Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. They can be a source of confusion for those learning the English language, as well as for native speakers who may accidentally use the wrong word in conversation or writing. Examples of homophones include “to,” “too,” and “two,” or “there,” “their,” and “they’re.” Understanding the differences between homophones is important for clear communication in both spoken and written forms.
Homophones
What Is a Homophone?
Homophone examples:
Four – For
- The clock struck four.
- I bought John some sweets for his birthday.
Eight – Ate
- There were only eight days left until Christmas.
- We ate dinner together then went home.
Cereal – Serial
- My favorite cereal is corn flakes.
- The serial killer loved watching serials on TV!
Meat – Meet
- The hotel guests got food poisoning because the meat wasn’t cooked properly.
- I’m going to meet my friend at the train station this evening.
Maize – Maze
- It is common for manufacturers to use maize as an ingredient in many processed foods.
- Chatsworth House has a maze that is made up of a network of paths and hedges.
Steal – Steel
- If you steal goods from a shop, this is called “shoplifting”.
- The new art museum is made entirely of glass and steel.
Accept – Except
- It would be difficult for us to accept.
- I have everything what I want except you.
List of Homophones
Here is a useful list of homophones you should know. In this list of homophones, you will find simple, intermediate and more advanced level vocabulary.
- Abel – Able
- Accede – Exceed
- Accept – Except
- Addition – Edition
- Adds – Adz
- Affect vs Effect
- Yule – You’ll
- Ale – Ail
- All ready – Already
- Ax – Acts
- Axel – Axle
- Axes – Axis
- Beer – Bier
- Beet – Beat
- Bell – Belle
- Berry – Bury
- Berth – Birth
- Your – You’re
- Yoke – Yolk
- Bight – Bite
- Wear – Where
- Bussed – Bust
- Weak – Week
- Buy – By – Bye
- We’ll – Wheel
- Cache – Cash
- Vein – Vain
- Cain – Cane
- Cheap – Cheep
- Check – Czech
- Clique – Click
- Colonel – Kernel
- Coolie – Coulee
- Coop – Coupe
- Cops – Copse
- Coral – Choral
- Cord – Cored
- Core – Corps
- Veil – Vale
- Vary – Very
- Coughers – Coffers
- Sari – Sorry
- Council – Counsel
- Coup – Coo
- Course – Coarse
- Cousin – Cozen
- Coward – Cowered
- Coy – Koi
- Sane – Seine
- Craft – Kraft
- Crape – Crepe
- Crawl – Kraal
- Creak – Creek
- Rued – Rude
- Dyeing – Dying
- Fare – Fair
- Fate – Fete
- Faun – Fawn
- Fax – Facts
- Faze – Phase
- Feat – Feet
- Feint – Faint
- Fends – Fens
- Flour – Flower
- Flow – Floe
- Rows – Rose
- Flu – Flue – Flew
- Root – Route
- Foaled – Fold
- Fort – Forte
- Knew – New
- Roomer – Rumor
- Role – Roll
- Gorilla – Guerilla
- Pore – Pour
- Grade – Grayed
- Graft – Graphed
- Graham – Gram
- Pole – Poll
- Palate – Pallet
- Hertz – Hurts
- Hew – Hue
- Pair – Pare
- Hi – High
- Higher – Hire
- Night – Knight
- Niece – Nice
- Neigh – Nay
- Hoard – Horde
- Hoarse – Horse
- Navel – Naval
- Mrs – Misses
- Hold – Holed
- Hole – Whole
- Mown – Moan
- Mowed – Mode
- Mark – Marc
- Leased – Least
- Led – Lead
- Leech – Leach
- Lock – Loch
- Lichen – Liken
- Lie – Lye
- Lien – Lean
- Male – Mail
- Maize – Maze
- Main – Mane
- Literal – Littoral
- Lone – Loan
- Lode – Load
Homophones | Picture
Useful List of Homophones
List of Homophones You Should Know
Last Updated on August 30, 2023
Hmm… I don’t think mare and mayor are homonyms. I say them differently. Mair and may-er.
Thank you for your kind comment. I appreciate your feedback and will make sure to correct any mistakes.
¡Súper! Muy hermoso su trabajo.