A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but differs in meaning. The words may be spelled the same, such as rose (flower) and rose (past tense of "rise"), or differently, such as carat, caret, and carrot, or to, two, and too. Homophones that are spelled the same are also both homographs and homonyms. Homophones that are spelled differently are also called heterographs. The term "homophone" may also apply to units longer or shorter than words, such as phrases, letters or groups of letters that are pronounced the same as another phrase, letter or group of letters.
The word derives from the Greek homo- (ὁμο-), "same", and phōnḗ (φωνή), "voice, utterance"..
Given Below are some homophones with their meanings.
accept
except
Accept means “to receive.” Except means “to exclude.”
e.g. Everyone except Joaquin accepted her apology.
advice
advise
Advice is a noun (which rhymes with ice) and advise is a verb (which rhymes with lies).
e.g. I need your advice.
I advise you to bring bottled water.
affect
effect
Affect is a verb which means “to influence.” Effect is a noun which means “the outcome or result.” When used as a verb, effect means “to produce a result.”
e.g. The injury won’t affect her performance.
The song had a calming effect on the baby.
The medicine effected a complete recovery.
all ready already
All ready means “completely prepared” or that everyone or everything is prepared. Already means “before the time specified.”
e.g. We were all ready for the results.
I ate already.
allude
elude
Allude means “to refer indirectly or casually.” Elude means “to avoid or escape.”
e.g. Writers often allude to Shakespeare.
The bandits continue to elude the police.
allusion
illusion
An allusion is an indirect or casual reference. An illusion is false idea or image.
amoral
immoral
Amoral means either not subject to or lacking moral distinctions. For instance, logic or pure mathematics can be seen as amoral. Immoral means violating conscience or public morality: plagiarism and other kinds of cheating are immoral. Note that ethical is the term to use when referring to practices in professions.
ante-
anti-
Ante is a prefix meaning “before” or “in front of.” Anti is a prefix meaning “hostile to” or “against.”
e.g. anteroom, antecedent
antiwar, antipathy
are
our
Are is the form of “to be” used with you, we, and they. Our is a possessive pronoun that means “belonging to us.”
e.g. Our dogs are fast.
beside
besides
Beside is a preposition that means “next to.” As a preposition, besides means “in addition to” or “other than”; as an adverb, besides means “also” or “moreover.”
e.g. The notepad was beside the telephone.
They offer many flavours besides vanilla.
I’m want to go to sleep; besides, it’s late.
choose
chose
Choose means “to select” and rhymes with “booze.” Chose is the past-tense form of this verb and rhymes with “suppose.”
e.g. Yesterday I chose pasta but today I choose rice.
complement
compliment
Complement means “to complete” and compliment means “to express praise.” Complimentary is an adjective that means “free of charge.”
e.g. They complimented her on the sash that complemented her dress.
conscience
conscientious
conscious
Conscience (a noun) is the recognition of right and wrong. Conscientious is an adjective that means “careful” or “thorough.” Conscious (adj.) means “awake” or “aware.”
e.g. Sharon was conscious that Marty’s conscience was troubled, but she conscientiously avoided asking him about it.
decent
descent
dissent
Decent is an adjective that connotes propriety or respectability. Descent refers to a plunge downwards or to ancestry. Dissent means “disagreement.”
desert
dessert
As a verb, desert means “to abandon”; as a noun, desert refers to a barren place. Dessert is the last course of a meal.
discreet
discrete
Discreet means “tactful” or “prudent” and can connote secrecy. Discrete means “distinct” or “separate.”
elicit
illicit
The verb elicit means “to draw forth.” The adjective illicit means “illegal.”
faze
phase
Faze, meaning “to worry or disconcert” is a slang term that you shouldn’t use in formal essays. Phase has a number of specialised scientific meanings, but tends to refer to a stage in a process.
have
of
off
Of is often mistaken for the sound of have in compound verb tenses.
e.g. they must have been, would have been
Do not use “of” after “off” in phrases like: They walked off the field, jumped off the bed, etc.
human
humane
Human can be a noun referring to a person and is preferred to “man” or “mankind” because it is inclusive. As an adjective, human refers to the qualities of the human race. Humane is an adjective that refers to kindness, benevolence, sympathy, or civilisation.
immanent
imminent
eminent
Eminent means “distinguished.” Imminent means “about to happen.” Immanent means “pervading” or “existing within.”
e.g. He was an eminent scholar.
The exam period is imminent.
The room’s immanent tension made her anxious.
its
it’s
Its is a possessive pronoun, meaning “belonging to it.” It’s is a contraction, meaning “it is.” Avoid using contractions in formal essays.
e.g. The dog scratched its ear.
It’s a lovely day.
lose
loose
Lose is a verb that rhymes with “news.” Loose is chiefly an adjective and rhymes with “moose.”
e.g. Don’t lose your mittens.
My winter clothes are loose.
may be
maybe
May be is a verb phrase. Maybe is an adjective.
e.g. You may be right.
Maybe you are right.
nauseous
nauseated
Nauseous means “producing nausea” and nauseated means “enduring nausea.”
e.g. The nauseous smell of garbage left me feeling nauseated.
persecute
prosecute
Persecute means to harass, maltreat, or oppress. Prosecute can mean “to carry out” or “to take legal action against.”
precede
proceed
To precede is “to go ahead of.” To proceed is “to go forward.”
predominant
predominate
Predominant means “superior in power, effectiveness, number, or degree.” Predominate means “to be in control, to prevail or to be superior.”
e.g. She was the predominant competitor.
She predominated over the meeting.
principal
principle
As an adjective, principal means “chief” or “primary.” As a noun, principal means “the chief official” and may also mean “the capital.” The noun principle means “a fundamental truth.”
respectable
respectful
respective
Respectable means “deserving of respect.” Respectful means “showing respect.” Respective means “relating to each” and connotes relativity.
e.g. 70% is a respectable grade.
Each daughter was respectful to her respective mother.
than
then
Than is used to make comparisons whereas then refers to a point in time.
their
there
they’re
Their is the possessive form of “they.” There means “in that place.” They’re means “they are”: since it is a contraction, it should not be used in formal essays.
e.g. They’re waiting for their tickets over there.
though
thorough threw
through
Though means “however” or “despite the fact.” Thorough means “completely done.” Threw is the past tense of “to throw.” Through indicates movement from one side to another.
e.g. They ate though they weren’t hungry.
She made thorough revisions to her draft.
He threw a ball.
She searched through the house for her socks.
to
too
two
To is a preposition. Too is an adverb meaning “excessively” and two is a number.
e.g. It was too late in the evening to watch two movies.
who’s
whose
As a contraction, who’s (an abbreviated form of who is) should not appear in formal essays. Whose indicates possession: Whose book is this?
you’re
your
You’re is another contraction, meaning “you are.” Your means “belonging to you.”
e.g. You’re showing your fear.
This below is a collection of homophones that are most commonly mistaken for each other
The word derives from the Greek homo- (ὁμο-), "same", and phōnḗ (φωνή), "voice, utterance"..
Given Below are some homophones with their meanings.
accept
except
Accept means “to receive.” Except means “to exclude.”
e.g. Everyone except Joaquin accepted her apology.
advice
advise
Advice is a noun (which rhymes with ice) and advise is a verb (which rhymes with lies).
e.g. I need your advice.
I advise you to bring bottled water.
affect
effect
Affect is a verb which means “to influence.” Effect is a noun which means “the outcome or result.” When used as a verb, effect means “to produce a result.”
e.g. The injury won’t affect her performance.
The song had a calming effect on the baby.
The medicine effected a complete recovery.
all ready already
All ready means “completely prepared” or that everyone or everything is prepared. Already means “before the time specified.”
e.g. We were all ready for the results.
I ate already.
allude
elude
Allude means “to refer indirectly or casually.” Elude means “to avoid or escape.”
e.g. Writers often allude to Shakespeare.
The bandits continue to elude the police.
allusion
illusion
An allusion is an indirect or casual reference. An illusion is false idea or image.
amoral
immoral
Amoral means either not subject to or lacking moral distinctions. For instance, logic or pure mathematics can be seen as amoral. Immoral means violating conscience or public morality: plagiarism and other kinds of cheating are immoral. Note that ethical is the term to use when referring to practices in professions.
ante-
anti-
Ante is a prefix meaning “before” or “in front of.” Anti is a prefix meaning “hostile to” or “against.”
e.g. anteroom, antecedent
antiwar, antipathy
are
our
Are is the form of “to be” used with you, we, and they. Our is a possessive pronoun that means “belonging to us.”
e.g. Our dogs are fast.
beside
besides
Beside is a preposition that means “next to.” As a preposition, besides means “in addition to” or “other than”; as an adverb, besides means “also” or “moreover.”
e.g. The notepad was beside the telephone.
They offer many flavours besides vanilla.
I’m want to go to sleep; besides, it’s late.
choose
chose
Choose means “to select” and rhymes with “booze.” Chose is the past-tense form of this verb and rhymes with “suppose.”
e.g. Yesterday I chose pasta but today I choose rice.
complement
compliment
Complement means “to complete” and compliment means “to express praise.” Complimentary is an adjective that means “free of charge.”
e.g. They complimented her on the sash that complemented her dress.
conscience
conscientious
conscious
Conscience (a noun) is the recognition of right and wrong. Conscientious is an adjective that means “careful” or “thorough.” Conscious (adj.) means “awake” or “aware.”
e.g. Sharon was conscious that Marty’s conscience was troubled, but she conscientiously avoided asking him about it.
decent
descent
dissent
Decent is an adjective that connotes propriety or respectability. Descent refers to a plunge downwards or to ancestry. Dissent means “disagreement.”
desert
dessert
As a verb, desert means “to abandon”; as a noun, desert refers to a barren place. Dessert is the last course of a meal.
discreet
discrete
Discreet means “tactful” or “prudent” and can connote secrecy. Discrete means “distinct” or “separate.”
elicit
illicit
The verb elicit means “to draw forth.” The adjective illicit means “illegal.”
faze
phase
Faze, meaning “to worry or disconcert” is a slang term that you shouldn’t use in formal essays. Phase has a number of specialised scientific meanings, but tends to refer to a stage in a process.
have
of
off
Of is often mistaken for the sound of have in compound verb tenses.
e.g. they must have been, would have been
Do not use “of” after “off” in phrases like: They walked off the field, jumped off the bed, etc.
human
humane
Human can be a noun referring to a person and is preferred to “man” or “mankind” because it is inclusive. As an adjective, human refers to the qualities of the human race. Humane is an adjective that refers to kindness, benevolence, sympathy, or civilisation.
immanent
imminent
eminent
Eminent means “distinguished.” Imminent means “about to happen.” Immanent means “pervading” or “existing within.”
e.g. He was an eminent scholar.
The exam period is imminent.
The room’s immanent tension made her anxious.
its
it’s
Its is a possessive pronoun, meaning “belonging to it.” It’s is a contraction, meaning “it is.” Avoid using contractions in formal essays.
e.g. The dog scratched its ear.
It’s a lovely day.
lose
loose
Lose is a verb that rhymes with “news.” Loose is chiefly an adjective and rhymes with “moose.”
e.g. Don’t lose your mittens.
My winter clothes are loose.
may be
maybe
May be is a verb phrase. Maybe is an adjective.
e.g. You may be right.
Maybe you are right.
nauseous
nauseated
Nauseous means “producing nausea” and nauseated means “enduring nausea.”
e.g. The nauseous smell of garbage left me feeling nauseated.
persecute
prosecute
Persecute means to harass, maltreat, or oppress. Prosecute can mean “to carry out” or “to take legal action against.”
precede
proceed
To precede is “to go ahead of.” To proceed is “to go forward.”
predominant
predominate
Predominant means “superior in power, effectiveness, number, or degree.” Predominate means “to be in control, to prevail or to be superior.”
e.g. She was the predominant competitor.
She predominated over the meeting.
principal
principle
As an adjective, principal means “chief” or “primary.” As a noun, principal means “the chief official” and may also mean “the capital.” The noun principle means “a fundamental truth.”
respectable
respectful
respective
Respectable means “deserving of respect.” Respectful means “showing respect.” Respective means “relating to each” and connotes relativity.
e.g. 70% is a respectable grade.
Each daughter was respectful to her respective mother.
than
then
Than is used to make comparisons whereas then refers to a point in time.
their
there
they’re
Their is the possessive form of “they.” There means “in that place.” They’re means “they are”: since it is a contraction, it should not be used in formal essays.
e.g. They’re waiting for their tickets over there.
though
thorough threw
through
Though means “however” or “despite the fact.” Thorough means “completely done.” Threw is the past tense of “to throw.” Through indicates movement from one side to another.
e.g. They ate though they weren’t hungry.
She made thorough revisions to her draft.
He threw a ball.
She searched through the house for her socks.
to
too
two
To is a preposition. Too is an adverb meaning “excessively” and two is a number.
e.g. It was too late in the evening to watch two movies.
who’s
whose
As a contraction, who’s (an abbreviated form of who is) should not appear in formal essays. Whose indicates possession: Whose book is this?
you’re
your
You’re is another contraction, meaning “you are.” Your means “belonging to you.”
e.g. You’re showing your fear.
This below is a collection of homophones that are most commonly mistaken for each other
- accessary, accessory
- ad, add
- ail, ale
- air, heir
- aisle, I'll, isle
- all, awl
- allowed, aloud
- alms, arms
- altar, alter
- arc, ark
- aren't, aunt
- ate, eight
- auger, augur
- auk, orc
- aural, oral
- away, aweigh
- awe, oar, or, ore
- axel, axle
- aye, eye, I
- bail, bale
- bait, bate
- baize, bays
- bald, bawled
- ball, bawl
- band, banned
- bard, barred
- bare, bear
- bark, barque
- baron, barren
- base, bass
- bay, bey
- bazaar, bizarre
- be, bee
- beach, beech
- bean, been
- beat, beet
- beau, bow
- beer, bier
- bel, bell, belle
- berry, bury
- berth, birth
- bight, bite, byte
- billed, build
- bitten, bittern
- blew, blue
- bloc, block
- boar, bore
- board, bored
- boarder, border
- bold, bowled
- boos, booze
- born, borne
- bough, bow
- boy, buoy
- brae, bray
- braid, brayed
- braise, brays, braze
- brake, break
- bread, bred
- brews, bruise
- bridal, bridle
- broach, brooch
- bur, burr
- but, butt
- buy, by, bye
- buyer, byre
- calendar, calender
- call, caul
- canvas, canvass
- cast, caste
- caster, castor
- caught, court
- caw, core, corps
- cede, seed
- ceiling, sealing
- cell, sell
- censer, censor, sensor
- cent, scent, sent
- cereal, serial
- cheap, cheep
- check, cheque
- choir, quire
- chord, cord
- cite, sight, site
- clack, claque
- clew, clue
- climb, clime
- close, cloze
- coal, kohl
- coarse, course
- coign, coin
- colonel, kernel
- complacent, complaisant
- complement, compliment
- coo, coup
- cops, copse
- council, counsel
- cousin, cozen
- creak, creek
- crews, cruise
- cue, kyu, queue
- curb, kerb
- currant, current
- cymbol, symbol
- dam, damn
- days, daze
- dear, deer
- descent, dissent
- desert, dessert
- deviser, divisor
- dew, due
- die, dye
- discreet, discrete
- doe, doh, dough
- done, dun
- douse, dowse
- draft, draught
- dual, duel
- earn, urn
- eery, eyrie
- ewe, yew, you
- faint, feint
- fah, far
- fair, fare
- farther, father
- fate, fête
- faun, fawn
- fay, fey
- faze, phase
- feat, feet
- ferrule, ferule
- few, phew
- fie, phi
- file, phial
- find, fined
- fir, fur
- fizz, phiz
- flair, flare
- flaw, floor
- flea, flee
- flex, flecks
- flew, flu, flue
- floe, flow
- flour, flower
- foaled, fold
- for, fore, four
- foreword, forward
- fort, fought
- forth, fourth
- foul, fowl
- franc, frank
- freeze, frieze
- friar, fryer
- furs, furze
- gait, gate
- galipot, gallipot
- gallop, galop
- gamble, gambol
- gays, gaze
- genes, jeans
- gild, guild
- gilt, guilt
- giro, gyro
- gnaw, nor
- gneiss, nice
- gorilla, guerilla
- grate, great
- greave, grieve
- greys, graze
- grisly, grizzly
- groan, grown
- guessed, guest
- hail, hale
- hair, hare
- hall, haul
- hangar, hanger
- hart, heart
- haw, hoar, whore
- hay, hey
- heal, heel, he'll
- hear, here
- heard, herd
- he'd, heed
- heroin, heroine
- hew, hue
- hi, high
- higher, hire
- him, hymn
- ho, hoe
- hoard, horde
- hoarse, horse
- holey, holy, wholly
- hour, our
- idle, idol
- in, inn
- indict, indite
- it's, its
- jewel, joule
- key, quay
- knave, nave
- knead, need
- knew, new
- knight, night
- knit, nit
- knob, nob
- knock, nock
- knot, not
- know, no
- knows, nose
- laager, lager
- lac, lack
- lade, laid
- lain, lane
- lam, lamb
- laps, lapse
- larva, lava
- lase, laze
- law, lore
- lay, ley
- lea, lee
- leach, leech
- lead, led
- leak, leek
- lean, lien
- lessen, lesson
- levee, levy
- liar, lyre
- licence, license
- licker, liquor
- lie, lye
- lieu, loo
- links, lynx
- lo, low
- load, lode
- loan, lone
- locks, lox
- loop, loupe
- loot, lute
- made, maid
- mail, male
- main, mane
- maize, maze
- mall, maul
- manna, manner
- mantel, mantle
- mare, mayor
- mark, marque
- marshal, martial
- marten, martin
- mask, masque
- maw, more
- me, mi
- mean, mien
- meat, meet, mete
- medal, meddle
- metal, mettle
- meter, metre
- might, mite
- miner, minor, mynah
- mind, mined
- missed, mist
- moat, mote
- mode, mowed
- moor, more
- moose, mousse
- morning, mourning
- muscle, mussel
- naval, navel
- nay, neigh
- nigh, nye
- none, nun
- od, odd
- ode, owed
- oh, owe
- one, won
- packed, pact
- packs, pax
- pail, pale
- pain, pane
- pair, pare, pear
- palate, palette, pallet
- pascal, paschal
- paten, patten, pattern
- pause, paws, pores, pours
- pawn, porn
- pea, pee
- peace, piece
- peak, peek, peke, pique
- peal, peel
- pearl, purl
- pedal, peddle
- peer, pier
- pi, pie
- pica, pika
- place, plaice
- plain, plane
- pleas, please
- plum, plumb
- pole, poll
- poof, pouffe
- practice, practise
- praise, prays, preys
- principal, principle
- profit, prophet
- quarts, quartz
- quean, queen
- rain, reign, rein
- raise, rays, raze
- rap, wrap
- raw, roar
- read, reed
- read, red
- real, reel
- reek, wreak
- rest, wrest
- retch, wretch
- review, revue
- rheum, room
- right, rite, wright, write
- ring, wring
- road, rode
- roe, row
- role, roll
- roo, roux, rue
- rood, rude
- root, route
- rose, rows
- rota, rotor
- rote, wrote
- rough, ruff
- rouse, rows
- rung, wrung
- rye, wry
- saver, savour
- spade, spayed
- sale, sail
- sane, seine
- satire, satyr
- sauce, source
- saw, soar, sore
- scene, seen
- scull, skull
- sea, see
- seam, seem
- sear, seer, sere
- seas, sees, seize
- sew, so, sow
- shake, sheikh
- shear, sheer
- shoe, shoo
- sic, sick
- side, sighed
- sign, sine
- sink, synch
- slay, sleigh
- sloe, slow
- sole, soul
- some, sum
- son, sun
- sort, sought
- spa, spar
- staid, stayed
- stair, stare
- stake, steak
- stalk, stork
- stationary, stationery
- steal, steel
- stile, style
- storey, story
- straight, strait
- sweet, suite
- swat, swot
- tacks, tax
- tale, tail
- talk, torque
- tare, tear
- taught, taut, tort
- te, tea, tee
- team, teem
- tear, tier
- teas, tease
- terce, terse
- tern, turn
- there, their, they're
- threw, through
- throes, throws
- throne, thrown
- thyme, time
- tic, tick
- tide, tied
- tire, tyre
- to, too, two
- toad, toed, towed
- told, tolled
- tole, toll
- ton, tun
- tor, tore
- tough, tuff
- troop, troupe
- tuba, tuber
- vain, vane, vein
- vale, veil
- vial, vile
- wail, wale, whale
- wain, wane
- waist, waste
- wait, weight
- waive, wave
- wall, waul
- war, wore
- ware, wear, where
- warn, worn
- wart, wort
- watt, what
- wax, whacks
- way, weigh, whey
- we, wee, whee
- weak, week
- we'd, weed
- weal, we'll, wheel
- wean, ween
- weather, whether
- weaver, weever
- weir, we're
- were, whirr
- wet, whet
- wheald, wheeled
- which, witch
- whig, wig
- while, wile
- whine, wine
- whirl, whorl
- whirled, world
- whit, wit
- white, wight
- who's, whose
- woe, whoa
- wood, would
- yaw, yore, your, you're
- yoke, yolk
- you'll, yule
