Homophones Examples
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. They can often lead to confusion, especially in written language.
List of Homophones Examples
- Ail – Ale
- Air – Heir
- Aisle – Isle
- Allowed – Aloud
- Altar – Alter
- Arc – Ark
- Ascent – Assent
- Ate – Eight
- Aught – Ought
- Band – Banned
- Bare – Bear
- Barr – Bar
- Be – Bee
- Beach – Beech
- Beat – Beet
- Beau – Bow
- Beer – Bier
- Bell – Belle
- Berth – Birth
- Bight – Bite
- Billed – Build
- Blue – Blew
- Boar – Bore
- Board – Bored
- Bold – Bowled
- Bough – Bow
- Brake – Break
- Bread – Bred
- Brewed – Brood
- Bridal – Bridle
- Burrow – Borough
- But – Butt
- Buy – By
- Call – Caul
- Canon – Cannon
- Capital – Capitol
- Carat – Carrot
- Cast – Caste
- Cede – Seed
- Cell – Sell
- Cent – Scent
- Cere – Seer
- Chased – Chaste
- Choir – Quire
- Cite – Sight
- Clause – Claws
- Climb – Clime
- Close – Clothes
- Coarse – Course
- Complement – Compliment
- Counsel – Council
- Creak – Creek
- Cue – Queue
- Dear – Deer
- Dew – Due
- Die – Dye
- Discreet – Discrete
- Doe – Dough
- Dual – Duel
- Earn – Urn
- Elicit – Illicit
- Eye – I
- Faun – Fawn
- Ferry – Fairy
- Find – Fined
- Fir – Fur
- Flea – Flee
- Flew – Flu
- Floe – Flow
- Flour – Flower
- For – Four
- Fore – Four
- Forth – Fourth
- Gait – Gate
- Gilt – Guilt
- Grate – Great
- Grease – Greece
- Groan – Grown
- Guessed – Guest
- Hair – Hare
- Hall – Haul
- Hangar – Hanger
- Hart – Heart
- Heal – Heel
- Hear – Here
- Heard – Herd
- Hew – Hue
- Higher – Hire
- Him – Hymn
- Hoard – Horde
- Hole – Whole
- Holy – Wholly
- Hour – Our
- Idle – Idol
- Incite – Insight
- Jam – Jamb
- Jewel – Joule
- Kernel – Colonel
- Key – Quay
- Knave – Nave
- Knead – Need
- Knew – New
- Knight – Night
- Knot – Not
- Know – No
- Lade – Laid
- Lain – Lane
- Lay – Lei
- Lead – Led
- Leak – Leek
- Lean – Lien
- Leased – Least
- Lessen – Lesson
- Lie – Lye
- Links – Lynx
- Loan – Lone
- Made – Maid
- Mail – Male
- Main – Mane
- Maize – Maze
- Mall – Maul
- Marshal – Martial
- Manner – Manor
- Mantle – Mantel
- Mark – Marque
- Marries – Marries
- Meat – Meet
- Medal – Metal
- Mews – Muse
- Might – Mite
- Miner – Minor
- Moan – Mown
- Morning – Mourning
- Muscle – Mussel
- Mustard – Mustered
- Naval – Navel
- Nay – Neigh
- None – Nun
- Oar – Ore
- Oh – Owe
- Pail – Pale
- Pain – Pane
- Pair – Pear
- Palace – Pallet
- Passed – Past
- Patience – Patients
- Pause – Paws
- Peace – Piece
- Peak – Peek
- Pedal – Peddle
- Peer – Pier
- Plain – Plane
- Plum – Plumb
- Pole – Poll
- Pore – Pour
- Praise – Prays
- Pray – Prey
- Principal – Principle
- Profit – Prophet
- Quean – Queen
- Quarts – Quartz
- Quire – Choir
- Rain – Reign
- Raise – Raze
- Rap – Wrap
- Raw – Roar
- Read – Reed
- Real – Reel
- Red – Read
- Retch – Wretch
- Right – Rite
- Ring – Wring
- Road – Rode
- Role – Roll
- Root – Route
- Rose – Rows
- Rung – Wrung
- Rye – Wry
- Sail – Sale
- Scene – Seen
- Sea – See
- Sealing – Ceiling
- Seam – Seem
- Serf – Surf
- Shoo – Shoe
- Side – Sighed
- Sight – Site
- Sink – Sync
- Slay – Sleigh
- Slew – Slough
- So – Sow
- Sole – Soul
- Some – Sum
- Son – Sun
- Stair – Stare
- Stake – Steak
- Stationary – Stationery
- Steal – Steel
- Step – Steppe
- Storey – Story
- Suit – Suite
- Sweet – Suite
- Tacks – Tax
- Tail – Tale
- Tare – Tear
- Team – Teem
- Tear – Tier
- Their – There
- Threw – Through
- Throes – Throws
- Thyme – Time
- Tide – Tied
- To – Two
- Toe – Tow
- Told – Tolled
- Toller – Taller
- Vale – Veil
- Vain – Vein
- Vary – Very
- Wail – Whale
- Waist – Waste
- Wait – Weight
- War – Wore
- Warn – Worn
- Way – Weigh
- Weak – Week
- Wear – Where
- Weather – Whether
- We’d – Weed
- Were – Weir
- Wet – Whet
- Whine – Wine
- Who’s – Whose
- Woe – Whoa
- Won – One
- Wood – Would
- Yolk – Yoke
- You – Yew
- Yore – Your
- Buy – Bye
- Caught – Court
- Flower – Flour
- Here – Hear
- Pair – Pare
- Their – There
Homophones with meaning and sentences
- Ail – Ale
- Ail: To suffer from illness.
- He was starting to ail after the long journey.
- Ale: A type of beer.
- They served local ale at the pub.
- Ail: To suffer from illness.
- Air – Heir
- Air: The invisible gaseous substance surrounding Earth.
- She opened the window to let in some fresh air.
- Heir: A person who inherits something.
- He is the heir to his father’s estate.
- Air: The invisible gaseous substance surrounding Earth.
- Aisle – Isle
- Aisle: A passage between rows of seats.
- She walked down the aisle in the church.
- Isle: A small island.
- They spent their vacation on a remote isle.
- Aisle: A passage between rows of seats.
- Allowed – Aloud
- Allowed: Permitted.
- Pets are not allowed in the restaurant.
- Aloud: Spoken out loud.
- She read the story aloud to the class.
- Allowed: Permitted.
- Altar – Alter
- Altar: A table used in religious ceremonies.
- They placed flowers on the altar.
- Alter: To change something.
- He had to alter his travel plans.
- Altar: A table used in religious ceremonies.
- Arc – Ark
- Arc: A part of a curve.
- The bridge forms an arc over the river.
- Ark: A large boat or vessel.
- Noah built an ark to survive the flood.
- Arc: A part of a curve.
- Ascent – Assent
- Ascent: The act of rising or climbing.
- The ascent to the mountain peak was challenging.
- Assent: Agreement or approval.
- He nodded in assent.
- Ascent: The act of rising or climbing.
- Ate – Eight
- Ate: Past tense of eat.
- She ate breakfast at 7 a.m.
- Eight: The number 8.
- They arrived at eight o’clock.
- Ate: Past tense of eat.
- Aught – Ought
- Aught: Anything or nothing.
- If you need aught, let me know.
- Ought: Should.
- You ought to apologize.
- Aught: Anything or nothing.
- Band – Banned
- Band: A group of musicians.
- The band played at the concert.
- Banned: Forbidden.
- Smoking is banned in public places.
- Band: A group of musicians.
- Bare – Bear
- Bare: Without covering.
- He walked barefoot on the sand.
- Bear: A large mammal.
- They spotted a bear in the woods.
- Bare: Without covering.
- Barr – Bar
- Barr: A surname or title.
- The lawyer, Mr. Barr, presented the case.
- Bar: A counter where drinks are served.
- They met at the bar for a drink.
- Barr: A surname or title.
- Be – Bee
- Be: To exist.
- To be or not to be, that is the question.
- Bee: An insect that makes honey.
- The bee buzzed around the flowers.
- Be: To exist.
- Beach – Beech
- Beach: A sandy shore by the sea.
- They spent the day at the beach.
- Beech: A type of tree.
- The beech tree provided shade.
- Beach: A sandy shore by the sea.
- Beat – Beet
- Beat: To strike repeatedly.
- She beat the drum loudly.
- Beet: A type of vegetable.
- They made salad with fresh beet.
- Beat: To strike repeatedly.
- Beau – Bow
- Beau: A boyfriend or admirer.
- She introduced her beau to her family.
- Bow: To bend forward.
- He gave a bow after his performance.
- Beau: A boyfriend or admirer.
- Beer – Bier
- Beer: An alcoholic drink.
- He ordered a cold beer at the bar.
- Bier: A frame for carrying a coffin.
- They placed the coffin on the bier.
- Beer: An alcoholic drink.
- Bell – Belle
- Bell: A hollow object that makes a ringing sound.
- She rang the bell to get attention.
- Belle: A beautiful woman.
- She was the belle of the ball.
- Bell: A hollow object that makes a ringing sound.
- Berth – Birth
- Berth: A sleeping place on a ship or train.
- He booked a berth on the sleeper train.
- Birth: The act of being born.
- They celebrated the birth of their child.
- Berth: A sleeping place on a ship or train.
- Bight – Bite
- Bight: A bend in a coast.
- They sailed around the bight of the bay.
- Bite: To use teeth to cut.
- He took a big bite of the apple.
- Bight: A bend in a coast.
- Billed – Build
- Billed: Charged an amount.
- He was billed for the repairs.
- Build: To construct.
- They plan to build a new house.
- Billed: Charged an amount.
- Blue – Blew
- Blue: A color.
- She wore a blue dress.
- Blew: Past tense of blow.
- The wind blew all night.
- Blue: A color.
- Boar – Bore
- Boar: A wild pig.
- The hunters saw a boar in the forest.
- Bore: To make someone uninterested.
- He tends to bore people with his stories.
- Boar: A wild pig.
- Board – Bored
- Board: A flat piece of wood or other material.
- They nailed the board to the wall.
- Bored: Feeling uninterested.
- She felt bored during the lecture.
- Board: A flat piece of wood or other material.
- Bold – Bowled
- Bold: Courageous or daring.
- He made a bold decision.
- Bowled: Past tense of bowl, as in a game.
- She bowled a strike.
- Bold: Courageous or daring.
- Bough – Bow
- Bough: A large branch of a tree.
- The squirrel leapt from one bough to another.
- Bow: To bend forward as a gesture of respect.
- He gave a polite bow to the audience.
- Bough: A large branch of a tree.
- Brake – Break
- Brake: A device for slowing or stopping a vehicle.
- He stepped on the brake to avoid hitting the deer.
- Break: To separate into pieces.
- Be careful not to break the glass.
- Brake: A device for slowing or stopping a vehicle.
- Bread – Bred
- Bread: A staple food made from flour and water.
- She baked fresh bread every morning.
- Bred: Past tense of breed, meaning to produce offspring.
- They bred horses on the farm.
- Bread: A staple food made from flour and water.
- Brewed – Brood
- Brewed: Made by soaking, boiling, and fermenting.
- He brewed a pot of strong coffee.
- Brood: A family of young animals, especially birds.
- The hen protected her brood of chicks.
- Brewed: Made by soaking, boiling, and fermenting.
- Bridal – Bridle
- Bridal: Related to a bride or wedding.
- She chose a beautiful dress for her bridal shower.
- Bridle: A harness for controlling a horse.
- He put the bridle on the horse before riding.
- Bridal: Related to a bride or wedding.
- Burrow – Borough
- Burrow: A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal.
- The rabbit disappeared into its burrow.
- Borough: An administrative division in a town or city.
- She lives in the borough of Brooklyn.
- Burrow: A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal.
- But – Butt
- But: Used to introduce a contrasting idea.
- He wanted to join, but he was too tired.
- Butt: The thick end of something.
- He put out his cigarette butt in the ashtray.
- But: Used to introduce a contrasting idea.
- Buy – By
- Buy: To purchase something.
- She decided to buy the new phone.
- By: Indicates the means or agency of an action.
- They traveled by car.
- Buy: To purchase something.
- Call – Caul
- Call: To speak or shout to someone.
- He decided to call his friend.
- Caul: The membrane covering a fetus at birth.
- The baby was born with a caul.
- Call: To speak or shout to someone.
- Canon – Cannon
- Canon: A collection of literary or artistic works.
- The novel is part of the literary canon.
- Cannon: A large, heavy gun used in warfare.
- They fired the cannon during the reenactment.
- Canon: A collection of literary or artistic works.
- Capital – Capitol
- Capital: A city that serves as the center of government.
- Paris is the capital of France.
- Capitol: A building where the legislature meets.
- The capitol building is a historic landmark.
- Capital: A city that serves as the center of government.
- Carat – Carrot
- Carat: A unit of weight for precious stones.
- The ring has a 2-carat diamond.
- Carrot: An orange root vegetable.
- She added a carrot to the salad.
- Carat: A unit of weight for precious stones.
- Cast – Caste
- Cast: To throw something.
- She cast her fishing line into the lake.
- Caste: A social class or level.
- The caste system has different levels.
- Cast: To throw something.
- Cede – Seed
- Cede: To give up power or territory.
- The country decided to cede the disputed land.
- Seed: A plant embryo that can grow into a new plant.
- They planted a seed in the garden.
- Cede: To give up power or territory.
- Cell – Sell
- Cell: A small room or basic unit of life.
- He was held in a prison cell.
- Sell: To exchange for money.
- They decided to sell their car.
- Cell: A small room or basic unit of life.
- Cent – Scent
- Cent: A unit of currency.
- The item costs fifty cents.
- Scent: A smell or odor.
- She loved the scent of roses.
- Cent: A unit of currency.
- Cere – Seer
- Cere: To wrap in waxed cloth.
- The document was carefully cered and sealed.
- Seer: A person who sees or predicts the future.
- The seer made a prophecy about the king.
- Cere: To wrap in waxed cloth.
- Chased – Chaste
- Chased: Pursued or followed.
- The cat chased the mouse around the room.
- Chaste: Pure or virtuous.
- She led a chaste life, free from vice.
- Chased: Pursued or followed.
- Choir – Quire
- Choir: A group of singers.
- The church choir sang beautifully.
- Quire: 25 sheets of paper.
- He bought a quire of high-quality paper.
- Choir: A group of singers.
- Cite – Sight
- Cite: To quote or refer to something.
- He had to cite several sources in his paper.
- Sight: The ability to see.
- The sight of the mountains took his breath away.
- Cite: To quote or refer to something.
- Clause – Claws
- Clause: A part of a sentence.
- The contract had a special clause about termination.
- Claws: The sharp nails of an animal.
- The cat sharpened its claws on the tree.
- Clause: A part of a sentence.
- Climb – Clime
- Climb: To go up or ascend.
- They decided to climb the hill.
- Clime: A region with a particular climate.
- He moved to a warmer clime for his health.
- Climb: To go up or ascend.
- Close – Clothes
- Close: To shut.
- Please close the door behind you.
- Clothes: Items worn to cover the body.
- She bought new clothes for the trip.
- Close: To shut.
- Coarse – Course
- Coarse: Rough in texture.
- The fabric felt coarse against her skin.
- Course: A path or direction.
- They plotted their course across the sea.
- Coarse: Rough in texture.
- Complement – Compliment
- Complement: Something that completes or goes well with something.
- The wine was a perfect complement to the meal.
- Compliment: An expression of praise.
- She received a compliment on her new dress.
- Complement: Something that completes or goes well with something.
- Counsel – Council
- Counsel: Advice or guidance.
- She sought legal counsel before signing the contract.
- Council: An assembly or advisory body.
- The city council met to discuss the new regulations.
- Counsel: Advice or guidance.
- Creak – Creek
- Creak: A squeaky sound, often from wood.
- The old door creaked as it opened.
- Creek: A small stream.
- They set up their tent by the creek.
- Creak: A squeaky sound, often from wood.
- Cue – Queue
- Cue: A signal for action.
- That was his cue to start the music.
- Queue: A line of people or things.
- There was a long queue at the ticket counter.
- Cue: A signal for action.
- Dear – Deer
- Dear: Loved or cherished.
- She is very dear to me.
- Deer: A wild animal with antlers.
- They spotted a deer in the forest.
- Dear: Loved or cherished.
- Dew – Due
- Dew: Tiny drops of water on surfaces in the morning.
- The grass was wet with morning dew.
- Due: Expected or required.
- The assignment is due tomorrow.
- Dew: Tiny drops of water on surfaces in the morning.
- Die – Dye
- Die: To cease living.
- The plant will die without water.
- Dye: To color something.
- She decided to dye her hair red.
- Die: To cease living.
- Discreet – Discrete
- Discreet: Tactful or careful in actions.
- He was discreet about his plans.
- Discrete: Separate or distinct.
- The data was divided into discrete categories.
- Discreet: Tactful or careful in actions.
- Doe – Dough
- Doe: A female deer.
- The doe and her fawn grazed peacefully.
- Dough: A mixture of flour and water used in baking.
- She kneaded the dough to make bread.
- Doe: A female deer.
- Dual – Duel
- Dual: Consisting of two parts.
- She has dual citizenship.
- Duel: A formal fight between two people.
- The rivals decided to settle their differences in a duel.
- Dual: Consisting of two parts.
- Earn – Urn
- Earn: To receive money for work done.
- She works hard to earn a living.
- Urn: A container, often for holding ashes.
- The urn held her grandmother’s ashes.
- Earn: To receive money for work done.
- Elicit – Illicit
- Elicit: To draw out a response.
- The teacher tried to elicit answers from the students.
- Illicit: Illegal or forbidden by law.
- They were caught engaging in illicit activities.
- Elicit: To draw out a response.
- Eye – I
- Eye: The organ of sight.
- He has a sharp eye for detail.
- I: The pronoun used for oneself.
- I enjoy reading books.
- Eye: The organ of sight.
- Faun – Fawn
- Faun: A mythical creature, part human, part goat.
- The statue depicted a faun playing a flute.
- Fawn: A young deer.
- The fawn followed closely behind its mother.
- Faun: A mythical creature, part human, part goat.
- Ferry – Fairy
- Ferry: A boat that carries people or goods.
- They took a ferry across the river.
- Fairy: A mythical creature with magical powers.
- The child believed in fairies.
- Ferry: A boat that carries people or goods.
- Find – Fined
- Find: To locate or discover.
- She was thrilled to find her lost ring.
- Fined: To be penalized with a monetary charge.
- He was fined for parking illegally.
- Find: To locate or discover.
- Fir – Fur
- Fir: A type of evergreen tree.
- The forest was full of tall fir trees.
- Fur: The hair on an animal’s body.
- The cat’s fur was soft and fluffy.
- Fir: A type of evergreen tree.
- Flea – Flee
- Flea: A small, parasitic insect.
- The dog had to be treated for fleas.
- Flee: To run away from danger.
- The villagers had to flee from the wildfire.
- Flea: A small, parasitic insect.
- Flew – Flu
- Flew: Past tense of fly.
- The birds flew south for the winter.
- Flu: Short for influenza, an illness.
- He stayed home because he had the flu.
- Flew: Past tense of fly.
- Floe – Flow
- Floe: A large sheet of floating ice.
- The polar bear rested on the ice floe.
- Flow: The movement of a liquid.
- The river flow was calm and steady.
- Floe: A large sheet of floating ice.
- Flour – Flower
- Flour: A powder made by grinding grains.
- She used flour to bake the cake.
- Flower: The blossom of a plant.
- The garden was full of blooming flowers.
- Flour: A powder made by grinding grains.
- For – Four
- For: A preposition used to indicate purpose.
- She brought a gift for her friend.
- Four: The number after three.
- There are four apples on the table.
- For: A preposition used to indicate purpose.
- Fore – Four
- Fore: Toward the front.
- The fore part of the ship was damaged.
- Four: The number after three.
- She has four books on her desk.
- Fore: Toward the front.
- Forth – Fourth
- Forth: Outward or forward.
- They set forth on their journey.
- Fourth: The ordinal number after third.
- Her birthday is on the fourth of July.
- Forth: Outward or forward.
- Gait – Gate
- Gait: A person’s manner of walking.
- He had a slow, steady gait.
- Gate: A hinged barrier used to close an opening.
- She opened the gate to enter the garden.
- Gait: A person’s manner of walking.
- Gilt – Guilt
- Gilt: Covered with gold or golden color.
- The frame was gilt and looked elegant.
- Guilt: A feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing.
- He felt a deep sense of guilt for his actions.
- Gilt: Covered with gold or golden color.
By understanding the differences between homophones, you can improve your writing and avoid common mistakes. Always double-check your work to ensure you’ve used the correct word.