Similar Sounding Words
Similar Sounding
Words
Copyright © 2007
1
Similar Sounding Words
Similar Sounding Words
A homonym means a word that has the same sound and
sometimes, but not always, the same spelling but has a
different meaning, for example:
•
right (correct) and write (to record)
The best way to remember the difference between these
words is to practice putting them into sentences that mean
something to you personally.
Sometimes it helps to think of hints, for example to
remember the difference in stationary and stationery think
of the third last letter “e” – paper goes in an envelope.
Another hint is for words like advice/advise and licence/
license, if it ends in ce it is a thing (noun) and se it is the
action (verb).
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Copyright © 2007
Similar Sounding Words
accept
except
receive, tolerate
exclude
addition
edition
to add
publication
advice
advise
an opinion (noun)
the action of offering an opinion (verb)
affect
effect
influence
result
allowed
aloud
permitted
clear, distinct
bare
bear
naked, exposed
animal (e.g. koala), support, breed
blew
blue
puff of wind
colour
bow
bough
bend, front of boat, ribbon
tree branch
brake
break
stop
smash
caught
court
past tense of "catch"
enclosure (e.g. tennis), to romance
compliment
complement
to praise or flatter
to complete (something)
decent
descent
dissent
proper
movement downwards
disagreement
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Similar Sounding Words
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discreet
discrete
reserved, respectful
individual, distinct
elicit
illicit
to bring out
illegal
flaw
floor
defect
lower surface (e.g. of a room)
formally
formerly
conventionally
in the past
forth
fourth
forward in time, place or order
follows third
gorilla
guerilla
a large ape
soldier
grate
great
to shred
wonderful
heard
herd
past tense of to listen
a group of animals
here
hear
this place (opposite of there)
sense with the ears
higher
hire
further up
to rent
hole
whole
an opening
complete
its
it's
belonging to it
short for "it is"
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Similar Sounding Words
know
no
to understand
negative
lead
led
metal, to guide
past tense of to guide
lessen
lesson
to make smaller
something learned
licence
license
permit from government (noun)
action to allow (verb)
loose
lose
opposite of tight
opposite of win
mail
male
items sent through post
opposite of female
meat
meet
flesh
get together
muscle
mussel
fibrous sinew of body
shellfish
new
knew
opposite of old
past tense of know
patience
patients
endurance
persons under medical care
past
passed
time before now
past tense of "to pass"
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Similar Sounding Words
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piece
peace
portion, part
quietness, silence
plain
plane
easy to understand
an aircraft
paw
poor
pore
pour
an animal’s foot
opposite of rich
a hole in the skin
to let liquid run
presence
presents
being there, appearance
gifts
principal
principle
important, boss, headmaster,
money
law, moral
rain
reign
rein
downpour, shower, storm
to rule
to restrain (as in reins of a horse)
read
reed
to look at a book
a plant
right
write
rite
correct, opposite to left,
to record (often on paper)
ritual, ceremony
road
rode
highway
past tense of ride
scene
seen
where an action occurs
past tense of to see
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Similar Sounding Words
seem
seam
look like
a join
sight
site
cite
vision
place, grounds (e.g. website)
quote or make a reference to
so
sew
likewise, therefore, to such a degree
join together or stitch
some
sum
a few
to add numbers
soul
sole
spirit
single, bottom of the foot, fish
stationary
stationery
not moving
writing materials
straight
strait
unbending
a water passageway
tail
tale
rear (e.g. dog’s tail, shirt tail)
a story
tea
tee
a drink
golf support
their
there
they're
belonging to them
that place
short for "they are"
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Similar Sounding Words
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theirs
there's
belonging to them
short for "there is"
threw
through
past tense of throw
in one side and out the other
to
too
two
towards or headed for,
also, excessively
the number 2
vary
very
make a change in
also, excessively
waist
waste
middle of the body
to use up needlessly, garbage
wait
weight
stop
heavy
weak
week
not strong
seven days
weather
whether
wether
e.g. rain, sunshine, storms
alternative, one or the other
male sheep
which
witch
particular one
sorcerer
whose
who's
belonging to whom
short for "who is" or "who has"
wood
would
timber
hopeful
your
you're
belonging to you
short for "you are"
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