Homophone/Homonym
1 solved SSC CGL English previous year questions on Homophone/Homonym, each with the correct answer and a full explanation.
Q1
Select the sentence containing the homonym of the highlighted word: The medieval oriel window projected elegantly from the chapel wall.
✓ Correct answer: c) The technician adjusted the frequency on the aerial.
ExplanationThe Correct Answer: Option C — The technician adjusted the frequency on the aerial.Explanation: "Aerial" is a homonym of "oriel." Homonyms are words that sound the same (or very similar) when spoken but have different meanings and spellings (also called homophones when they sound identical)."Oriel" (pronounced OR-ee-ul) refers to a type of projecting window, particularly in medieval architecture, while "aerial" (pronounced AIR-ee-ul) refers to an antenna used for transmitting or receiving radio/TV signals, or can mean "relating to the air." These words sound very similar in pronunciation, making them homonyms, despite their completely different meanings and spellings.Additional Info: Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings: Homophones: sound the same, spelled differently (their/there/they're, to/too/two) Homographs: spelled the same, different meanings (bow: weapon vs. bow: bend forward) "Oriel" and "aerial" are homophones (sound similar/same, different spellings and meanings) Oriel: (noun) a bay window that projects from an upper floor, supported by brackets or corbels, common in medieval and Gothic architecture Aerial: (noun) an antenna for radio/TV signals; (adjective) relating to the air, occurring in the air Other examples of homophones: Knight/night, write/right, flour/flower, piece/peace, brake/break Pronunciation note: While "oriel" and "aerial" are very similar in sound, the exact pronunciation may vary by accent, but they are close enough to be considered homonyms/homophones.
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