NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle 

November 23, 2025

Will Shortz

 

Each sentence below contains two phonetic homophones that are opposites. The homophones are found in the words, but are discrete syllables. Can you find them?

 

Example: People in Albany enunciate well. 

                The phonetic homophones are the Al in Albany and the nun in enunciate, leading to the homophones of oppposites ALL and NONE.

 

1. The model wore a timepiece on her ankle.

 

2. Who will underwrite the cost of the sarong?

 

3. This is a rare Bolivian diamond.

 

4. The customer got a souvenir from the pharmacy. 

 

5. Let's celebrate by throwing a party.

 

6. The custodian must must re-ignite the furnace daily.  

 

7. Can buffalo experience hypertension?

 

Answers:

 

1. WAR and PEACE (wore - timepiece)

2. RIGHT and WRONG (underwrite - sarong)

3. LIVE and DIE (Bolivian - diamond) 

4. NEAR and FAR (souvenier - pharmacy) 

5. SELL and BUY (celebrate - by) 

6. NIGHT and DAY (re-ignite -daily) 

7. LOW and HIGH (buffalo - hypertension)