Some of the most interesting words in English are heteronyms. These are word that have two distinctly different pronunciations and meanings, even though they are spelled exactly the same - the same word pronounced two different ways with two different meanings. WIND, for example, when pronounced with a long "i", means to tighten a spring, as "wind" a watch. When it's pronounced with a short "i", "wind" is moving air, as the "wind" blew.
Each clue below lists one of the definitions of a heteronym. Can you identify the heteronym and determine its other pronunciation and meaning?
1. A sliding, usually wooden, storage box in a dresser
2. Nearby
3. To wait or linger
4. A very heavy metal
5. To plant seeds
6. Placing something somewhere, as on a shelf
7. An elaborate array of all-you-can eat food
8. To rip
9. A prophet
10 Exist
11. A very simple text for teaching basic skills
12. Organized, as labor
Answers:
1. DRAWER and "A DRAWER is an artist."
2. CLOSE and "CLOSE the door."
3. TARRY and "Asphalt is TARRY."
4. LEAD and "LEAD the way."
5. SOW and "The SOW had a litter of piglets."
6. PUTTING and PUTTING as in golf
7. BUFFET and "The waves will BUFFET the boat."
8. TEAR and "He shed a TEAR."
9. SEER and "A SEER is one who sees."
10. LIVE and a LIVE performance
11. PRIMER and a PRIMER coat before painting
12. UNIONIZED and "The charged particle was UNIONIZED by the physicist."
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