Why is the Hole below a Lock?

I am a word that begins with the letter “i.” If you add the letter “a” to me, I become a new word with a different meaning, but that sounds exactly the same. What word am I?

By using all numbers, i.e. 123456789 and subtraction/addition, operators number 100 can be formed in many ways.
Example: 98 + 7 + 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 + 2 - 1 = 100

But if we add a condition use of the number 32 is a must. Then there are limited solutions.
One of such solution is: 9 - 8 + 76 + 54 - 32 + 1 = 100

Can you tell me any other solution?

How many runs at maximum can a batsman score in a normal one-day match? Consider the fact that the conditions are ideal and there are no No Balls, no Wide Balls and no Extras in that match.

Count the number of triangles in the below picture?

In the Wild West, you are challenged into a death match by two bounty hunters nicknamed Golden Revolver (GR) and Killer Boots (KB). You accept the challenge. None of you want to waste any of the bullet and so a certain rules are laid down:

1) All of you will shoot in a given order till the last man standing.
2) Each of you shoots only once upon his turn.
3) If any one of you is injured, the other two will finish him off with an iron rod.
4) The worst shooter of all (which is you) shoots first and the best one shoots at the last.

Now, how will you plan things if you know that you hit every third shot of yours, KB hits every second shot and GR hits every shot ?

Three doctors said that Bill was their brother. Bill says he has no brothers. How many brothers does Bill actually have?

What jumps when it walks and sits when it stands?

What is the word or phrase below?
R | E | A | D

A Japanese ship is sailing in the Indian Ocean. The captain of the ship feels tired and decides to take shower to be rejuvenated. He goes to take the shower after keeping his diamond-studded Rolex watch and gold chain on the table.
When he comes back after 15 minutes, he finds them missing. There are 4 crew members on the ship and he calls them one by one to ask them what they were doing in that duration.

Following are the answers:
1. Crew 'A' who is the cook replies that he was cooking mutton for the crew members.
2. Crew 'B' who is a housekeeper tells that he was sleeping in his room.
3. Crew 'C' who is the engineer says that he was checking on the generator.
4. Crew 'D' who is another housekeeper says that he was correcting the hoisted flag that was put upside down.

It took only a couple of seconds for the captain to find the thief. Can you find the thief too?