Sound Alikes Trivia Quiz

Answer: jam jamb

One meaning of the word 'jam' is a sweet preserve of fruit which is used as a spread on toast or in sandwiches. Jam can also refer to anything which is tightly packed together, as in 'traffic jam' or a 'jam-packed room'.

A jamb is the upright on the side of a doorway or window and is derived from the French word for a leg - jambe.

Answer: weight wait

'Weight' literally refers to the force exerted by a body and is measured in various formats including kilograms, tons and pounds depending upon where you live and how heavy the item is. The word is Germanic in origin.

'Wait' was originally used in the early thirteenth century to describe someone watching, such as a sentry or look-out. It wasn't until the latter part of the nineteenth century that it became used to refer to the act of waiting for something or someone to arrive.

Answer: write rite

'Write' comes from Old English and originally described creating an outline by scratching. It was later transferred to the creation of words.

A 'rite' was originally used to refer to a religious ceremony with the word dating from the fourteenth century. It is still used in that sense and also in expressions such as a 'rite of passage', particularly one from childhood to adulthood.

Answer: rode road

The past tense of ride, 'rode' can refer to travelling on a horse or in a motor vehicle. The word 'ride' was originally Old English and meant 'to sit upon and be carried forward'.

The word 'road' actually has the same root, and was used to describe a journey on horseback. The sense of being a pathway between two points dates from the late sixteenth century and has completely replaced the original sense of the word.

Answer: ball bawl

A 'ball' is used in several sports with baseball, tennis and cricket just three. The word is used to describe anything spherical in shape. It may have its derivation in Old English or from Old Norse.

To 'bawl' originally meant to howl, in the way wolves and dogs do, derived from Mediaeval Latin. By the late sixteenth century it referred to shouting loudly - if you are very angry with someone you 'bawl them out'. It is also used to describe weeping without restraint, as in 'the film was so sad, I was bawling my eyes out'.

Answer: earn urn

Derived from the Old English word 'earnian', 'earn' refers to something gained by your own efforts and is deserved or merited. It is often used to describe how you make a living - your wages or salary are earned income.

An 'urn' refers to a jar or other rounded vessel with the word coming from the Latin word 'urna', where it had the same meaning. The word is more commonly used in modern times to mean a container for the ashes remaining after cremation of a body.

Answer: gait gate

Originally, 'gait' just referred to walking in general with the more specific meaning of referring to how someone walks dating from the fifteenth century. It is likely to have its origins in Scandinavia and was originally spelled as gate.

A 'gate' is an entrance way and was used to refer to any kind of barrier to entry, including a door. Nowadays, it is mostly used for external entrances to gardens or parks. It derives from the Germanic word 'gatan'.

Answer: liar lyre

A 'liar' is someone who deliberately tells lies, knowing the story or excuse is untrue. The word comes from the Old English word leogere which referred to a hypocrite or a bearer of false witness.

A 'lyre' is an ancient stringed musical instrument associated with Ancient Greece. It resembles a small, hand held, harp. The name came into English via Old French.

Answer: tacks tax

A 'tack' is a small nail, often used to hold down carpet, especially on stairs. Its name derives from the French word taque, which means a pin or peg.

'Tax' refers to any compulsory or enforceable contribution which citizens have to make to the government. This is another word which came into English from French, spelled taxe, and derived from the Latin word taxare.

Answer: knead need

The word 'knead' refers to pulling, pressing and stretching dough and is particularly associated with making bread. The word origin is German, where it was spelled 'knedan'.

As a noun, a 'need' is something desired, wanted or essential. This word also came from Proto-Germanic, although its original meaning was rather more extreme, referring to an emergency or peril.