, Homophone, Multiple,Meanings, Idioms, CompoundWords,

[Pages:7]Many Uses: The 100 Most--Frequent Words in Written English

Elfrieda H. Hiebert TextProject & University of California, Santa Cruz

This list illustrates the multiple uses of words in the core vocabulary, especially the most frequent 100 words in written English. What these many uses mean for reading development is explained at

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. (Examples are complete.)

Multiple--meaning words are words with the same spelling but with different origins and meanings (e.g., down, just). Many words are used as different parts of speech and vary in their meaning (call, may) but multiple--meaning words have more than one unique entry. (Examples are complete.)

Idioms are phrases that do not have a literal meaning. (Only a single example has been

given per word. For some words (e.g., call, said), there are numerous idioms; for other

words, there are none or only the example provided.)

Compound words are made up of two root words, which contribute to the meaning of the

new word. However, often the precise meaning of the compound word needs to be

inferred. For example, watercolor does not refer to the color of water. (Only a single

example has been given per word. Some words (e.g., up, one) are used in many additional

compound words. For other words, the example is the only instance.)

Homophone Multiple Meanings

Idioms

Compound Words

a

A parting shot

about

? relating to a

Up and about

about--face

particular subject

(prep)

? a little more or

less than a number

or amount (adv)

after

? when a particular After all is said and done afterward

something has

happened (prep &

conj)

? later than

something (adv)

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all

awl (tool)

an and are as at be

been but

Ann(e)

bee

bin butt

by

buy

bye

call

caul

can

could did do

down

dew due

each

find fined

? whole of a thing All systems go

all--nighter

(determiner, pro)

? completely (adv)

Cost an arm and a leg another

And how!

As if

At once

? Auxiliary verb

Be in the way

beside

? Linking verb

Been all ears

? connect

It's all over but the

statements when shouting.

2nd statement adds

something

different from 1st

(conj)

? except for (prep)

? used with passive By the skin of one's teeth bypass

forms of verbs to

show who did

something (prep).

? by (adv)

? telephone (v)

Call it a day

call waiting

? action of

telephoning (n)

? able to (v) ? metal container

Bite off more than one cannot can chew

(n)

Do the trick

? from high to low Down in the dumps

(adv)

downbeat

? soft feathers (n)

? grassy field (n)

? every one of two To each his own

or more things

(pro)

? for or to every one

(adv)

Find oneself

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first

for

four

fore

from

had

has

have

he

her

him hymn

his

how

I

aye

eye

if

in

inn

into

? coming before all First hand

firsthand

the other (adj)

? before anything or

anyone else (adv)

? to be given or used For ages

forward

by something

(prep)

? because (conj)

A far cry from

(something)

Had it coming

One has to draw the line

somewhere

? auxiliary verb

Have it made

? saying what

something looks

like (v)

He who pays the piper

pays the tune.

? belong to female Let her rip!

herself

(adj)

? object form of she

(pro)

Good things come to him himself

who waits.

? belong to male

A man of his word

(adj)

? object form of he

(pro)

How come?

know--how

If I had my druthers

? refer to something that might happen (conj)

? condition or possibliity (n)

? used with name of something (prep)

? to be contained inside (adj, adv)

No ifs, ands, or buts

In hot water; in front of the pack; in joke/crowd; have it in for; ins and outs; in with; in that Out of the frying pan and into the fire

inbound

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is

it

its

It's

just

know no

like

little

long

made maid make

many

may

more moor

most

my

no

know

not

knot

? exactly,

immediately (adv) ? lawful (adj)

? similar to (prep) ? enjoy somethinig

(v) ? small in size (adj) ? only a small

amount (quantifier) ? not much (adv) ? measurement (adj) ? for an extendd time (adv) ? to feel a strong yearning (v)

? to produce something (v) ? product (n)

? month (n) ? might (v) ? having a quality to a greater degree (adv) ? quantifier ? Having greatest amount (adv) ? quantifier

? negative reply to a question (adv) ? not any (determiner)

Don't mention it.

Just the same (nevertheless); Just now (a moment ago); He's just biding his time. Know a thing or two; know what's what Like pulling teeth

A little bird told me

Before long; so long as; long and short of (the story); so long

Made of money Make do

In so many words Come what may

Bite off more than can chew

Make the most of (something)

Love me, love my dog No dice

Do not buy that story

itself

know--it--all likewise little finger

long--distance

tailor--made make--believe

maybe moreover

most--wanted myself nowhere

cannot

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now of on

one

won

only

or

oar

ore

other

out

over

people

said

see

sea

she

so

sow

sew

some sum

than

? number ? someone or

something (pro) ? Not more than a

particular something (adv) ? specify more than one thing and no others (adj) ? except that (conj)

Now or never Let go of Hang on a little longer; put on the dog One in a million

Only have eyes for you

It's now or never

nowadays

online

ne--way

either--or

Drop the other shoe

? away from the

Tired out; out of order

inside (adv, adj)

? from inside or

through something

(prep)

? above or higher Take over; think over;

than something over and over

(prep)

? down from an

upright position

(adv)

Put people's heads

together

? past tense of say Easier said than done

(v)

? giving more

information about

something (adj)

See the light

Less said, the better

? emphasize what is So to speak

being said (adv)

? conj

? quantifier

In some way

? pro

? determiner

?

Larger than life

take--out

overnight

see--through

so--called something

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that the

their

them

then there

there

they're

their they're

these they this time

thyme

to

two

too

two to

too

up

use

very

was

?

? determiner ? conj

This and that Fill the bill

If you can't beat them,

join them.

Every now and then

? somehing exists or There, there.

happens (pro)

? particular place

that is not where

speaker is (adv)

One of these days

This is the life!

? minutes (n)

In no time

? to do something at

a particular time

(v)

? used with basic His back is to the wall.

form of a verb to

make infinitive

? prep

Put two and two

together

? toward a higher Up in the air

place (adv, prep)

? awake (adj)

? do something with Have no use for

something for a

purpose (v)

? act of using (n)

? emphasize an

The very idea

adjective, adverb

(adv)

? emphasize

reference to a

particular

something (adj)

themselves

thereabouts

timeout

today

two--faced upside

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water

way

weigh whey

we were what when where

which who

wee whirr watt

wear ware witch

will

with

word

would wood

you

ewe

yew

your you're

yore

Code:

adj=adjective

adv=adverb

conj=conjunction

n=noun

prep=preposition

pro=pronoun

v=verb

? clear colorless liquid (n)

? to pour water on plant/seeds (v)

? road, path (n) ? long in distance or

time (adv)

Water under the bridge

In the way

What's up?

watercolor

wayside

werewolf what--not whenever whereby

? used to make future tense (modal v)

? deliberate intentions (n)

? language part (n) ? to use words

carefully (v)

Who do you think you're talking to? Where there's a will, there's a way

whichever whoever

willpower

Stick with (something) without

A man of few words

word family

As luck would have it You bet

would--be

Worth your salt

yourself

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