??????? of a psychiatrist.
6)	Making bread is not difficult; just follow carefully the instructions for making the ???????.
7)	Campaign representatives also use their computers to ??????? potential voters online.


1)	He's not a town councillor; he just works as a clerk for the town council.	a) canvas b) canvass [ˈkænvəs] c) council d) counsel e) doe f) dough [dəʊ] g) councillor h) counselor
2)	A marriage counselor gives advice to couples having difficulties in their marriage. (see 5)
3)	A doe is a female deer: Bambi for example.
4)	Artists paint on a canvas, the same material that tents used to be made of.
5)	If you ask me he needs the counsel of a psychiatrist. (professional advice)
6)	Making bread is not difficult; just follow carefully the instructions for making the dough.
7)	Campaign representatives also use their computers to canvass potential voters online.


1)	The sight that met them was ???????: hacked-off body parts and blood lying all over the floor.	a) berth b) birth c) grisly d) grizzly [ˈgrɪzli] e) pray f) prey g) prayer h) predator
2)	"Let us ???????," said the Vicar, and we all bowed our heads in ???????.
3)	The marina's pretty full tonight; finding a ??????? won't be easy.
4)	Did you hear that? Sounded like a ??????? bear to me. They're very dangerous.
5)	Eagles, hawks and falcons are all birds of ???????.
6)	A year later they started a family with the ??????? of their first daughter.
7)	The mongoose is a formidable ??????? of smaller snakes.


1)	The sight that met them was grisly: hacked-off body parts and blood lying all over the floor.	a) berth b) birth c) grisly d) grizzly [ˈgrɪzli] e) pray f) prey [preɪ] g) prayer [preə] h) predator
2)	"Let us pray," said the Vicar, and we all bowed our heads in prayer.
3)	The marina's pretty full tonight; finding a berth won't be easy. (parking space for boat)
4)	Did you hear that? Sounded like a grizzly bear to me. They're very dangerous.
5)	Eagles, hawks and falcons are all birds of prey. (prey = food of other animals)
6)	A year later they started a family with the birth of their first daughter.
7)	The mongoose is a formidabl predator of smaller snakes. (animal that kills & eats others)


1)	She ??????? things; her house is full of useless rubbish she can't throw away.	a) hoard b) horde c) loath d) loathe e) root f) route
2)	"Don't go wandering around the house in your ??????? feet," said Mother. "Put your slippers on."
3)	??????? is one of the most famous roads in the U.S.A.
4)	The koala is my favourite ??????? - apart from my teddy ??????? of course!
5)	A ??????? of paparazzi followed Anna Scott wherever she went.
6)	"Money is the ??????? of all evil."


1)	She hoards things; her house is full of useless rubbish she can't throw away.	a) bare b) bear c) hoard d) horde [hɔːd] e) root f) route
2)	"Don't go wandering around the house in your bare feet," said Mother. "Put your slippers on."
3)	Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in the U.S.A.
4)	The koala is my favourite bear - apart from my teddy bear of course!
5)	A horde of paparazzi followed Anna Scott wherever she went. (unruly crowd)
6)	"Money is the root of all evil." (the Bible: Timothy 6:10)


1)	I think it was ??????? Mustard with the lead piping in the library!	a) colonel b) kernel c) duel d) dual e) practice f) practise
2)	A ??????? carriageway is a major road with two lanes in each direction.
3)	I'll play you a game of snooker, but I'm hopelessly out of ???????.
4)	The ??????? of something is its central, most important part: nut, argument, dilemma etc
5)	Concert pianists ??????? for hours each day.
6)	A ?????? is a fight or competition, and was in the past often fought with swords or pistols.


1)	I think it was Colonel Mustard with the lead piping in the library! [ˈkɜːnl]	a) colonel b) kernel [ˈkɜːnl] c) duel d) dual [ˈdju(ː)əl] e) practice f) practise
2)	A dual carriageway is a major road with two lanes in each direction.
3)	I'll play you a game of snooker, but I'm hopelessly out of practice.
4)	The kernel of something is its central, most important part: nut, argument, dilemma etc
5)	Concert pianists practise for hours each day.
6)	A duel is a fight or competition, and was in the past often fought with swords or pistols.


1)	All internal combustion engines work on the same ???????.	a) fate b) fete c) principal d) principle e) storey f) story
2)	The upper ??????? of the house was unused.
3)	"Marrying him would be a ??????? worse than death," she groaned.
4)	The ??????? of the loan has to be repaid within four years.
5)	If you are good I will tell you a ??????? at bedtime.
6)	There is always a good turnout at the annual village ???????.


1)	All internal combustion engines work on the same principle. (method)	a) fate b) fete c) principal d) principle e) storey f) story
2)	The upper storey of the house was unused. (top floor)
3)	Marrying him would be a fate worse than death," she groaned. (what the Gods decree)
4)	The principal of the loan has to be repaid within four years. (the initial sum/main part)
5)	If you are good I will tell you a story at bedtime.
6)	There is always a good turnout at the annual village fete. (fair / a kind of outdoor party)


1)	We need at least half a dozen more clothes-???????.	a) broach b) brooch c) hangar d) hanger e) pedal f) peddle
2)	With an electric bike you really don't have to ??????? so hard!
3)	I'll ??????? the subject with him at the meeting tonight.
4)	Aircraft are usually stored inside a large building on an airfield called a ???????.
5)	He's spent most of his adult life ??????? drugs.
6)	The thieves had also stolen her grandma's ???????, which was a family heirloom.


1)	We need at least half a dozen more clothes-hangers.	a) broach b) brooch [brəʊʧ] c) hangar d) hanger [ˈhæŋə] e) pedal f) peddle
2)	With an electric bike you really don't have to pedal so hard!
3)	I'll broach the subject with him at the meeting tonight. (mention/bring up)
4)	Aircraft are usually stored inside a large building on an airfield called a hangar.
5)	He's spent most of his adult life peddling drugs. (to travel around selling informally)
6)	The thieves had also stolen her grandma's brooch, which was a family heirloom.


1)	As the invaders approached, Father said: "We must pack our bags and ???????" His little boy was puzzled: "Why do we have to pack our ???????"	c) draft b) draught c) flea d) flee e) vain f) vane g) vein
2)	I tried to reach the switch, but all my efforts were in ???????.
3)	I much prefer ?????? beer to the bottled version.
4)	He's very clever, but ??????? with it.
5)	I'll have a first draft of the contract on your desk by the morning.
6)	He has a strange hobby: photographing weather-???????.
7)	Trying to take some blood for a test, the inexperienced nurse had trouble finding a ?????


1)	As the invaders approached, Father said: "We must pack our bags and flee." (run away in panic) His little boy was puzzled: "Why do we have to pack our flea?" (small insect found on dogs etc)	a) draft b) draught [drɑːft] c) flea d) flee e) vain f) vane g) vein [veɪn]
2)	I tried to reach the switch, but all my efforts were in vain. (unsuccessful)
3)	I much prefer draught beer to the bottled version. (beer drawn from a barrel or keg)
4)	He's very clever, but vain with it. (He has a high opinion of himself and shows it.)
5)	I'll have a first draft of the contract on your desk by the morning. (here = not final version of document)
6)	He has a strange hobby: photographing weather-vanes. (see image)
7)	Trying to take some blood for a test, the inexperienced nurse had trouble finding a vein.


1)	Teenagers are very much subject to ???????-pressure at school. He was well respected by his ???????.	a) die b) dye c) heal d) heel e) peer f) pier
2)	"??????? Hard" was a massive hit for Bruce Willis in the role of John McLane.
3)	Modern radio-telescopes allow us to ??????? into the depths of the universe.
4)	The wound took many months to ??????? completely - and left rather an ugly scar.
5)	A seaside ??????? allows you to walk out over the sea without getting wet!
6)	If you don't like the colour of the pullover you can use a ??????? to change it.
7)	The ??????? is at the opposite end of the foot to the toe!


1)	Teenagers are very much subject to peer-pressure at school. He was well respected by his peers. (those in his social group of similar rank)	a) die b) dye c) heal d) heel e) peer f) pier
2)	"Die Hard" was a massive hit for Bruce Willis in the role of John McLane.
3)	Modern radio-telescopes allow us to peer into the depths of the universe. (look closely)
4)	The wound took many months to heal completely - and left rather an ugly scar. (get better)
5)	A seaside pier allows you to walk out over the sea without getting wet!
6)	If you don't like the colour of the pullover you can use a dye to change it.
7)	The heel is at the opposite end of the foot to the toe!


1)	He thinks he is interesting but in reality he is a dreadful ???????.	a) aisle b) isle c) baited d) bated e) boar f) bore
2)	'???????' is an old word for island which persists in some names such as The ??????? of Wight.
3)	The audience waited with ??????? breath as the winner was about to be announced.
4)	English kings would often hunt wild deer and ????? in the forests. (a wild pig with tusks)
5)	We ????? our hooks and cast our lines - then waited for the fish to bite! (put food on the hook)
6)	It is a particular joy for a father to walk his daughter down the ???????. (in church)


1)	He thinks he is interesting but in reality he is a dreadful bore.	a) aisle b) isle [aɪl] c) baited d) bated [ˈbeɪtɪd] e) boar f) bore [bɔː]
2)	'isle' is an old word for island which persists in some names such as The Isle of Wight.
3)	The audience waited with bated breath as the winner was about to be announced.
4)	English kings would often hunt wild deer and boar in the forests. (a wild pig with tusks)
5)	We baited our hooks and cast our lines - then waited for the fish to bite! (put food on the hook)
6)	It is a particular joy for a father to walk his daughter down the aisle. (in church)


1)	"??????? hands are the Devil's workshop; ??????? lips his mouthpiece."	a) idle b) idol c) meter d) metre e) seam f) seem g) wail h) whale
2)	The spine-tingling ??????? of the air raid siren put the fear of God into us.
3)	The electricity ??????? seems to be broken. I'll call EDF.
4)	Popstars and professional sportspeople are very often teenage ???????. (heroes / role-models)
5)	The ??????? of your dress has come undone. Let me sew it up for you. (join of cloth or tissue)
6)	It is only because ??????? cannot speak that we fail to realize how intelligent they are.
7)	A ??????? is by definition 100 centimetres!
8)	A) "The new boss ??????? nice." B) "Yes, but appearances can be deceptive."


1)	"Idle hands are the Devil's workshop; idle lips his mouthpiece." (lazy - not working)	a) idle b) idol c) meter d) metre e) seam f) seem g) wail h) whale
2)	The spine-tingling wail of the air raid siren put the fear of God into us. (continuous high-pitched sound)
3)	The electricity meter seems to be broken. I'll call EDF. (a device for measuring things which flow)
4)	Popstars and professional sportspeople are very often teenage idols. (heroes / role-models)
5)	The seam of your dress has come undone. Let me sew it up for you. (join of cloth or tissue)
6)	It is only because whales cannot speak that we fail to realize how intelligent they are.
7)	A metre is by definition 100 centimetres!
8)	A) "The new boss seems nice." B) "Yes, but appearances can be deceptive."