Which word contains three phonemes?

The correct answer is "watch" because it contains three distinct phonemes: /w/, /ɒ/, and /tʃ/. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound that can distinguish one word from another in a particular language.

In "watch," the initial sound /w/ is followed by the vowel sound /ɒ/ (the short "a" sound), and finally, the ending sound /tʃ/, which is a digraph representing the "ch" sound. Each of these sounds contributes to the pronunciation of the word, allowing for clear articulation and understanding.

The other words contain fewer phonemes. For instance, "play" consists of two phonemes: /p/, /l/, and /eɪ/. "See" has only two phonemes as well: /s/ and /iː/. "Knight" also has just three sounds, but they represent two phonemes due to the silent "k" and the /n/ and /aɪt/ sounds. Thus, "watch" stands out as the word with three phonemes clearly articulated in the pronunciation.