Homophone Clue Practice
Ten original homophone clues arranged from easy to hard. Each clue contains a word or phrase whose answer sounds like another word. The key is to spot the auditory indicator (words like “we hear”, “reportedly”, “on the radio”, or “by the sound of it”), identify the source word, think of what it sounds like, and match it to the definition. Try to solve each one before revealing the solution.
“Meat we hear is encounter (4)”
Reveal answer
Answer: MEET
- Auditory indicator: “we hear”
- Source word: Meat
- Sounds like: Meat → MEET
- Definition: “encounter”
"We hear" is the auditory indicator. "Meat" sounds like MEET. The definition is "encounter" — to meet someone is to encounter them.
“Boy heard is post (4)”
Reveal answer
Answer: MAIL
- Auditory indicator: “heard”
- Source word: Male
- Sounds like: Male → MAIL
- Definition: “post”
"Heard" is the auditory indicator. "Boy" gives MALE, which sounds like MAIL. The definition is "post" — mail is post.
“Navigate reportedly is bargain event (4)”
Reveal answer
Answer: SALE
- Auditory indicator: “reportedly”
- Source word: Sail
- Sounds like: Sail → SALE
- Definition: “bargain event”
"Reportedly" is the auditory indicator. "Navigate" gives SAIL, which sounds like SALE. The definition is "bargain event".
“Dark time, we hear, is warrior (6)”
Reveal answer
Answer: KNIGHT
- Auditory indicator: “we hear”
- Source word: Night
- Sounds like: Night → KNIGHT
- Definition: “warrior”
"We hear" is the auditory indicator. "Dark time" gives NIGHT, which sounds like KNIGHT. The definition is "warrior" — a knight is a medieval warrior.
“Correct by the sound of it is to compose (5)”
Reveal answer
Answer: WRITE
- Auditory indicator: “by the sound of it”
- Source word: Right
- Sounds like: Right → WRITE
- Definition: “to compose”
"By the sound of it" is the auditory indicator. "Correct" gives RIGHT, which sounds like WRITE. The definition is "to compose" — to write is to compose text.
“Naked reportedly is animal (4)”
Reveal answer
Answer: BEAR
- Auditory indicator: “reportedly”
- Source word: Bare
- Sounds like: Bare → BEAR
- Definition: “animal”
"Reportedly" is the auditory indicator. "Naked" gives BARE, which sounds like BEAR. The definition is "animal".
“Precipitation on the radio rules (4)”
Reveal answer
Answer: REIGN
- Auditory indicator: “on the radio”
- Source word: Rain
- Sounds like: Rain → REIGN
- Definition: “rules”
"On the radio" is the auditory indicator. "Precipitation" gives RAIN, which sounds like REIGN. The definition is "rules" — to reign is to rule.
“Steak we hear is a pointed stick (5)”
Reveal answer
Answer: STAKE
- Auditory indicator: “we hear”
- Source word: Steak
- Sounds like: Steak → STAKE
- Definition: “a pointed stick”
"We hear" is the auditory indicator. "Steak" sounds like STAKE. The definition is "a pointed stick" — a stake is a pointed stick driven into the ground.
“Colour we hear was expelled (4)”
Reveal answer
Answer: BLEW
- Auditory indicator: “we hear”
- Source word: Blue
- Sounds like: Blue → BLEW
- Definition: “was expelled”
"We hear" is the auditory indicator. "Colour" gives BLUE, which sounds like BLEW. The definition is "was expelled" — blew is the past tense of blow, meaning to expel air.
“Ocean reportedly is to perceive (3)”
Reveal answer
Answer: SEE
- Auditory indicator: “reportedly”
- Source word: Sea
- Sounds like: Sea → SEE
- Definition: “to perceive”
"Reportedly" is the auditory indicator. "Ocean" gives SEA, which sounds like SEE. The definition is "to perceive" — to see is to perceive visually.
Learn more about homophone clues
If you want to understand homophone clues in depth, see the full teaching page. It covers how to spot auditory indicators, common patterns, and worked examples from real Parseword puzzles.
Homophone clues — full guide