Well vs Well

• Well (in good health or satisfactory) – Adjective

• Well (a deep hole for water) – Noun

Pronunciation

These words are homonyms, meaning they are spelled the same, sound the same, but have different meanings.

• Well (Adjective): Pronounced /wɛl/ (WEHL) — In good health.

• Well (Noun): Pronounced /wɛl/ (WEHL) — A source of water.

Listen to the audio. They sound the same.

What makes them different is your intonation, expression, and context, or the other words in the sentence.

Instruction

Read each sentence aloud and practice identifying the meaning of "well" in context.
Can you tell which “well” is being mentioned as you read each sentence?

Example Sentences

1. She wasn’t feeling well after eating too much cake.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

2. The farmers built a well to supply water to the fields.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

3. I hope you’re doing well in your new job.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

4. The old well in the village still provides clean water.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

5. He explained the problem well during the meeting.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

6. The well was dry after months of no rain.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

7. They said she recovered well after her surgery.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

8. The children dropped a coin into the wishing well.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

9. He did so well on his exam that he got an award.
   a. In good health or satisfactory
   b. A deep hole for water

10. The villagers relied on the well for all their water needs.
    a. In good health or satisfactory
    b. A deep hole for water

Answers

1. a

2. b

3. a

4. b

5. a

6. b

7. a

8. b

9. a

10. b

Intonation

Instructions: Intonation is controlling the rise and fall of your voice. When we do this with words and phrases, we send the listener a specific message.

Well (in good health or satisfactory)

1. She said she was feeling much well after the treatment. (Stress well to show improvement.)

2. He performed so well that everyone applauded. (Emphasize well to highlight success.)

3. I hope you’re doing well with the new project. (Highlight well to convey care.)

Well (a deep hole for water)

1. The villagers built a new well near their homes. (Stress well to emphasize the structure.)

2. The well dried up due to the drought. (Highlight well to indicate the problem.)

3. They drew water from the well every morning. (Emphasize well to focus on its function.)

Expression

The following explains how stressing or emphasizing the bolded words alters the tone or focus of the sentence and offers some helpful tips. Practice stressing these words when speaking.

Well (in good health or satisfactory):

1. Feel well: Indicates being in good health.

   • Tip: Highlight feel to emphasize the state of being.

   • Sentence: She doesn’t feel well after staying up late.

2. Do well: Focuses on success or accomplishment.

   • Tip: Stress well to celebrate achievement.

   • Sentence: He wants to do well in his final exams.

3. Recover well: Suggests improvement after an illness or setback.

   • Tip: Highlight recover to show progress.

   • Sentence: She recovered well after her operation.

Well (a deep hole for water):

1. Dry well: Refers to a well without water.

   • Tip: Emphasize dry to indicate the condition.

   • Sentence: The dry well was no longer useful to the villagers.

2. Deep well: Highlights the structure’s depth.

   • Tip: Highlight deep to convey its size.

   • Sentence: The deep well provided water even during the drought.

3. Wishing well: Describes a traditional symbolic structure.

   • Tip: Stress wishing to indicate its purpose.

   • Sentence: They threw a coin into the wishing well and made a wish.

Things to Remember:

The word "well" is used in different contexts:

• Well (in good health or satisfactory): Works with phrases like "feel well," "do well," or "recover well."

  • Example: He worked hard to do well in the competition.

• Well (a deep hole for water): Often paired with words like "dry well," "deep well," or "wishing well."

  • Example: The villagers relied on the deep well during the dry season.