Heteronyms

Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same but have more than one meaning. They are one of  many idiosyncrasies in the English language that make it a challenge to master. Listed below are a few examples. The haphazard nature of heteronyms becomes even more apparent when they appear in the same sentence.

The insurance card the INVALID showed to the receptionist was INVALID.

I winced when the nurse WOUND a bandage around my WOUND.

During mating season, a buck DOES bizarre things when DOES are around.

I shed many a TEAR when I saw the TEAR in my new blouse.

A farmer needs rich soil to PRODUCE organic PRODUCE.

The recycler's bins were already so full of REFUSE, he had to REFUSE what I brought.

I was too CLOSE to the cupboard door to CLOSE it.

The Captain could LEAD us to our bivouac if we would just get the LEAD out.

I did not OBJECT to the ridiculous OBJECT he gave me for Christmas. 

No time like the PRESENT, the young man decided, to PRESENT his girlfriend with a PRESENT.

Let's face it - English is verbal insanity.

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