SPACE CRAFT II (PARSE-O-NYMS)
Credit : GAMES Magazine - Feb. 2009
Stephen Sniderman

You can significantly change the meaning of some two-word phrases simply by shifting the location of the space between words. For example,

BOOTLEG ENDS - - - - - BOOT LEGENDS
BEG INFORMATION - - - BEGIN FORMATION
DARK ROOMMATE - - - DARKROOM MATE

The two definitions in each clue below lead to two expressions with exactly the same letters, but with a different space placement. The change in the spacing gives the two expressions entirely different meanings and pronunciations, as illustrated in the examples above.

1)
Deceased cupboard
_ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _
Expressionless attempt
_ _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _

2)
Excellent 14-line poems
_ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Daughter's male child earns
_ _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _

3)
Sweetheart works an extra job
_ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Post-wedding trip illumination
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _

4)
Extra nun
_ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _
One who refuses to go to trendy resorts
_ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5)
Your truly chips in
_    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Homage to a superstar
_ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _ _

6)
Half a score of national songs
_ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Renter shortens a skirt
_ _ _ _ _ _    _ _ _ _

7)
Tariff problem
_ _ _    _ _ _ _ _
Cabs bring charges
_ _ _ _ _   _ _ _

8)
Factory for making clarinets
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _
Dutch structure made of lumber
_ _ _ _    _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

9)
Perform rotations around the sun
_ _    _ _ _ _ _ _
Portal pieces
_ _ _ _    _ _ _ _

Answers:

1)
DEAD PANTRY
DEADPAN TRY

2)
GRAND SONNETS
GRANDSON NETS

3)
HONEY MOONLIGHTS
HONEYMOON LIGHTS

4)
SPARE SISTER
SPA RESISTER

5)
I CONTRIBUTE
ICON TRIBUTE

6)
TEN ANTHEMS
TENANT HEMS

7)
TAX ISSUE
TAXIS SUE

8)
WOODWIND MILL
WOOD WINDMILL

9)
DO ORBITS
DOOR BITS