English Isn’t Easy

The English language is confusing. There is no egg in eggplant, no ham in hamburger, and boxing rings are square. Even words that are spelled the same way sound different and have more than one meaning.

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. Since there is no time like the present, he gave her the present.
7. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
8. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
9. I did not object to the object.
10. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
11. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
12. They were too close to the door to close it.
13. The buck does funny things when the does are present.

There is also a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word.

• At a meeting, why does a topic come UP?
• Why do we speak UP?
• We lock UP the house and guys fix UP the old car.
• We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.
• When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP?
• When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP?
• One could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP.
• For now my time is UP, so it’s time to shut UP.

What words confuse you the most?

Nancy Roe
Author