Homonyms - Spoil (As a Verb and Noun)

1.   (verb) – destroy

Ø      Sam has decided not to let the bad news spoil his morning and went for a jog in the park instead.

Ø      You’ll spoil your appetite for dinner if you have a snack now.

2.   (verb) – to treat someone too well, especially by being generous

Ø     I sometimes spoil myself by having ice-cream for dessert.

Ø     Brenda spoils herself by shopping for bags when she feels  miserable.

3.   (verb) – to allow a child to do or have anything that it wants to.

Ø      Despite being in his 30s, Frank still sulks like a spoilt child when he doesn’t get what he wants.

4.   (noun) – profits

Ø      In the past, the spoils of victory/war included mounds of treasure and land.