Question

Identify the correct homophones to complete the following sentences:
(1) The bird _______ over the trees.
(2) She was down with the _________ yesterday.
(3) In all cases, there should be a ________ to let the gases of the flames escape.
a. (1) flue, (2) flu, (3) flew
b. (1) flu, (2) flew, (3) flue
c. (1) flue, (2) flew, (3)flu
d. (1) flew, (2) flu, (3) flue

Answer 1

Hint: Homophones are words that share the same way of pronunciation. As the meanings differ, we have to choose the most appropriate homophones here.

Complete answer:
We are asked to choose the right homophone from the given set. Though these words share the same pronunciation, they differ in meanings from one another.
Flu is another term that describes influenza, a common respiratory illness due to viral infection.
The flue is a duct or tube that let go the smoke and gases from a power station or heater and 'flew' is the past tense of the verb' fly.'
That being the case, we understand that the first sentence should have 'flew' in the blank as it refers to the bird's action.
The second sentence hints at a girl's illness, and hence 'flu' is the most appropriate.
The flue is correct for the third sentence because it lets the gases escape out.

> Thus, option d gives us the correct set of homophones.

Note: While homophones share the same pronunciation, homonyms share two meanings, but with the same spelling and pronunciation.