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I've seen quite a few homophone riddles here on Puzzling, and I would like to go the opposite direction and post a story that presents a challenge to find a specific homonym.

It was a windy night at the ballpark. Tim was lowering his bat into his travel box. It was a good game, a silhouetted figure said softly. Who's there?! Tim shouted. Do not fear, whispered the figure; I am here to offer my services. Puzzled, Tim scratched his head and glared into the figure's dark blue eyes. Suddenly, the world grew cold and the figure stepped forward. I am going to ask you a question, and depending on your answer, one of two things will happen. Tim's face grew somber in light of his situation.

In one you'll become a baseball legend.

In the other you will fall asleep to never wake.

There is a homonym that can be found in reference to the second to last and last sentences. What is the homonym in question?

Hint:

Tim's current situation gives cause for alarm.

Hint:

The answer is you seek is not easy to find, to search is to look as words are defined.

Hint:

Two hints before, now three that I've gave; the word which you seek, indeed rhymes with brave.

As a secondary/bonus question, how many homonyms did you spot in my story?

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    $\begingroup$ Are we talking about true homonyms (same spelling)? $\endgroup$
    – Eutherpy
    Aug 14, 2018 at 22:35
  • $\begingroup$ am I allowed to answer the second question first? $\endgroup$
    – Goose
    Aug 14, 2018 at 22:48
  • $\begingroup$ puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/69587/homophone-riddle You mean this homophone riddle $\endgroup$
    – Duck
    Aug 15, 2018 at 18:33
  • $\begingroup$ To answer all three comments at once; yes, you are looking for true homonyms. Yes, you can answer the second question first if you so choose, all answers are welcome. Yes, this riddle was on my list. $\endgroup$
    – Hazel へいぜる
    Aug 15, 2018 at 18:49

5 Answers 5

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I had thought about this a bit, and I was a bit disappointed that the word

rhymed with brave,

since I came up with

DUGOUT: either the mysterious figure will put you in a baseball dugout, or he'll have dug out your grave.

That said, would

GRAVE be the correct answer? One is the obvious hole in the ground; the other (thanks to @PerpetualJ!) refers to giving cause for alarm; being serious.

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    $\begingroup$ You just beat me to it! $\endgroup$
    – nikki
    Aug 20, 2018 at 17:42
  • $\begingroup$ El-Guest, the first reference is spot on; the second refers more to rot13(tvivat pnhfr sbe nynez; frevbhf); which is the second definition. This wasn't my best, but as a first attempt at this type of riddle, there is a lot to learn. $\endgroup$
    – Hazel へいぜる
    Aug 20, 2018 at 18:04
  • $\begingroup$ @PerpetualJ thank you very much! I will update my answer. What was the reference to the baseball legend? $\endgroup$
    – El-Guest
    Aug 20, 2018 at 18:13
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Maybe it's

Pitch

Since

The figure is making a pitch.
Baseball pitch.

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  • $\begingroup$ That makes more sense than my answer! XD $\endgroup$
    – nikki
    Aug 15, 2018 at 3:06
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately no; however, I've updated the hint to be a little more transparent. $\endgroup$
    – Hazel へいぜる
    Aug 15, 2018 at 18:52
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Taking a random shot at this. I have no hopes on my answer, but here goes

Sounds like

The devil is asking Tim to sell his soul
Both sell and soul are homonyms I believe. Devil is also a homonym, one meaning Satan, the other meaning harass or worry someone.

The hint:

The devil is supposed to be mischievous

The second part:

windy, ballpark, bat, box, game, figure, head, light, cold, legend, offer(?), grew(?), ask(?), answer(?), wake(?)

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  • $\begingroup$ Those are homophones, but if homonyms is used loosely then you might be correct $\endgroup$
    – Duck
    Aug 15, 2018 at 18:38
  • $\begingroup$ Homophones: each of two or more words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling, e.g., new and knew. Homonyms: each of two or more words having the same spelling but different meanings and origins (e.g., pole and pole) I believe I have used only homonyms. $\endgroup$
    – nikki
    Aug 15, 2018 at 18:48
  • $\begingroup$ Unfortunately no; however, I've updated the hint to be a little more transparent. $\endgroup$
    – Hazel へいぜる
    Aug 15, 2018 at 18:52
  • $\begingroup$ When you say no, do you mean my answer is not right or the definitions in the above comment are not right? If you mean my answer, I understand. $\endgroup$
    – nikki
    Aug 15, 2018 at 19:18
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I am only going to answer the first question so:

It says last two sentences so in and in (as in inning) which might qualify to be a homonym.

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  • $\begingroup$ Quite the perceptive answer, but no. $\endgroup$
    – Hazel へいぜる
    Aug 15, 2018 at 19:23
  • $\begingroup$ Ok, well I think I will come back to this later $\endgroup$
    – Duck
    Aug 15, 2018 at 19:24
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This requires a bit of baseball knowledge, and I know the knowledge tag isn't here, and this is a stretch-and-a-half, but could the answer be

SANDMAN?

This seems strange, but it's because

In baseball, the Sandman was Mariano Rivera, legendary Yankees closer who got the nickname for putting most batters he faced to sleep! In sleep terms, the Sandman was a mythical creature who lives only in the dream world, never in awake-land as it were. The choice seems to be between becoming one of the best pitchers to ever play the game, or becoming a mythical being who dominates the world of sleep.

I don't think this is the answer because

either choice sounds pretty cool, although I guess I'd rather be the actual Sandman because Mariano Rivera is retired now.

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  • $\begingroup$ El-Guest, this was a very good guess as always; and very informative. Unfortunately, this is not the answer. Hopefully the hints are helpful. $\endgroup$
    – Hazel へいぜる
    Aug 15, 2018 at 20:42

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