Homophones are words that sound alike, but are different in spelling and meaning. English is a crazy language where one word can have different meanings and different words can be pronounced alike. This craziness is most evident in English Homophones.
Examples of English homophones
The following riddle offers an interesting example of the use of homophones:
Anyone who has read Shakespeare’s Macbeth will never forget the Three Witches, with their chappy fingers, skinny lips and beards. But what if you happen to see them all together? Will you be able to recognize each one of them?
Oh! No. You won’t be able to say which witch is which.
Meaning of the word homophone
The word ‘homophone’ is formed by combining Greek words homos which means ‘same’ and phone which means ‘sound’. So a homophone is “a word pronounced the same as another.”
Here is an extensive list of Homophones in English. Search a word to find other words that are pronounced alike.
More Homophone Riddles
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Summary:
This resource covers common spelling errors including accept/except, ei/ie, noun plurals, and –ible/able.
Many words sound alike but mean different things when put into writing. This list will help you distinguish between some of the more common words that sound alike. Click on any of the blue underlined links to open a longer and more complete definition of the word in a new window.
Forms to remember
Accept, Except
- accept = verb meaning to receive or to agree:
He accepted their praise graciously.
- except = preposition meaning all but, other than:
Everyone went to the game except Alyson.
We are currently updating these resources, but for more information on these words, plus exercises, see our document on accept and except.
Affect, Effect
- affect = verb meaning to influence:
Will lack of sleep affect your game?
- effect = noun meaning result or consequence:
Will lack of sleep have an effect on your game?
- effect = verb meaning to bring about, to accomplish:
Our efforts have effected a major change in university policy.
A memory-aid for affect and effect is RAVEN: Remember, Affect is a Verb and Effect is a Noun.
We are currently updating these resources, but for more information on these words, plus exercises, see our document on affect and effect.
Advise, Advice
- advise = verb that means to recommend, suggest, or counsel:
I advise you to be cautious.
- advice = noun that means an opinion or recommendation about what could or should be done:
I’d like to ask for your advice on this matter.
Conscious, Conscience
- conscious= adjective meaning awake, perceiving:
Despite a head injury, the patient remained conscious.
- conscience = noun meaning the sense of obligation to be good:
Chris wouldn’t cheat because his conscience wouldn’t let him.
Idea, Ideal
- idea = noun meaning a thought, belief, or conception held in the mind, or a general notion or conception formed by generalization:
Jennifer had a brilliant idea—she’d go to the Writing Lab for help with her papers!
- ideal = noun meaning something or someone that embodies perfection, or an ultimate object or endeavor:
Mickey was the ideal for tutors everywhere.
- ideal = adjective meaning embodying an ultimate standard of excellence or perfection, or the best:
Jennifer was an ideal student.
Its, It’s
- its = possessive adjective (possessive form of the
pronoun it):The crab had an unusual growth on its shell.
- it’s = contraction for it is or it has (in a verb phrase):
It’s still raining; it’s been raining for three days.
(Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)
Lead, Led
- lead = noun referring to a dense metallic element:
The X-ray technician wore a vest lined with lead.
- led = past-tense and past-participle form of the verb to lead, meaning to guide or direct:
The evidence led the jury to reach a unanimous decision.
Than, Then
| Than | used in comparison statements: He is richer than I. used in statements of preference: I would rather dance than eat. used to suggest quantities beyond a specified amount: Read more than the first paragraph. |
| Then | a time other than now: He was younger then. She will start her new job then. next in time, space, or order: First we must study; then we can play. suggesting a logical conclusion: If you’ve studied hard, then the exam should be no problem. |
Their, There, They’re
- Their = possessive pronoun:
They got their books.
- There = that place:
My house is over there.
(This is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)
- They’re = contraction for they are:
They’re making dinner.
(Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)
To, Too, Two
- To = preposition, or first part of the infinitive form of a verb:
They went to the lake to swim.
- Too = very, also:
I was too tired to continue. I was hungry, too.
- Two = the number 2:
Two students scored below passing on the exam.
Two, twelve, and between are all words related to the number 2, and all contain the letters tw.
Too can mean also or can be an intensifier, and you might say that it contains an extra o («one too many»)
We’re, Where, Were
- We’re = contraction for we are:
We’re glad to help.
(Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)
- Where = location:
Where are you going?
(This is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)
- Were = a past tense form of the verb be:
They were walking side by side.
Your, You’re
- Your = possessive pronoun:
Your shoes are untied.
- You’re = contraction for you are:
You’re walking around with your shoes untied.
(Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)
I/E Rule
Write I before E
Except after C
Or when it sounds like an A
As in «neighbor» and «weigh»
i before e: relief, believe, niece, chief, sieve, frieze, field, yield
e before i: receive, deceive, ceiling, conceit, vein, sleigh, freight, eight
Exceptions
seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure, conscience, counterfeit, forfeit, neither, science, species, sufficient
Please see our exercises to practice these rules.
-ible, -able Rule
| -ible | -able |
| If the root is not a complete word, add -ible.
aud + ible = audible Examples:
|
If the root is a complete word, add -able.
accept + able = acceptable Examples:
If the root is a complete word ending in -e, drop the final -e and add -able. excuse — e+ able = excusable Examples:
|
Some exceptions:
- contemptible
- digestible
- flexible
- responsible
- irritable
- inevitable
Try some exercises for spelling -ible and -able correctly.
Please note we are in the process of revising our exercises. They will eventually be altered to reflect those revisions.
Вызывают ли у вас сложности такие схожие по написанию и звучанию слова, как «than» и «then», «its» и «it’s», «lose» и «loose» и другие? В этой статье преподаватель английского языка Кен объяснит нам значения и различия слов, которые часто вызывают путаницу у его студентов.
Are you one of those who, when you write, seem to be unsure whether you’ve written the right word? If you are, there are no surprises there! English is replete with words that sound alike and because of this, people get confused. Here is a list of some of the most commonly confused words:
Its / It’s: the first is a possessive pronoun which means something belongs to something else. It’s, on the other hand, is a short form of «it is»
The dress is new and its design is unconventional.
Lose / Loose: The first one is a verb that means to misplace something or unable to win, whereas the second one is an adjective that means too big in size
I don’t want to lose in this game.
He’s wearing a loose shirt.
Than / Then: «Than» is used in comparisons as in, whereas «then» is used to show time or sequence.
She’s taller than him.
He left the room, then went immediately outside
Whose / Who’s: The first is a possessive pronoun which means «belonging to», while «who’s» is a short form of «who is».
Compliment / Complement: The former means something good that you say about others, whereas, the latter means something that completes another.
She received compliments for her exemplary performance.
Her jewellery is a great complement to her outfit.
The next time you use these words, make sure you write the correct ones. Always proofread your work so you won’t cause confusion to others.
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Last Update: Jan 03, 2023
This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!
Asked by: Solon Gibson
Score: 4.6/5
(24 votes)
Words that having similar sounds are called homonyms. Within the category of homonyms are two commonly confused concepts: homographs and homophones.
What are the sounding words?
Examples of these sound words include:
- bam.
- bang.
- clang.
- clank.
- clap.
- clatter.
- click.
- clink.
What are some badass words?
badass
- agitator.
- rebel.
- demagogue.
- dissident.
- fighter.
- frondeur.
- renegade.
- sparkplug.
What are 2 words that sound the same?
What Is a Homophone? As mentioned above, sets of words like “you’re” and “your” are called homophones. The root of that word, homo-, means “same,” and the root phone- means “sound.” Homophones are two words that sound the same, but have different meanings.
Can you give me a list of Homographs?
Homograph Examples
- agape – with mouth open OR love.
- bass – type of fish OR low, deep voice.
- bat — piece of sports equipment OR an animal.
- bow – type of knot OR to incline.
- down – a lower place OR soft fluff on a bird.
- entrance – the way in OR to delight.
- evening – smoothing out OR after sunset.
- fine – of good quality OR a levy.
44 related questions found
What is homophonic mean?
having the same sound. Music. having one part or melody predominating (opposed to polyphonic).
Which word is pronounced the same as one?
A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and/or spelling. “Flower” and “flour” are homophones because they are pronounced the same but you certainly can’t bake a cake using daffodils. Continue reading…
What is polysemy English?
When a symbol, word, or phrase means many different things, that’s called polysemy. The verb «get» is a good example of polysemy — it can mean «procure,» «become,» or «understand.» … Generally, polysemy is distinguished from simple homonyms (where words sound alike but have different meanings) by etymology.
What are same words with different meanings?
When words are spelled the same and sound the same but have different meanings, then they are called homonyms.
What are the 10 homonyms?
10 Homonyms with Meanings and Sentences
- Cache – Cash:
- Scents – Sense:
- Chile – Chili:
- Choir – Quire:
- Site – Sight:
- Facts- Fax:
- Finnish – Finish:
What are homonyms words?
Homonyms may be words with identical pronunciations but different spellings and meanings, such as to, too, and two. Or they may be words with both identical pronunciations and identical spellings but different meanings, such as quail (the bird) and quail (to cringe).
What is a word that is spelled the same but have different meanings?
Homophones are words that sound the same but are different in meaning or spelling. Homographs are spelled the same, but differ in meaning or pronunciation. Homonyms can be either or even both. … Welcome to homophones, homographs, and homonyms.
Which word has many meanings?
Homonyms, or multiple-meaning words, are words that have the same spelling and usually sound alike, but have different meanings (e.g. dog bark, tree bark).
What are polysemous words?
A polysemous word is a word that has different meanings that derive from a common origin; a homograph is a word that has different meanings with unrelated origins. Polysemous words and homographs constitute a known problem for language learners.
What are Polysemantic words?
Definitions of polysemantic word. a word having more than one meaning. synonyms: polysemant, polysemous word. type of: word. a unit of language that native speakers can identify.
What is a correct pronunciation?
Pronunciation is the way in which a word or a language is spoken. This may refer to generally agreed-upon sequences of sounds used in speaking a given word or language in a specific dialect («correct pronunciation») or simply the way a particular individual speaks a word or language.
Is the S silent in chassis?
Strictly following the formal rules of English, both the singular and plural possessive are spelled and pronounced the same: chassis’ prononounced chasseez.
What word is pronounced the same even after removing?
Answer Expert Verified
Queue is the only 5 letter word which has the same pronounciation even if the last 4 words are removed. That is , even though if we remove «ueue» from the word Queue , we will get the same pronounciation which was earlier. Hence, The answer is Queue.
What is homophonic example?
An example of something homophonic is a piece of music with chords, where two instruments play the same line of melody in the same rhythm; however, one instrument plays one note and a second intrument places a note in harmony. An example of homophonic words are pair and pear. Having the same sound.
What is an example of homophonic texture?
So, a homophonic texture is where you can have multiple different notes playing, but they’re all based around the same melody. A rock or pop star singing a song while playing guitar or piano at the same time is an example of homophonic texture.
Sound-alikes, sometimes called homophones, are words with different meanings and different spellings that sound the same.
View Common Core State Standards Related to Sound-Alike WordsClose
Common Core State Standards Related to Sound-Alike Words
CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.1.4.a
Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.2.4.a
Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.3.4.a
Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.4.1.g
Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).
CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.4.4.a
Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELALiteracy.L.5.4.a
Use context (e.g., cause/effect relationships and comparisons in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
VocabularySpellingCity.com provides word lists, printables, and interactive games and activities that give students the opportunity to practice using sound-alike words.
Recognizing homophones, or “sound-alikes,” is essential to correct spelling because even spell check programs will not recognize them as spelling errors. Students learn to identify and use context clues to determine the correct meaning of a sound-alike word, then use a dictionary or rely on their memory to spell the word correctly.