HOMOPHONE HEADLINES I

GAMES Magazine

January, 1987

Stephen Sniderman

 

Each of the following pairs of clues leads to two four-word headlines. The words in the second headline are homophones (words that are pronounced the same but are spelled differently) of the words in the first, always in the same order. For example, 

 

Grizzly Devoured Pure Birds 

Naked Octet Pursued Unfair Ball 

 

lead to BEAR ATE CHASTE FOWL and BARE EIGHT CHASED FOUL, respectively. Spoiler alert: The hints below the clues give the first headline - which is obviously a huge hint for the second - but I feel it's warranted because, in my opinion, this is a  difficult puzzle.

1. Pre-noon Solar Rays Lit Interior

    Grieving child given hotel tour

2. Carpenter Insect Munches on Post

    Might Uncle's wife Select T-Bone?

3. Noble looks closely at entire basement

    Empty Wharfs Disconcerted Vendor

4. Excavator Made Leather Knots

    Unimportant Water Movement Influenced Boyfriends

(BIG) HINTS:

First headline:

1. MORNING SUN SHONE IN

2. WOOD ANT CHEWS STAKE

3. BARON PEERS THROUGH CELLAR

4. MINER TIED SUEDE BOWS

Answers:

1. morning sun shone in

   MOURNING SON SHOWN INN

 

2. wood ant chews stake

    WOULD AUNT CHOOSE STEAK?

 

3. baron peers through cellar

    BARREN PIERS THREW SELLER

 

4. miner tied suede bows

    MINOR TIDE SWAYED BEAUX