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Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs

December 16, 2013 by

Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs

Homo
Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Words that look alike, sound alike, or both but have different meanings are called homonyms, homophones and homographs. The charts below can help you identify some commonly confused words, and the differences between them.

accept – agree to take except – not including/other than
ad – advertisement for product or service add – combine or attach to
advice -recommendations or guidance offered advise – to offer suggestions or guidance
aid – help or assist aide – a person that provides assistance
ail – to be ill or unwell ale – an alcoholic beverage
air – invisible, gaseous substance heir – a person who inherits assets
aisle – a common walkway or passage I’ll – contraction for “I will” isle – small body of land surrounded by water
allusion – an indirect or passing reference illusion – something falsely perceived or interpreted
altar – table used for religious rituals alter – change or cause to change
ate – “eat” or consume in the past tense eight – the written presentation of the number 8
bail – to remove water bail – funds required for the pretrial release of a prisoner bale – a large bundle of single items bound together
band – an object that binds band – a group, as in musical banned -not allowed, prohibited
bare – nude, unclothed bear – large mammal bear – to support or handle
bases – starting or foundation point bases – four goals or points on a baseball field basis – a fundamental principle
beat – to win over or triumph beat – tired, exhausted beet – an edible root
blew – “to blow” in the past tense blue – a descriptive word for color
bread – baked food made from grain bred – produced or reared
buy – pay for or purchase by – close to or through bye – informal goodbye
capital – wealth,as both money and assets capital – chief city capitol – building where legislature meets
ceiling – top interior surface of rooms sealing – fastening or closing securely
cell – small confined space sell – to offer for purchase
cent – one penny, smallest division of a dollar scent – a smell or odor sent – send in the past tense
chews – the act of chewing food choose – select or decide on
cite – to mention, quote or reference sight – visual observation site – place or location
chews – the act of chewing food choose – select or decide on
cite – to mention, quote or reference sight – visual observation site – place or location
coarse – not smooth, rough surfaced course – a route
complement -bring to perfection compliment – express admiration
conduct – a manner of behavior conduct – to lead or manage
council – an assembly of persons counsel – to offer advice, to advise
days – plural form of day daze – state of confusion
dear – valued or admired deer – a common anima
desert – to abandon or leave desert – stretches of arid land dessert – sweet served after a meal
die – expire, end dye – change the color of something
discreet – tactful, respectfully discrete – separate and distinct
dual – double or relating to 2 duel – contest or fight
elicit – evoke or draw out illicit – illegal or forbidden
eminent – distinguished or respected imminent – happening soon
fair – even, impartial fair – event, gathering, exhibition fare – fee for public transportation
find – locate or discover fined – charged money for offense
fir – an evergreen tree fur – a coat or covering of hair
flea – a pesky insect flee – to escape or run
flour – powdered grain flower – blooming part of a plant
for – identifies intended recipient fore – in the front or forward four – the written presentation of the number 4
foreword – preface, words before main document forward – related to direction and movement
grate – to scrape or grind grate – cause irritation great – above normal, significant
groan – low verbal sound grown – matured, increased in size
hall – corridor haul – carry or tow
hear – perceive sound here – this specific place
higher – taller, or more vertically expansive hire – to employ for pay
hoarse – rough, throaty sounding horse – a large animal
its – a pronoun showing possession it’s – the contraction for “it is”
jam – stick or pack tightly jam – fruit preserves jamb – physical part of a door or window
know – to understand a certain subject no – negative, decline
lead – a metal lead – to direct or command led – past tense oflead(commanded)
lessen – to decrease, or diminish lesson – a certain period of learning
lie – to recline, or be prone lie – not the truth lye – chemical in soap
meat – animal flesh as food meet – to encounter, purposely or by chance mete – to give out or dispense
miner – a person who works in a mine minor – a person under the legal age of responsibility minor – lesser in significance
missed – past tense of miss, failed to reach mist – light ground fog
one – the written presentation of the number 1 won – past tense of win, triumphed
pail – a container or bucket pale – not bright, lacking color
pair – two things that belong together pare – cut back, remove or trim pear – edible fruit
passed – past form of pass, proceeded past – a previous time past – to go beyond
patience – tolerance patients – subjects receiving care or treatment
peace – period of calm piece – a part of a whole
plain – treeless, grassy land plain – simple, insignificant plane – an airplane
poor – without wealth pore -minute, or tiny opening a surface pour – to cause to steady, rapid flow of liquid
principal – fundamental, most important principal – lead administrator of a school principle – a general rule
profit – financial gain prophet – a person regarded as a teacher or proclaimer of the will of deities
raise – lift up rays – beams or shafts of light raze – demolish or level
rap – tap briskly rap – hip hop music wrap – enclose, conceal or cover
role – an actor’s part in a play roll – the movement of an object turning over on itself roll – a cylinder formed of non-folded, flexible material
sail – to travel by sailboat(v) or the actual fabric used to catch wind on a sailboat (n) sale – the act of selling an item
scene – a particular setting or location where an event occurs seen – the past particular of the act of visually observing
seam – the line made by the meeting of two joined materials seem – to imply or appear
shear – to cut, or trim sheer – see-through, transparent
soar – to fly high in the air sore – painful or hurting
stair – a single unit of steps stare – gaze at a fixed point for extended time periods
stake – a wooden, pointed piece of wood steak – a certain cut of bee
team – a group of players teem – a large presence of a certain item
threw – “throw” past tense form, propelled through – the constant movement from one point to another
tide – daily or monthly rising and ebbing of seas tied – secured or fastened
vain – conceited, self-absorbed vane – blade attached to rotating axis pushed by air or water vein – the tubes in the circulatory system that carry blood
waist – the section of torso

between ribs and hips

waste – to squander
way – a route or manner weigh – measure mass or heaviness
weak – delicate, liable to break week – a group of seven days
weather – atmospheric conditions in a certain locale whether – identifies intent or options
whine – complain, cry wine – a fruit based alcoholic drink

 

Filed Under: Vocabulary Tagged With: Homographs, Homonyms, Homophones, Vocabulary

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