Sound Familiar?

Some words sound very similar. People often confuse them when speaking and writing, sometimes with embarrassing results. Write the following word pairs on the board (without their meanings). Explain to students that people often confuse these words. Tell students you will read a sentence that is missing a word. They are to write down which of the two words they think belongs in the sentence. When you are finished, review each sentence and each word's meaning.

Suggest students write these words in a word journal. Remind students to look for these words when they play the SCRABBLE^® game.

breadth: (n.) width

1. The doctor told her to (breathe) in and out.

breathe: (v.) to inhale and exhale

discomfort: (n.) distress

2. My tight shoes caused me great (discomfort).

discomfit: (v.) to embarrass or frustrate

disburse: (v.) to pay out

3. The company treasurer will (disburse) our pay.

disperse: (v.) to scatter

click: (n.) short sound

4. She was invited to join the (clique).

clique: (n.) small, exclusive group

imitate: (v.) to mimic

5. The teacher (intimated) that there would be a test.

intimate: (v.) to hint at or make know

morale: (n.) mental condition

6. Because they lost the game, the team's (morale) is low.

moral: (n.) ethic; lesson