Connections Answers
Monday, May 18, 2026
1
HOMOPHONES
These four words are homophones, meaning they sound exactly the same when spoken, but they have different spellings and completely different meanings.
Individual words:
•PAIR: A 'pair' means two things that are used together, like a pair of shoes or a pair of socks. They form a set.
•PARE: To 'pare' means to cut off the outer skin of something, usually a fruit or vegetable, using a knife. Similar to 'peel'.
•PEAR: A 'pear' is a type of sweet fruit, typically green or yellow, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. You can eat it raw.
•PÈRE: 'Père' is a French word meaning 'father'. In English, it's sometimes used as a title for a Catholic priest or in historical names, especially from French heritage.
2
RUPTURE
These words all describe different ways something can break apart, burst, or separate suddenly. They relate to the idea of a "rupture," which means to break or burst.
Individual words:
•BLOW: To burst or explode, often because of too much air or pressure inside. Think of a balloon that "blows up" and breaks with force.
•CRACK: To break something, but not completely into separate pieces. It leaves a line or small opening, like a "cracked" window or an eggshell.
•POP: To make a quick, sharp sound when something bursts. It also means the act of bursting suddenly. For example, a balloon "pops" when it breaks.
•SPLIT: To divide or break something into two or more parts, often forcefully. Like wood that "splits" in half, or a group that divides.
3
MLB PLAYER
These words are all unique parts of official team names in Major League Baseball (MLB), the top professional baseball league in the United States.
Individual words:
•PADRE: In Spanish, 'padre' means 'father.' It is part of the San Diego Padres team name, honoring Spanish missionaries who settled the region long ago.
•RED: This is a color. 'Red' is part of the Cincinnati Reds team name, one of the oldest and most famous baseball teams in the United States.
•ROYAL: This word means 'related to a king or queen.' It's part of the Kansas City Royals team name, suggesting excellence and a connection to a local livestock show.
•TWIN: This means 'one of two identical things.' 'Twin' is part of the Minnesota Twins team name, referring to the 'Twin Cities' of Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
4
FRUIT ANAGRAMS
Each word's letters can be rearranged to spell the name of a common fruit: CHEAP becomes PEACH, EARP becomes PEAR, LUMP becomes PLUM, and WIKI becomes KIWI.
Individual words:
•CHEAP: Describes something that costs little money or is of low quality. For example, 'That shirt was cheap.'
•EARP: Wyatt Earp was a famous American lawman in the Wild West. He is known from old movies and stories about cowboys and justice.
•LUMP: A lump is a small, shapeless piece of something, often soft or solid. For example, a lump of sugar or a lump in cookie dough.
•WIKI: A wiki is a type of website where many people can easily add, change, or remove content. Wikipedia is the most famous example of a wiki.