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?
–30–

4 Responses to “The last word(s)”

  1. Bill Says:

    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?

  2. Bill Says:

    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.

  3. Bill Says:

    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.

  4. Alfie Says:

    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.