HOMOPHONES
Homophones are two or more words that
sound the same (identical pronunciation), but have different meanings and
spellings. These words are often spelt differently in English too (e.g. pear
vs. pair).
The term homophone comes from Greek ‘homo-’
(meaning: same) and ‘-phone’ (meaning: sound or voice), so the word literaly
means same sound
Let us learn homophones with some
examples:
Homophones we use in our day to day
life:
Accept: agree to receive or do
Except: not including
Ad : A
public promotion of some product or service, advertisement
Add: Make
an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the
Adapt: Adapt or conform oneself to new or different conditions
Adopt: Take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities,
taken into one’s family
Adverse: unfavourable or harmful
Averse: strongly disliking or opposed to
Advice: A recommendation or proposal for an appropriate
course of action
Advise: Inform (somebody) of something
Affect: Influence, cause to change.
Effect: A change which is a result of an action or other cause.
Ail: Cause
bodily suffering to and make sick or indisposed
Ale: A
general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast
Aisle: Passage between two rows of seats
Isle : A small island
Allay: Lessen the intensity of or calm
Alley: A narrow street with walls on both sides
Aloud: Out loud
Allowed: Permitted
Altar: The table in Christian churches where communion
is given
Alter: Make different; cause a transformation, change
Allusion: Passing reference or indirect mention
Illusion: Something that many people believe but is false, fantasy
Aural: Relating to ears or hearing
Oral: Relates
to the mouth or spoken word
Bail: released
from custody (usually on condition that a sum of money
Bale: A
large bundle bound for storage or transport
Ballad: A narrative poem of popular origin
Ballot: A document listing the alternatives that is used in
voting
Bare: Naked
or to uncover
Bear: To
carry or put up with something
Bard: A
lyric poet
Bod : An
alternative name for the body of a human being, anatomy
Bite: Tear
something apart with teeth.
Byte: Unit
of measurement of digital information.
Boar: Wild
pig
Bore: Make
someone bored or disinterested, ‘make a hole using a tool
Born: Having
started a life
Borne: Carried
Brake: A device used to slow down a moving vehicle.
Break: Smash or separate into pieces (or) interval.
Bough: Branch of a tree
Bow: front
of a ship (or) to bend the head/stoop
Bung: A
plug used to close a hole in a barrel or flask
Bunk: Something
that makes no sense; words with no meaning
Bus: A
vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport
Buzz: Sound
of rapid vibration
Buy: in
exchange for payment, purchase
By : In
the neighborhood of, close to
Canvas: Strong type of cloth
Canvass: Seek someone’s vote
Carat : The unit of measurement for the proportion of
gold in an alloy
Carrot: Deep orange edible root of the cultivated carrot
plant
Caught: captured, past tense of catch
Cot
: A small bed that folds up
for storage or transport
Ceiling: The overhead upper surface of a covered space
Sealing: Make tight; secure against leakage
Cell: Small
room for a prisoner, portable telephone
Sell: Give
or hand over something for money.
Check : Examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or
condition
Cheque: A written order directing a bank to pay money
Chilli: A dish of ground beef and chili peppers or
chili powder, often with tomato or kidney beans
Chilly: Appreciably or disagreeably cold
Coarse: Rough or uneven
Course: A line or route along which something travels or moves, Education
imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
Conscious: Knowing and perceiving; having awareness of surroundings and
sensations and thoughts
Conscience: sense of right and wrong
Council: A meeting of people for consultation, committee
Counsel: Give advice to, guidance
Crass: (of persons) so unrefined as to be lacking in
discrimination and sensibility, stupid
Cross: Travel across or pass over
Currant: Dried grape
Current: Happening now.
Dairy: A farm where milk products are produced
Diary: A daily written record of (usually personal)
experiences and observations, Date book
Dawn: The
first light of day, day-break
Don : Put
clothing on one's body, The head of an organized crime family
Dear: Beloved
person, expensive.
Deer: Large
animal with antlers, similar to a small elk or moose.
Desert : Arid land with little or no vegetation
Dessert: A dish served as the last course of a meal, sweet
Dew: Tiny
drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night
Due: Expected
at a certain time
Die: Stop
living.
Dye: To
colour something, substance that adds colour.
Dual: Having
two parts
Duel: Contest
between two participants
Ear : The
sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
Year: A
period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
East : the direction of the sun rises
Yeast: Any of various single-celled fungi that reproduce
asexually by budding or division
Eminent: Standing above others in quality or position, important member
Imminent: upcoming
Eyes: The
organ of sight
Ice : Water
frozen in the solid state
Face : The front of the human head from the forehead to
the chin and ear to ear
Phase: Any distinct time period in a sequence of events
Fair: Very
pleasing to the eye, attractively feminine
Fare: The
sum charged for riding in a public conveyance
Falls: A steep descent of the water of a river(water falls)
False: Not in accordance with the fact, reality or actuality,
untrue
Far: to
or from a great distance in space
For: Appropriate
to; intended for
Farm: Workplace
consisting of farm buildings and cultivated land as a unit
Form: A
particular mode in which something is manifested
Flea: Small
jumping parasitic insect that often lives on dogs or cats.
Flee: Run
away or escape from danger.
Flour: A powder of any material
Flower: A plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms
Flu : Influenza.
Flue: Duct
or pipe for smoke.
Fore: Front,
in front of, before
Four: a
numerical number
Frock: A one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice
Frog : bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping;
semiaquatic and terrestrial species
God: The
supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient
originator
Guard: A military unit serving to protect some place or
person
Gorilla: Large ground-dwelling ape
Guerrilla: Unauthorised and irregular (military) action, partisan fighter
Hair: A
covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of
threadlike structures
Hare: Swift,
timid, long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit;
Heir: A
person who is entitled by law or by the terms of a will to inherit the estate
of another, inheritor
Heal: become
healthy again
Heel: Back
part of a foot or shoe below the ankle
Hear: Perceive
(sound) via the auditory sense
Here: at
this place
Him : Refers
to a male object in a sentence
Hymn: Religious
song
Hole : Gap or space in the ground or a surface.
Whole: Full, entire.
Horse : Four-legged animal often used for riding or work
Hoarse: Describes a rough or husky voice due to a sore throat
Hour: Period
of 60 minutes
Our : Belonging
to the speaker and one or more other person
Inn: A
hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers
In : To
or toward the inside of
Jewel: A precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a
piece of jewelry
Joule: watt second
Knight: Originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and
chivalry
Night : The time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark
outside
Knot: Any
of various fastenings formed by looping and tying a rope
Not: negation,
cancellation
Know: possess
knowledge or information about
Now : In
these times, at the present time
Lack: The
state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
Lakh: hundred
thousand(one lakh)
Lain: Be
located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
Lane: A
narrow way or road
Last: Conclusive
in a process or progression
Lost: Not
gained or won
Leak: An
accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape
Leek: Long
white and green stick-like vegetable
Light: Any device serving as a source of illumination
Lite : Having relatively few calories
Line: A
spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent
Lion: assumed
as a king of the jungle
Links: connections or points of contact
Lynx : Type of medium-sized wild cat
Loose: Set free or unfasten
Lose: Be
deprived of or fail to win
Maize: indian corn
Maze : Something jumbled or confused
Male:
masculine person
mail (computing) a system of
electronic message communication via internet
Meat: Food
from the flesh of an animal.
Meet: Arrange
or happen to cross paths with somebody.
Midst: The location of something surrounded by other things
Mist: Light
fog
Morning : The time period between dawn and noon, dawn
Mourning: State of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one,
sorry feeling
Moose : northern deer with enormous flattened antlers in the male
Mousse: A rich, frothy, creamy dessert made with whipped
egg whites and heavy cream
Moot: Open
to argument or debate
Mute: A
device used to soften the tone of a musical instrument, voiceless
Muscle : One of the contractile organs of the body
Mussel: Black marine bivalves usually steamed in wine
None: Not at all
or in no way
Nun : A
woman religious, sister(christianity)
Oar: An
implement used to propel or steer a boat
Ore: A
mineral that contains metal that is valuable enough to be mined
One: Used
of a single unit or thing; not two or more
Won: past
tense of win , victory
Pale: Very
light colored; highly diluted with white
Pail: A
roughly cylindrical vessel that is open at the top, bucket
Pair: A
set of two things (often used together).
Pear: Old World
tree having sweet gritty-textured juicy fruit; widely cultivated in many
varieties
Palate: Roof of the mouth
Palette: Board for mixing colours
Paper: A material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from
wood, rags or
Pepper: black pepper
Pass : Go across or through
Pause: Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
Paws : animal foot with pads and claws
Peace: The state prevailing during the absence of war, peace of
mind
Piece: A serving that has been cut from a larger portion, part
Peal: A
deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells)
Peel: Strip
the skin off
Picture: Graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made
by applying paints to a surface
Pitcher: An open vessel with a handle and a spout for pouring
Plain: Simple, without flavour, large flat area of land with
few trees.
Plane: Aeroplane.
Plait: A hairdo formed by braiding or
twisting the hair
Plate: Dish on which food is served or
from which food is eaten
Pole: Long,
slender piece of wood
Poll: Vote
in an election
Prescribe: Suggest, order or authorize (a drug or medical device) for use
by a particular patient
Proscribe: Command against
Principal: The educator who has executive authority for a school, most
important
Principle: A rule or standard especially of good behavior
Rice: Grains
used as food either unpolished or more often polished
Rise: A
movement upward
Rain : Drops of fresh water that fall as precipitation
from clouds
Reign: A period during which something or somebody is dominant
or powerful
Read: Interpret
something that is written or printed
Reed: A
tall plant which grows in water or marshy ground
Real: Capable
of being treated as fact, actual fact
Reel: A
roll of photographic film holding a series of frames to be projected by a
movie projector
Right: Correct, just, opposite of left.
Rite : Ritual.
Write: Mark letters, words or symbols on paper with a pen or
pencil.
Ring : jewel worn on the finger, the bell sound
Wring: Twist and press out of shape, wrench
Rood: Representation
of the cross on which Jesus died
Rude: Socially
incorrect in behavior
Root : Underground part of a plant or tree, source or origin,
set value
Route: Way, course or path
Rough: Full of hardship or trials, harsh
Ruff : A high tight collar
Sail: Traverse
or travel on (a body of water), voyage
Sale: The
state of being purchasable; offered or exhibited for selling
Sauce: Liquid used to add flavour to food.
Source: Origin, cause of something.
Sea: A
division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
See: Observe
as if with an eye
Cereal: Grain used for food (e.g. wheat), type of dried breakfast
eaten with milk.
Serial: A story or programme delivered in instalments, taking
place in series.
Sew: Join
or repair with needle and thread
Sow: Plant
by scattering seeds on the ground.
Shore: The land along the edge of the sea or a body of water
Sure : Confident that one is right.
Sigh: breathe
deeply and heavily
Shy : Wary
and distrustful; disposed to avoid persons or things, timid
Sight: Ability to see
Site: Location
or place
Sole: Variety
of marine flatfish (or) The underside of footwear or a golf club.
Soul: Spirit,
immortal part of a human.
Some: Relatively
many but unspecified in number
Sum : A
quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers
Son: a
male child
Sun: The
star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the
solar system
Stake:
A strong wooden post
with a sharp point at one end.
Steak: Prime cut of meat, usually beef.
Stationary: Standing still
Stationery: Paper cut to an appropriate size for writing letters;
usually with matching envelopes
Steady: Not liable to fluctuate or especially to fall, stable
Study : Applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject
(especially by reading)
Steal: Take (illegally) without permission.
Steel: Common type of metal use in construction.
Storey: Level of a building
Story: Tale or account
Straight: Neatly arranged; not disorderly, in a straight line
Strait
: A narrow channel of
the sea joining two larger bodies of water
Suite: Set of rooms or technical instruments.
Sweet: Candy, food with a sugary taste.
Tare: The
weight of a motor vehicle, railroad car, or aircraft without its fuel
or cargo
Tear: "tear
the paper", tear drop(crying)
Tail: Any
projection that resembles the tail of an animal
Tale: A
trivial lie(story)
Threw: Past tense form of ‘throw’.
Through: Moving in one side and out of the other.
Thyme: Type of aromatic herb
Time : measure of seconds/minutes/hours/days/etc
Tide: Alternate
rising and falling of the sea.
Tied: Past
tense form of ‘tie’
Tear: To
separate or be separated by force(tear the paper)
Tier: One
of two or more layers one atop another
Tire: Lose
interest or become bored with something or somebody
Tyre: "automobile
tyres are usually made of rubber and filled with compressed air
To : In
the direction of
Too: To
a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
Two: Being
one more than one
Tortuous: Complex of full or twists
Torturous: Suffering of full or pain
Tray: An
open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food, dish
serving plate
Trey: One
of four playing cards in a deck having three pips, trio
Vain: Inflated
sense of self or appearance, producing no result.
Vane: Weathervane,
broad blade attached to rotating wheel/axis.
Vein: Type
of blood vessel.
Vat : A
large open vessel for holding or storing liquids(tub), Value Added Tax
Watt: A
unit of power equal to 1 joule per second
What: Indicates
incomprehension, a request to repeat for clarification
Waist: Part of the body or measurement around the hips.
Waste: Use or expend carelessly, rubbish or unwanted material.
Wait
: Stay in one place and
anticipate or expect something, hold
Weight: A system of units used to express the weight of
something, The heaviness of a person or thing
Ware: Manufactured
items of a certain type.
Wear: Have
clothing on one’s body, damage over time through use/friction.
Weak: Deficient
or lacking in some skill, Opposite of strong.
Week: 7
days.
Weather: Relates to sunshine, rain, wind etc
Whether: Expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives(this or that)
Wail : High-pitched cry of pain, anger or sadness
Whale: Largest (marine) mammal on Earth
Which: Used when asking for information about people or things
Witch: Woman with magic powers, usually evil ones
Whine: Long high-pitched cry, complain.
Wine : Alcoholic drink made from fermented grapes.
Wood : The hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees
Would: Used to express a polite request