Lesson 5 of 8
Homophones
Say it out loud.
A homophone clue gives you a word that sounds like the answer, then a definition of the answer itself. The indicator is anything to do with hearing or speaking: we hear, reportedly, said, aloud, on the radio, by the sound of it, so to speak.
The trap is that the word you are given is usually clued, not written. “Figure said to be consumed” does not contain ATE anywhere; you have to translate “consumed” into ATE first, then hear it as EIGHT. Work in two steps: find the word, then say it.
Setters argue about accents, so fair homophones are ones most people agree on. If you are stuck, read the clue aloud, slowly, and listen for a word that could be spelled another way.
Words that give it away
- we hear
- reportedly
- said
- on the radio
- aloud
- sounds like
- by the sound of it
- so to speak
Worked examples
Sea giants heard to cry (6)
- 01“Heard” is the indicator, so one side of it is a definition and the other is a sound-alike.
- 02“To cry” gives WAILS, and said aloud that is also WHALES.
- 03“Sea giants” are WHALES, so both halves agree.
WHALES
Figure said to be consumed (5)
- 01“Said” is the indicator, and “figure” is a sneaky definition: it means a number here.
- 02“Consumed” is ATE, and ATE sounds like EIGHT.
- 03EIGHT is a figure, which closes the loop.
EIGHT
Try one Bunny slope
Dog's end, we hear, is a story (4)