Ough

one combination of letters, multiple pronounciations

The farmer coughed [1] up; his boy took cash and went on furlough [2], leaving the borough [3], riding in a brougham [4]. He behaved not as he ought [5], spending the dough [2] in wild living (he bought [5] drink and food and established thoroughly [3] unwise friendships); soon he was left with nought [5]. A drought [6] brought [5] a famine, and everyone was starving, which was rather rough [7].

The boy took a job feeding pigs and fought [5] off his longing to eat their tough [7] pods direct from the trough [1], even though [2] their skins had been sloughed [7]. Then he had a thought [5] and came to his senses. ‘My father’s workers have enough [7] to eat; I shall return and be one of his hired men, as I am no longer worthy to be called a son.’

He travelled, doughtily [6], ploughed [6] through [4] a slough [6], and sought [5] help as a chough [7] flew by and the wind soughed [7] in the boughs [6]. While he was a long way off, there was a hiccough [8] in his plans. His father saw him beyond the lough [9], and ran off [1] to him. He caught [5] up [8] with him, got hold of him and gave hugs [3], kisses, a new [4] coat (oh [2], without a ruff [7]), a ring (big rock [9]!), shoes (buffed [7] to a shine) and a party, which took [4] place out [6] in the courtyard [5]. He wrought [5] havoc to the fatted calf and said ‘This my son was lost, but is found; he is alive again, although [2] we thought [5] he was dead!’

Rough [7] pronunciation guide:  

[1] off   [2] oh   [3] uh   [4] oo   [5] or  

[6] ow  [7] uff   [8] up   [9] ok (ochh Scottish) 

NB ‘brougham’ is still a form of carriage (and has been since the day of the monsyllbles)