⊙ By Richard Sidaway

English Jokes: Homonyms

笑談同音同形異義詞

⊙ By Richard Sidaway

Homonym:a word that has the same spelling and the same pronunciation as another word, but a different meaning.

Writing It Down

Unlike some other European languages, English is a little tricky when it comes to writing. How a word is pronounced and how it is actually spelt can be very different things.

Same Spelling, Different Meaning

Imagine a situation where two words are spelt and pronounced exactly the same way, but have completely different meanings. Welcome to the world of homonyms. Take, for example, the word“fair”—it can be a kind of festival, an adjective to describe the colour of your hair or how you should play a game. Or “l(fā)eg,” which can be attached to a person, or a table and can also be a distance you travel, or a part of a competition.

Don’t Take It Literally

So how do you know which meaning someone is referring to?—You don’t, except by the context. Obviously, if someone asks you to “give them a hand,” they don’t want you to remove what is at the end of your arm.

What’s in a Name?

Sometimes even the context doesn’t help much—the result can be amusing. These sentences play with the double meaning of a noun:

1. I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.

2. Have you heard about the cross-eyed teacher who couldn’t control his pupils?

More Ambiguity[歧義]

And these examples play with the different meanings of a verb:

3. I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

4. No one knew she had a dental implant[植入], until it came out in a conversation.

5. A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.

Double Trouble

And sometimes a word can be a noun and a verb, but have different meanings. Can you work this one out?

6. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

If you like these homonyms, you will be pleased to know that English has plenty more!

Explanations of Jokes Above

1. I became bored with the job / I lost money

2. students / parts of his eyes

3. The ball hit me / I suddenly realised

4. became known / fell out

5. can’t be better / difficult to mix with a fork

6. Time goes quickly / Insects enjoy eating fruit