Homophones Medal, Meddle, Metal, and Mettle

Lets look at four words that sound similar but have different meanings. Medal and meddle are homophones, as are metal and mettle. Definitions The noun medal refers to a flat piece of metal stamped with an image or design--like a badge on a police officers uniform, a medallion on a New York City taxicab, or a service medal awarded to a member of the armed forces.   The verb meddle means to interfere or to handle something without permission. People who meddle try to have an influence on activities that arent their responsibility. The noun metal refers to a substance, such as copper or tin, that is generally hard and often has a shiny surface. Metal is usually a good conductor of heat and electricity. The noun mettle means courage, boldness, spirit, or grit. Examples On the last day of class in fourth grade, Cindy received a perfect-attendance medal from the school principal.They gave Seeks Woods grandfather, Elk, a silver medal, a direct gift from the Great Father, Thomas Jefferson, that guaranteed peace to the village of Turtle Creek. Elk  wore the medal  every day for a full year. (Roger L. Welsch, Touching the Fire. University of Nebraska Press, 1992)Wisely, the queen has refused to meddle in state affairs.The three men were obviously fast friends. They liked to gossip and were soon interrupting each other with stories about everyone in town. The threesome reminded Harrison of old maid aunts who  liked to meddle  but didnt mean anyone harm. (Julie Garwood, For the Roses. Pocket Books, 1995)The blacksmith hammered the metal flat.She opened the medicine cabinet, pawed through it until she found some tweezers. She lifted her head again and poked at her face with the metal tips, grasping and pinching and missing. (Lorrie Moore, Youre Ugly , Too. The New Yorker, 1990)Gus began in a quiet, modest way, but soon demonstrated his mettle.This was her moment to  prove her mettle. It was her chance to prove that she was capable of more than merely copying orders. (S. C. Gylanders,  The Better Angels of Our Nature. Random House, 2006) Practice Exercise (a) If you spin the wheel faster, blue lightning will leap and hiss from the _____ plates. (b)  IBM chairman Thomas J. Watson received the Merit Cross of the German Eagle in 1937, but he returned the _____  three years later. (c) The tennis players _____ was tested when she lost the opening match. (d) As a general rule we believe in the right to be left alone, and are suspicious of those—whether Big Brother or nosy neighbors—who want to _____ in our business. (Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope, 2006) Answers to Practice Exercise (a) If you spin the wheel faster, blue lightning will leap and hiss from the metal plates. (b)  IBM chairman Thomas J. Watson received the Merit Cross of the German Eagle in 1937, but he returned the  medal  three years later. (c) The tennis players mettle was tested when she lost the opening match. (d) As a general rule we believe in the right to be left alone, and are suspicious of those—whether Big Brother or nosy neighbors—who want to meddle in our business. (Barack Obama, The Audacity of Hope, 2006)