A homophone is a word that sounds exactly like another word, but differs in meaning—and often in spelling. This can lead to confusion, especially when trying to choose the correct word in writing.
Take the word plane, for instance. It can mean a flying vehicle:
“I took the plane home.”
But plane is also a verb meaning to smooth a surface, particularly wood:
“You’ll need a special tool to plane that piece of timber.”
Now consider the word plain, which sounds identical to plane but is spelled differently and carries entirely different meanings. Plain can refer to:
- Something simple or undecorated: “His car was a plain white color.”
- A large area of flat land: “This building site used to be a plain.”
Even though plane and plain sound the same, they are spelled and used differently—making them homophones.
Homophones are distinct from words that merely sound similar or are often confused. For example, accept and except may cause mix-ups in writing, but they are not homophones, as they don’t sound exactly the same. Homophones, by contrast, are pronounced identically, even though their spellings and meanings may vary.
635 Examples of homophones:
A
- ail (to suffer or be unwell), ale (type of beer)
- air (the atmosphere), heir (one who inherits property or title)
- all ready (everyone is prepared), already (by this time)
- allowed (permitted), aloud (spoken out loud)
- assistance (help or aid), assistants (helpers or aides)
- ate (past of eat), eight (the number 8)
- attendance (the act of being present), attendants (people who attend or serve others)
- awl (a pointed tool for piercing leather), all (the entire amount)
B
- bail (security deposit or to remove water), bale (a large bundle)
- bait (lure for catching), bate (to restrain or reduce)
- baize (felt-like green fabric), bays (tree type, horse color, or inlets)
- bald (hairless), balled (formed into a ball), bawled (cried out loudly)
- ball (round object or dance), bawl (to cry or shout)
- band (group or strip), banned (forbidden)
- bar (counter, rod, or legal term), barre (ballet rail)
- bard (poet or storyteller), barred (shut out or blocked)
- bare (uncovered), bear (large animal)
- baron (nobleman), barren (infertile or empty)
- base (foundation or low), bass (low-pitched or type of fish)
- based (founded or situated), baste (to moisten food while cooking or sew loosely)
- basis (foundation or principle), basses (plural of bass – low voices or fish)
- bask (to lie in warmth), Basque (ethnic group or language)
- bay (inlet or tree), bey (Turkish title of rank)
- bazaar (marketplace), bizarre (strange)
- be (to exist), bee (insect)
- beach (sandy shore), beech (type of tree)
- beat (to strike or rhythm), beet (red root vegetable)
- beau (male admirer), bow (to bend or a tied ribbon)
- been (past participle of “be”), bean (edible seed)
- beer (alcoholic drink), bier (coffin stand)
- beetle (insect), betel (plant leaf chewed in Asia)
- bell (ringing instrument), belle (beautiful woman)
- berg (iceberg), burg (fortified town)
- berry (small fruit), bury (to put underground)
- berth (bed on a ship or train), birth (being born)
- bight (curve in a coastline), bite (use teeth on), byte (digital data unit)
- billed (invoiced or with a beak), build (construct)
- bird (winged animal), burred (having rough edges or rolled Rs)
- birr (whirring sound or Ethiopian currency), burr (rough edge or seed case)
- bit (small piece), bitt (post on a ship for tying ropes)
- blew (past of blow), blue (color)
- bloc (group with shared interests), block (solid piece or obstruction)
- blond (fair-haired male or neutral), blonde (fair-haired female)
- boar (wild pig), bore (dull person or to drill)
- board (flat surface or panel), bored (uninterested)
- boarder (lodger), border (edge or boundary)
- bode (to predict), bowed (bent forward or used a bow)
- bold (brave or clear), bowled (threw a ball in cricket)
- bolder (more daring), boulder (large rock)
- bole (tree trunk), boll (seed pod), bowl (round dish)
- born (given birth to), bourn (boundary or stream), borne (carried)
- bouillon (clear soup), bullion (precious metal in bulk)
- bow (bend or weapon), bough (tree branch)
- brae (hillside), bray (donkey’s cry)
- braid (interwoven strands), brayed (cried like a donkey)
- braise (cook in liquid), brays (donkey sounds), braze (join metals)
- brake (stopper), break (to shatter or pause)
- breach (gap or violation), breech (rear part or baby delivery)
- bread (food made from dough), bred (past of breed)
- brewed (made by brewing), brood (group of young animals or to worry)
- brews (makes beer or tea), bruise (skin injury)
- bridal (related to a bride), bridle (horse’s headgear)
- broach (bring up or pierce), brooch (decorative pin)
- broom (sweeping tool), brougham (horse-drawn carriage)
- browse (look casually), brows (eyebrows)
- burger (meat sandwich), burgher (citizen of a town)
- bussed (kissed or transported by bus), bust (sculpture or failure)
- but (however), butt (rear or object of ridicule)
- buy (purchase), by (next to), bye (farewell or automatic advance)
- buyer (purchaser), byer (one who says bye – rare or poetic use)
C
- cache (hidden storage), cash (money)
- calendar (schedule of days), calender (machine for smoothing paper or cloth)
- cannon (large gun), canon (rule or collection of works)
- canter (horse’s gait), cantor (singer in a religious service)
- capital (city or money), capitol (government building)
- caret (proofreading mark ^), carrot (orange vegetable), karat (gold purity measure)
- carol (festive song), carrel (small study booth)
- cart (wheeled vehicle), kart (small racing car)
- caster (spinning container or wheel), castor (type of oil or wheel)
- cedar (type of tree), seeder (machine for planting seeds)
- cede (to give up), seed (plant embryo)
- ceiling (top of a room), sealing (closing tightly)
- cell (small room or unit), sell (to trade for money)
- cellar (basement), seller (person who sells)
- cense (to burn incense), cents (coins), scents (smells), sense (perception or meaning)
- censers (incense burners), censors (people who suppress content), sensors (devices that detect)
- census (population count), senses (means of perception)
- cent (penny coin), scent (an odor), sent (past tense of send
- cereal (breakfast food), serial (sequential)
- cession (act of giving up rights), session (meeting or period of activity)
- chance (possibility), chants (repeated phrases or songs)
- chased (ran after), chaste (pure or virginal)
- cheap (low in price), cheep (short chirping sound)
- check (to examine or mark), cheque (written payment order), Czech (person from the Czech Republic)
- chews (bites repeatedly), choose (select)
- chili (hot pepper), chilly (cold), Chile (South American country)
- choral (related to a choir), coral (marine organism or pink-orange color)
- chorale (hymn or choir piece), corral (enclosure for animals)
- chordate (animal with a spinal cord), cordate (heart-shaped)
- chough (black bird with red legs), chuff (snort or sound of effort)
- chucker (one who throws), chukka (period in polo)
- chute (sloped channel or parachute), shoot (to fire or young plant)
- cirrus (high wispy cloud), serous (watery, like body fluid)
- cist (ancient stone burial box), cyst (fluid-filled sac in body)
- cite (to quote), sight (vision), site (location)
- claimant (person making a claim), clamant (urgent or demanding)
- clause (grammatical unit or legal term), claws (sharp animal nails)
- clew (ball of thread or clue), clue (hint or piece of evidence)
- click (short sound or select), clique (exclusive group)
- climb (to go upward), clime (region or climate)
- close (shut or near), clothes (garments)
- coal (carbon fuel), kohl (eye cosmetic)
- coarse (rough or crude), course (path or direction)
- coat (outer garment), cote (small shelter, especially for animals)
- coax (to persuade), cokes (induces foolishness – rare/slang)
- cocks (male birds or to tilt), cox (boat steerer or rowing leader)
- coffer (strongbox or treasury), cougher (someone who coughs)
- coin (metal currency), quoin (cornerstone or exterior angle block)
- collared (grabbed or wearing a collar), collard (type of leafy green)
- colonel (military rank), kernel (core or seed)
- complacent (self-satisfied), complaisant (willing to please)
- complement (something that completes), compliment (praise)
- concord (agreement), conquered (defeated)
- confectionary (place where sweets are made), confectionery (sweets themselves)
- coo (soft murmur or dove’s sound), coup (seizure of power)
- coop (enclosure for poultry), coupe (two-door car)
- cops (police), copse (small group of trees)
- coquet (to flirt), coquette (flirtatious woman)
- cord (thin rope), cored (had the center removed)
- core (center), corps (military group)
- correspondence (written communication), correspondents (those who write or report)
- cosign (to sign jointly), cosine (trigonometric function)
- council (advisory group), counsel (advice or lawyer)
- cousin (relative), cozen (to deceive)
- coward (fearful person), cowered (shrunk in fear)
- crape (black fabric for mourning), crepe (thin pancake or fabric)
- creak (squeaky sound), creek (small stream)
- crewel (wool embroidery thread), cruel (mean or unkind)
- crews (teams of workers), cruise (sail leisurely), cruse (small jar for oil)
- crows (black birds or boasts), croze (groove for barrel lid)
- crude (raw or unrefined), crewed (manned by a team)
- cue (signal or billiards stick), queue (line)
- currant (small dried fruit), current (flow or present time)
- curser (one who curses), cursor (onscreen pointer)
- cygnet (young swan), signet (seal or stamp)
- cymbal (percussion instrument), symbol (representative sign)
- cypress (type of tree), Cyprus (country in the Mediterranean)
D
- Dane (person from Denmark), deign (to condescend)
- days (24-hour periods), daze (confused state)
- dean (head of a college), dene (narrow valley – chiefly British)
- dear (beloved or expensive), deer (hoofed animal)
- deem (to judge or consider), deme (local population or ancient Greek district)
- defuse (to deactivate or calm), diffuse (to spread out)
- dense (thick or compact), dents (small depressions)
- descent (downward motion or ancestry), dissent (disagreement)
- dental (relating to teeth), dentil (tooth-like architectural molding)
- dependence (reliance), dependents (those relying on someone, e.g. children)
- depravation (moral corruption), deprivation (lack of necessities)
- deviance (abnormal behavior), deviants (people behaving abnormally)
- devisor (person who bequeaths property), divisor (number that divides another)
- dew (morning moisture), due (owed or scheduled)
- die (to stop living), dye (coloring agent)
- disburse (to pay out), disperse (to scatter)
- disc (circular object, often optical), disk (general term, often magnetic)
- discreet (tactful or private), discrete (separate or distinct)
- discussed (talked about), disgust (strong distaste)
- dissidence (disagreement, especially political), dissidents (those who oppose authority)
- djinn (supernatural beings in Arabic lore), gin (alcohol or trap)
- doc (short for doctor), dock (harbor or to deduct)
- doe (female deer), dough (unbaked bread mixture or slang for money)
- doer (someone who acts), dour (gloomy or stern)
- does (plural of doe or present of “do”), doze (light sleep), doughs (plural of dough)
- done (finished), dun (grayish-brown color or to demand payment)
- dost (archaic form of “do”), dust (fine particles)
- douse (to pour liquid on), dowse (to search for water with a divining rod)
- droop (to sag), drupe (fruit with a stone, like a peach)
- dual (twofold), duel (combat between two)
- ducked (bent to avoid), duct (channel for fluid or wires)
- dyeing (coloring something), dying (ceasing to live)
E
- earn (to receive for work), erne (sea eagle), urn (container, often for ashes or liquids)
- eave (part of a roof), eve (evening or day before an event)
- eek (expression of fear), eke (to stretch or supplement, e.g. eke out a living)
- eerie (spooky or strange), eyrie/eyrie (bird of prey’s nest, usually high up)
- elicit (to draw out), illicit (illegal or forbidden)
- elude (to escape), allude (to refer indirectly)
- elusive (hard to catch), allusive (indirectly referring), illusive (deceptive or unreal)
- emerge (to come out), immerge (to go into or plunge into)
- encyst (enclose in a cyst), insist (to demand firmly)
- ensured (made certain), insured (covered by insurance)
- epic (grand narrative or heroic), epoch (period of time)
- equivalence (state of being equal), equivalents (things that are equal in value or meaning)
- ewe (female sheep), yew (tree), you (second person pronoun)
- ewer (pitcher or jug), your (possessive pronoun), you’re (you are)
- exercise (physical activity), exorcise (to drive out evil spirits)
- ewes (female sheep), use (to employ), yews (plural of yew tree)
- eye (organ for seeing), I (first-person pronoun)
- eyed (looked at), I’d (I would or I had)
- eyelet (small hole or ring for a lace), islet (small island)
F
- fade (to lose brightness), fayed (frayed or unraveled fabric)
- fain (willingly or gladly), feign (to pretend)
- faint (weak or pass out), feint (pretended move)
- fair (just or light), fare (price or food)
- farming (growing crops/livestock), pharming (genetically modifying for drugs)
- faro (card game), pharaoh (Egyptian ruler)
- fate (destiny), fête (celebration or party)
- faun (mythical half-goat), fawn (young deer or to flatter)
- faux (false or fake), foe (enemy)
- fay (fairy), fey (strange or otherworldly)
- faze (to disturb), phase (stage or period)
- feat (achievement), feet (plural of foot)
- fends (wards off), fens (marshy land)
- ferule (punishing rod), ferrule (metal ring or cap)
- fiche (data card), fish (aquatic animal)
- fie (expression of disapproval), phi (Greek letter Φ/φ)
- file (organize documents), phial (small bottle)
- filer (one who files), phylar (related to phyla – biology)
- filter (to strain or separate), philtre (magical potion, especially love potion)
- find (discover), fined (penalized with a fee)
- fir (type of tree), fur (animal hair)
- firs (fir trees), furs (animal pelts), furze (spiny yellow-flowered shrub)
- fisher (one who fishes), fissure (narrow crack)
- fishing (catching fish), phishing (online fraud)
- flack (publicist), flak (anti-aircraft fire or criticism)
- flacks (publicists), flax (plant for linen)
- flare (burst of light), flair (natural talent)
- flea (tiny insect), flee (to run away)
- flecks (small spots), flex (bend or tighten muscles)
- flew (past of fly), flu (influenza), flue (chimney duct)
- floe (floating ice), flow (movement)
- florescent (blooming), fluorescent (glowing from light emission)
- flour (powdered grain), flower (blooming plant)
- flus (plural of flu), flues (vents for smoke)
- foaled (gave birth, horse), fold (to bend or crease)
- for (intended to), fore (ahead), four (number 4)
- forbear (refrain), forebear (ancestor)
- foreword (introductory note), forward (ahead or to send on)
- fort (military stronghold), forte (strength or skill)
- forth (outward), fourth (ordinal number 4th)
- foul (dirty or offensive), fowl (bird)
- franc (currency), frank (honest or name)
- frays (fights or wears out), phrase (group of words)
- frees (sets loose), freeze (turn to ice), frieze (decorative band on a wall)
- friar (religious brother), fryer (cooking appliance)
- fungous (having fungus-like qualities), fungus (spore-producing organism)
- furs (animal pelts), furze (thorny shrub), firs (evergreen trees)
G
- gaff (hook or blunder), gaffe (social mistake)
- gage (pledge or something offered), gauge (measure or instrument)
- gait (manner of walking), gate (entryway)
- gamble (risk money or chance), gambol (to skip or frolic)
- gays (homosexual people), gaze (long look)
- genes (DNA units), jeans (denim pants)
- gibe (taunt), jibe (agree or taunt – US usage)
- gilt (gold covering), guilt (feeling of wrongdoing)
- gin (alcoholic drink), jinn (spirit in folklore)
- graft (join or bribe), graphed (charted or diagrammed)
- grate (to shred or irritate), great (excellent or large)
- grater (tool for shredding), greater (more in size or importance)
- greave (piece of armor for the leg), grieve (to mourn)
- greys (gray shades), graze (scrape or feed on grass)
- grill (cooking grate), grille (decorative screen or barrier)
- grip (hold tightly), grippe (old term for flu)
- grisly (horrifying), grizzly (type of bear or grayish)
- groan (moan sound), grown (matured or increased)
- grocer (food seller), grosser (more disgusting)
- guessed (made an estimate), guest (visitor)
- guide (to lead), guyed (mocked or tied with ropes)
- guise (appearance), guys (men or people)
H
- hail (pellets of ice or to greet), hale (healthy and strong)
- hair (strands from the head or body), hare (fast-running animal)
- hall (large room or corridor), haul (to pull or drag)
- halve (to divide in two), have (to possess)
- hangar (airplane storage building), hanger (item for hanging clothes)
- hart (male deer), heart (organ or symbol of love)
- hay (dried grass), hey (attention-grabbing word)
- hays (plural of hay), heys (plural of hey), haze (mist or fog)
- heal (to make well), heel (part of the foot or a command), he’ll (he will or he shall)
- hear (to listen), here (in this place)
- heard (past of hear), herd (group of animals)
- hears (listens), here’s (here is)
- he’d (he would or he had), heed (to pay attention)
- herd (group of animals), hurd (variant of hurdling or barrier – archaic/rare)
- heroin (narcotic drug), heroine (female hero)
- hertz (unit of frequency), hurts (causes pain)
- hew (to chop or cut), hue (color or shade)
- hi (greeting), hie (to hurry – archaic/literary), high (elevated or tall)
- higher (more elevated), hire (to employ)
- him (male pronoun), hymn (religious song)
- hoar (gray with age or frost), whore (sex worker – offensive or vulgar in some uses)
- hoard (a hidden store), horde (large group, often unruly)
- hoarse (rough-voiced), horse (animal)
- hoes (garden tools), hose (tube for water or tights)
- hold (to grip), holed (pierced or made a hole)
- hole (opening), whole (entire or complete)
- holey (full of holes), holy (sacred), wholly (entirely)
- hour (60 minutes), our (belonging to us)
- hours (time periods), ours (possessive of “we”)
- house (dwelling), how’s (how is)
- humerus (upper arm bone), humorous (funny or amusing)
I
- idle (inactive or lazy), idyll (peaceful or romantic scene)
- impassable (cannot be crossed), impassible (incapable of suffering or emotion – rare or theological)
- in (inside), inn (lodging place)
- incidence (rate or occurrence), incidents (events, especially notable or disruptive ones)
- incite (to provoke or stir up), insight (deep understanding)
- indict (to formally accuse), indite (to write or compose – archaic or poetic)
- innocence (state of being not guilty or pure), innocents (people who are innocent)
- iron (metal or to press clothes), ion (charged atom or molecule)
- its (possessive of it), it’s (it is or it has)
J
- jam (fruit spread or to become stuck), jamb (side post of a doorway)
- jewel (precious stone or gem), joule (unit of energy)
K
- knave (dishonest man or male servant – archaic), nave (central part of a church)
- knead (to work dough or massage), kneed (struck with a knee), need (require)
- knew (past tense of know), new (recent or not old)
- knight (armored warrior or title), night (period of darkness)
- knit (to weave yarn or connect closely), nit (louse egg or trivial detail)
- knob (rounded handle), nob (slang for aristocrat or head – British informal)
- knot (tied loop or unit of speed), not (negation word)
- know (to understand or be aware), no (negative response)
- knows (is aware), noes (plural of “no”), nose (part of the face or to sniff)
L
- lacks (is without), lax (loose or careless)
- lade (to load – archaic), laid (past of lay)
- lain (past participle of lie), lane (narrow road)
- lam (to flee – slang), lamb (young sheep)
- lama (Buddhist monk), llama (South American animal)
- laps (plural of lap or to overlap), lapse (slip or error)
- lay (to put down), lei (Hawaiian flower garland), ley (meadow or ley line – mystical energy line)
- lea (meadow), lee (sheltered side)
- leach (to drain or filter), leech (bloodsucking worm or clinger)
- lead (metal or to guide), led (past tense of lead)
- leak (escape of liquid), leek (vegetable)
- lean (thin or to incline), lien (legal claim)
- leant (past of lean – UK), Lent (Christian fasting period)
- leas (meadows), lees (dregs in wine)
- leased (rented out), least (smallest amount)
- lessen (to reduce), lesson (something taught or learned)
- lesser (smaller or lower), lessor (one who leases property)
- levee (embankment to prevent flooding), levy (tax or to impose)
- levees (flood barriers), levies (taxes or enforcements)
- liar (one who lies), lyre (harp-like instrument)
- licence (British noun for permission), license (US noun and verb for permission)
- lichen (fungus-algae organism), liken (to compare)
- licker (one who licks), liquor (alcoholic drink)
- lie (falsehood or recline), lye (caustic substance)
- links (connections or golf course), lynx (wild cat)
- lo (archaic “look!” or attention), low (not high)
- load (something carried), lode (rich source or vein of ore), lowed (made a cow’s sound)
- loads (many amounts), lodes (rich sources)
- loan (borrowed item or money), lone (alone or solitary)
- loaner (something lent temporarily), loner (solitary person)
- loot (stolen goods), lute (stringed instrument)
- luck’s (luck is or luck has), lux (unit of light)
- lumbar (lower back), lumber (wood or to move heavily)
M
- made (created), maid (female domestic worker)
- mail (postal delivery), male (biological sex)
- main (primary), mane (hair on a horse or lion)
- mains (primary supplies), manes (plural of mane or spirits of the dead – Latin root)
- maize (corn), maze (labyrinth)
- mall (shopping center), maul (to injure or handle roughly)
- mandrel (tool shaft or spindle), mandrill (type of monkey)
- manner (way of behaving), manor (large estate)
- marshal (military or law official), martial (relating to war)
- martin (type of bird), marten (weasel-like animal)
- mask (face covering), masque (masked ball or performance)
- mat (floor covering), matte (dull finish)
- material (substance or fabric), materiel (military equipment and supplies)
- mean (intend or unkind), mien (appearance or manner)
- meat (animal flesh), meet (to come together), mete (to allot or measure)
- meatier (more substantial), meteor (shooting star or space rock)
- medal (award), meddle (to interfere)
- metal (hard substance), mettle (inner strength)
- mews (stables or converted homes), muse (to ponder or a creative spirit)
- might (power or possibility), mite (tiny creature or small amount)
- millenary (relating to a thousand years), millinery (women’s hats or hat-making)
- mince (to chop finely), mints (coin-making places or breath candies)
- mind (brain or attention), mined (extracted from the earth)
- miner (worker in a mine), minor (underage or lesser)
- minion (follower), minyan (Jewish quorum of 10 for prayer)
- minks (fur-bearing animals), minx (impish or flirtatious girl)
- miscible (able to mix), missable (able to be missed – informal use)
- missed (did not hit or meet), mist (light fog)
- misses (plural of miss), Mrs. (married woman title), missus (informal for wife or lady)
- moan (groan or complain), mown (cut down, usually grass)
- moat (water-filled ditch), mote (tiny particle)
- mode (method or fashion), mowed (past tense of mow)
- mood (emotional state), mooed (made a cow sound)
- moose (large deer), mousse (dessert or hair product)
- mordant (bitingly sarcastic or dye fixative), mordent (musical ornamentation)
- morn (morning – poetic), mourn (to grieve)
- morning (early part of day), mourning (grieving a loss)
- murderess (female murderer), murderous (extremely violent or deadly)
- murre (sea bird), myrrh (fragrant resin used in incense)
- muscle (body tissue), mussel (shellfish)
- mussed (made messy), must (necessity or past of “mow” – poetic/dated)
- mustard (condiment), mustered (gathered or assembled)
N
- nae (Scottish for “no”), nay (old-fashioned or formal “no”), neigh (horse’s sound)
- naval (relating to ships or navy), navel (belly button)
- neumatic (relating to musical notation using neumes), pneumatic (air-pressurized or inflated)
- none (not any), nun (female member of a religious order)
O
- oar (paddle for rowing), or (a conjunction offering choice), ore (metal-bearing rock)
- ode (lyrical poem), owed (was in debt or due)
- oh (expression of surprise), owe (to be in debt)
- one (the number 1), won (past tense of win)
P
- paced (walked steadily), paste (thick glue or spread)
- packed (filled or put in a container), pact (agreement)
- paid (gave money), payed (nautical: to let out or cover with tar)
- pail (bucket), pale (light in color or faint)
- pain (suffering), pane (glass panel)
- pair (two of a kind), pare (to trim), pear (fruit)
- pall (a covering or gloom), pawl (mechanical catch)
- pan (cooking vessel), panne (velvet fabric with a lustrous finish)
- parasite (organism that lives off another), pericyte (type of cell near blood vessels)
- parlay (to bet winnings), parley (to negotiate or discuss)
- parred (matched a golf score), pard (informal for partner or short for leopard – poetic)
- passable (able to be passed or acceptable), passible (capable of feeling emotion – rare/theological)
- passed (went by or succeeded), past (former or previous time)
- patience (tolerance), patients (people receiving medical care)
- pause (break in activity), paws (animal feet)
- peace (calm or absence of war), piece (portion or part)
- peak (highest point), peek (quick look), pique (resentment or to provoke)
- peal (loud ringing of bells), peel (remove the outer layer)
- pearl (gem from an oyster), purl (knitting stitch or to ripple)
- pedal (foot-operated lever), peddle (to sell)
- peer (look closely or an equal), pier (structure extending into water)
- penance (act of repentance), pennants (flags or banners)
- per (for each), purr (sound a cat makes)
- pi (Greek letter or 3.14), pie (baked dish)
- pic (picture), pick (to choose or tool for digging)
- pidgin (simplified language blend), pigeon (type of bird)
- pistil (part of a flower), pistol (handgun)
- plain (simple or flat land), plane (tool, aircraft, or flat surface)
- plantar (relating to the sole of the foot), planter (container or person who plants)
- pleas (requests), please (polite expression or to satisfy)
- pleural (relating to the lungs), plural (more than one)
- plum (fruit), plumb (to measure depth or vertical)
- pocks (pustules), pox (disease like smallpox)
- pole (long stick or geographic point), poll (survey or vote)
- pommel (knob or handle), pummel (to strike repeatedly)
- populace (the people), populous (densely populated)
- pore (tiny skin opening or to study intently), pour (to flow), poor (lacking money or quality)
- practice (noun – repetition or exercise), practise (verb – British spelling of “to practice”)
- pray (to speak to a deity), prey (victim or target)
- precedence (priority), precedents (earlier examples or rulings)
- premier (prime or first), premiere (first performance or showing)
- presence (state of being present), presents (gifts or shows)
- presser (one who presses), pressor (agent that raises blood pressure)
- pride (self-esteem or group of lions), pried (forced open or snooped)
- prier (someone who pries), prior (earlier or a religious leader)
- pries (opens or inquires), prize (award or something valued)
- prince (royal son), prints (reproductions or impressions)
- principal (chief or school head), principle (fundamental truth)
- profit (financial gain), prophet (one who predicts or speaks divinely)
- pros (professionals or positives), prose (ordinary written language)
- pupal (related to the pupa stage in insects), pupil (student or part of the eye)
Q
- quarts (units of liquid measurement), quartz (a hard mineral)
- quean (disreputable woman – archaic/derogatory), queen (female monarch)
- quince (a yellow fruit), quints (short for quintuplets – five babies born at once)
R
- rack (framework or to torture), wrack (destruction or wreckage)
- raid (sudden attack), rayed (emitted rays)
- rain (precipitation), reign (rule or sovereignty), rein (strap to control a horse)
- raise (to lift or increase), rays (beams of light), raze (to demolish)
- raiser (one who raises), razer (brand name), razor (tool for shaving)
- rancor (bitterness or resentment), ranker (one who ranks or advances in rank)
- rap (music or a knock), wrap (to cover)
- rapped (struck or performed rap), rapt (deeply absorbed), wrapped (covered)
- rapper (musician), wrapper (covering)
- read (to have interpreted text – past tense), red (color)
- read (present tense of to read), reed (plant or woodwind part)
- reads (third person of “read”), reeds (plural of reed)
- real (genuine or actual), reel (spinning device or to stagger)
- recite (to say aloud), resite (to relocate)
- reek (to smell strongly), wreak (to inflict or cause)
- resister (one who resists), resistor (electrical component)
- rest (to relax or what remains), wrest (to force away)
- retch (to gag or heave), wretch (miserable or despicable person)
- review (assessment or critique), revue (theatrical show with skits/music)
- rheumy (watery, especially eyes), roomy (spacious)
- rigger (equipment handler or sailor), rigor (strictness or hardship)
- right (correct or direction), rite (ceremony), wright (craftsperson), write (to form letters or words)
- rime (frost or poetic term for rhyme), rhyme (similar sounding words)
- ring (circular object or sound), wring (to twist)
- ringers (those who ring or impostors), wringers (devices for squeezing)
- rise (to get up), ryes (types of grain)
- road (path or street), rode (past tense of ride), rowed (past tense of row)
- roe (fish eggs or small deer), row (line or to paddle)
- role (function or character), roll (to rotate or list)
- root (plant base), route (path or direction)
- rose (flower or past of rise), rows (lines or to paddle)
- rote (mechanical repetition), wrote (past tense of write)
- rued (regretted), rude (impolite)
- rues (regrets), ruse (trick)
- rum (alcohol), rhumb (nautical line of constant bearing)
- rung (step of a ladder or past of ring), wrung (twisted or squeezed)
- rye (grain), wry (dryly humorous or twisted expression)
S
- sac (a pouch), sack (a bag or to dismiss)
- sachet (small bag of powder or scent), sashay (to strut or walk with flair)
- sacks (plural of sack), sax (short for saxophone)
- sail (canvas for catching wind), sale (discount or exchange of goods)
- sane (mentally sound), Seine (a river in France)
- scene (a view or part of a play), seen (past tense of see)
- scull (rowboat or rowing oar), skull (head bone)
- sea (ocean), see (to view), cee (letter “C”)
- seal (animal or to close tightly), seel (to sew shut an animal’s eyes – archaic)
- seam (stitched line), seem (to appear)
- seamed (joined with a seam), seemed (appeared to be)
- sear (to burn), seer (prophet), sere (withered), cere (fleshy area above a bird’s beak)
- seas (oceans), sees (views), seize (to take hold of)
- sects (religious groups), sex (biological category or act)
- senate (governing body), sennit (plaited straw), sennet (flourish of trumpets – theater term)
- serf (medieval laborer), surf (waves or to ride waves)
- serge (fabric), surge (sudden increase or rush)
- settler (colonist), settlor (one who establishes a trust)
- sew (to stitch), so (thus or very), sow (to plant or a female pig)
- sewer (waste channel or one who sews), suer (someone who sues)
- sews (stitches), sows (plants seeds or female pigs)
- sextan (misspelling or rare form of sextant, a navigation tool), sexton (church caretaker)
- shear (to cut), sheer (steep or pure)
- sheave (bundle of grain or pulleys), shiv (prison knife)
- shoe (footwear), shoo (to chase away)
- shone (gave off light), shown (displayed)
- sic (intentional error or to attack), sick (ill)
- side (edge or part), sighed (exhaled deeply)
- sighs (exhales), size (dimensions)
- sign (symbol or to indicate), sine (trig function), syne (since – Scottish usage)
- signet (seal or small ring), cygnet (young swan)
- sink (to submerge), sync (to match in time)
- sinking (going down), syncing (synchronizing)
- slay (to kill), sleigh (snow vehicle)
- sleight (cleverness), slight (small or insult)
- slew (past of slay or a large number), slough (to shed or a swamp)
- soar (to fly high), sore (painful)
- sole (only or foot bottom), soul (spirit or essence)
- some (a portion), sum (total amount)
- son (male child), sun (star in sky), sunn (a plant or fabric from sunn hemp)
- sonny (diminutive of son), sunny (bright with sunshine)
- sou (small coin), sue (to take legal action)
- source (origin), sauce (condiment)
- spade (digging tool), spayed (neutered)
- specks (tiny spots), specs (glasses or specifications)
- spits (ejects or narrow points of land), spitz (dog breed)
- spoor (animal tracks), spore (reproductive cell)
- stade (old unit of distance), staid (serious), stayed (remained)
- staff (stick or personnel), staph (staphylococcus bacteria)
- stair (step), stare (look intensely)
- stairs (a series of steps), stares (intense looks)
- stake (post or investment), steak (meat cut)
- stanch (to stop flow), staunch (loyal or strong)
- stationary (not moving), stationery (writing materials)
- steal (to take), steel (metal)
- step (movement or relation), Steppe (vast grassland)
- sticks (wood pieces), Styx (mythical river)
- stile (steps over a fence), style (manner or fashion)
- strait (narrow waterway or distress), straight (not curved)
- succour (help – chiefly British), sucker (gullible person or one who sucks)
- suede (soft leather), swayed (tilted or influenced)
- suite (set of rooms or music), sweet (sugary or kind)
- sundae (ice cream dessert), Sunday (day of the week)
- surplice (church vestment), surplus (extra amount)
T
- tacked (fastened with tacks), tact (sensitivity in dealing with others)
- tacks (small nails or changes in direction), tax (a financial charge)
- tail (animal’s rear appendage), tale (story)
- taper (to gradually narrow), tapir (a pig-like animal)
- tare (weight of packaging), tear (rip or drop from the eye)
- taught (instructed), tot (small child), taut (tight)
- tea (beverage), tee (golf peg or T-shirt spelling)
- team (group), teem (overflow or be full of)
- tear (rip or cry), tier (layer or level)
- teas (plural of tea), tease (to mock or provoke), tees (T-shirts or golf pegs)
- tense (tight or grammar form), tents (shelters made of fabric)
- tern (sea bird), turn (change direction)
- Thai (from Thailand), tie (draw or to bind)
- their (belonging to them), there (in that place), they’re (they are)
- theirs (possessive form), there’s (there is)
- threw (past of throw), through (into and out of)
- throe (pang or spasm), throw (to toss)
- throne (royal seat), thrown (past of throw)
- tic (involuntary movement), tick (small bloodsucking insect or mark)
- tied (bound or drew level), tide (ocean current)
- tighten (make tight), titan (giant or powerful figure)
- ’til (contraction of until), till (until or cash drawer)
- timber (wood), timbre (tone quality of sound)
- timbers (pieces of wood), timbers (repeated word; likely keep just one)
- time (measurable period), thyme (herb)
- tire (to become weary or a car wheel), tyre (British spelling of tire – wheel)
- to (preposition), too (also or excessively), two (number 2)
- toad (amphibian), toed (having toes), towed (pulled behind)
- toe (part of foot), tow (to pull something)
- told (past of tell), tolled (rang a bell or collected a toll)
- tole (painted metalware), toll (fee or bell sound)
- ton (2000 pounds), tun (large cask)
- toughed (endured), tuft (small cluster of hair or grass)
- tracked (followed), tract (expanse of land or pamphlet)
- tracks (paths or songs), tracts (pieces of land or pamphlets)
- trade (exchange of goods), trayed (served on a tray – rare)
- tray (flat serving dish), trey (three on dice or cards)
- troop (group of soldiers), troupe (acting or performing group)
- troops (soldiers), troupes (performance groups)
- trussed (tied up), trust (confidence or legal arrangement)
- tuna (fish), tuner (device/person who tunes)
- twill (diagonal weave fabric), ’twill (poetic contraction of “it will”)
V
- vail (to lower, especially as a sign of respect – archaic), vale (valley), veil (fabric covering or to conceal)
- vain (conceited or pointless), vane (weather spinner or blade), vein (blood vessel or mineral line)
- vales (valleys), veils (coverings for face or head)
- vial (small bottle), vile (morally bad), viol (stringed instrument similar to a viola)
- vice (immoral behavior or weakness), vise (clamping tool – US spelling; vice in UK)
- villain (bad character), villein (medieval peasant tied to land)
W
- wade (to walk through water), weighed (measured weight)
- wail (to cry loudly), wale (ridge or stripe on fabric), whale (large sea mammal)
- wain (wagon – archaic), wane (to diminish)
- waist (part of the body), waste (garbage or to squander)
- wait (to stay or delay), weight (heaviness)
- waive (to give up a right), wave (hand motion or ocean swell)
- waiver (legal relinquishment), waver (to hesitate or fluctuate)
- want (to desire), wont (custom or habit – formal/archaic)
- war (armed conflict), wore (past of wear)
- ward (hospital room or guardian role), warred (engaged in war)
- ware (goods or merchandise), wear (to have on), where (in what place)
- warn (to alert), worn (past of wear)
- wart (skin growth), wort (plant or herb)
- way (path or method), weigh (to measure weight)
- we (pronoun for self and others), wee (very small or child’s term for urine)
- weak (not strong), week (seven days)
- weal (raised mark or prosperity), we’ll (we will), wheel (circular object)
- wean (to gradually stop dependency), ween (to suppose – archaic)
- weather (climate), whether (if)
- weave (to interlace or create fabric), we’ve (we have)
- weed (unwanted plant), we’d (we had or we would)
- weighs (measures weight), ways (methods or paths)
- we’re (we are), weir (dam or water barrier)
- wheal (raised swelling), wheel (circular turning object)
- which (refers to a choice), witch (magic practitioner)
- who’s (who is or who has), whose (belonging to whom)
- wind (moving air or to twist), wined (drank wine), whined (complained)
- wood (tree material), would (auxiliary verb for hypothetical or future in the past)
Y
- yoke (wooden harness for animals or symbol of burden), yolk (yellow center of an egg)
- you’ll (you will), Yule (Christmas, especially in old or Norse tradition)
- you’re (you are), yore (long ago or former times), your (possessive form of “you”)
