The last word(s)
(Canscene) — English is said to be the most difficult language to learn because so many words that look alike have dual and sometimes even more meanings. Here are some samples, submitted by good friend Sandy Zwyer.
Do you have some examples? Our comments site is open to all. Just scroll to the end of this piece and click.
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse .
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present , he thought it was time to present the present .
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are cool toward them.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
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February 1st, 2008 at 7:42 am
What an excellent list! I haven’t been able to come up with any additions, off the top of my head, but I’ll be back if I think of one to contribute.
I CAN explain why Number 8 appears with a smiley face, though. The blogging software is set to interpret certain letter combinations as “emoticons”, The numeral 8, followed by a bracket, sort of looks like a smiley with glasses, so that image is substituted.
It’s possible to turn the emoticons off, but where’s the fun in that?
February 1st, 2008 at 10:42 am
OK, I’m back with a few:
He had to duck when the duck flew by.
Plant your feet on the flower plant by the power plant.
That mine is mine, said the miner.
Pay the fine or go to our fine jail.
Bag a moose and carry it to the old bag in a big bag.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Oops. I think I missed a point…the words should be pronounced differently as well as have different meanings. As in:
The violinist lowered his bow and took a deep bow.
He made a deliberate attempt to deliberate profoundly.
Separate the cream and keep it in a separate bottle.
She made 60 minute stitches in less than a minute.
To contract a contract, reduce its word count.
February 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
How about these?
A sewer sews and a sower sows but a sewer carries off sewage.
The dyer was in dire need of a new colour.
Hair dye will not cause anyone to die.