- Do you no wear my sun is?
- Eye think his hear.
- Oh, know. His their.
Does the above dialogue make sense to you? If not, read it aloud.
When pronounced, the words will sound exactly the same as in this dialogue:
- Do you know where my son is?
- I think heโs here.
- Oh, no. Heโs there.
โNoโ is pronounced just like โknowโ, โwearโ is just like โwhereโ, and so on.
Words like these โ that are pronounced the same, but differ in meaning โ are called homophones.
You might not pay too much attention to them while speaking, however, when it comes to writing, you may end up making some funny mistakes if you mix up two homophones that are spelled differently.
- Thank you for the fantastic dinner. It was lovely to meat your wife.
Can you spot the mistake? I hope you wonโt make it the next time you want to send a thank you card.
In the following lesson, youโll find sentences and pictures (thanks to Pablo Stanleyย andย Kaplan International.ย You can check the original images here and here and also discover how you can study English abroad)ย to help you remember how to spell some of the most common homophones.

1. AIR/HEIR
air
oxygen and other gases that we breathe in
- Itโs spring. Love is in the air and the birds are singing.
heir
the person who is next in line in a family and inherits something
- When the new royal heir is born, hundreds of balloons are sent up in the air to celebrate the event.
2. AISLE/ISLE
aisle
a passageway between seats in rows
- Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
- An aisle seat, please. I wouldnโt like to sit next to the window, Iโm afraid of heights.
isle
a small island
- Theyโre planning to build an airport on the isle. I think itโs a fantastic idea.
3. BALD/BAWLEDย
BALD
someone who has no hair on his head is bald
- Will you love me if I go bald?
- Donโt worry. Look at how handsome Bruce Willis is. And he is bald.
BAWLED
past form of โbawlโ, it means โcry loudlyโ
- When I realized I was going bald, I bawled liked a child. I donโt want to look like Captain Picard from Star Trek.
- You shouldnโt have bawled so hard. Captain Picard is really cool.
4. BAND/BANNED
BAND
- Iโd like to form a rock band. Can you play any musical instruments?
BANNED
(ban-banned-banned) to prohibit, not allow
- Iโd love to be in a rock band, but I thought you were banned from playing loud music in the house.
5. BARE/BEAR
BARE
naked, not covered
- Susy was wearing a daring dress at the party. It revealed her bare legs.
BEAR
a big animal with dark brown coat that lives in woods and eats smaller animals and fruit
- I took my son to the zoo to see the new baby bear. He loved it. I think Iโll get him a Teddy bear for his next birthday.
6. BE / BEE
BE
exist (am,is,are,was,were,been)
- Iโd like to be famous one day.
BEE
a flying, stinging insect that makes honey
- I wonder what itโs like to be a bee. Bees seem to be working all day.
7. BREAK/BRAKE
BREAK
smash something by dropping, bending or damaging it somehow
- Youโll break something if you keep playing football in the living room. Can you stop it, please?
BRAKE
a device to make a car go slower/stop
- Iโll have to get my brakes checked. I think thereโs something wrong with them.
- Is the garage open on Sunday? I donโt want you to crash the car.
8. BORED/BOARD
BORED
not interested in your current activity
- Iโm bored with you. Are homophones the only thing you can talk about?
BOARD
a flat piece of wood on which you can write, play a game or do sports like surfing, skateboarding etc.
- Whenever the teacher goes to the whiteboard and writes something on it, the students start chatting.
9. BUY/BY
BUY
getting something for money
- Iโd like to buy a piano, but my husband doesnโt really like the idea.
BY
through, via
- Do you go to work by car?
- No, I canโt drive. I always go by train.
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10. CELL/SELL
CELL
a room in a prison/ the smallest part of an organism
- How many cells are there in a human body?
SELL
giving something to somebody in return for money
- Iโve decided to sell my house and move to Australia.
11. CENT/SCENT
CENT
1/100th of a dollar
- They donโt deserve a cent after what they have done to you.
SCENT
smell, odour, fragrance
- Could you feel the scent of jasmine in the garden? It was so lovely.
12. CLAWS/CLAUSE
CLAWS
a sharp, curvy structure at the end of the paws of animals
- Iโm not sure if I should trim my catโs rear claws. Do you know anything about cats?
CLAUSE
a section of a legal document
- Donโt sign that contract before you read and understand every word and clause!
13. CURRENT/CURRANT
CURRENT
happening/existing now
- Are you happy in your current job?
- Yes, I am. My current employer is much nicer than the previous one.
CURRANT
small, black or red berry that grows on bushes
- Would you like some ice-cream with your blackcurrants?
- Iโd love some, thanks. Ice-cream and currants are my idea of heaven.
14. DEAR/DEER
DEAR
loved and valued
- You are my dearest friend, you know.
- Am I? Youโre dear to me as well.
DEER
an animal with hooves and antlers that lives in the woods
- I had venison steak for lunch.
- Whatโs venison?
- Oh dear, you donโt know?ย Itโs deer meat.
15. DIE/DYEย
DIE
stop living
- My dogโs very old. Iโm afraid heโll die soon.
DYE
to colour materials or hair
- Iโm thinking of dying my hair. Should I dye it blue or pink?
- I think your parents will just die if you show up with pink hair.
- Right, Iโll dye it blue then.
16. FAIR/FARE
FAIR
honest/ consistent with rules/ light in colour, clear
- Mum, thatโs not fair! I did the washing up yesterday. Itโs Jackโs turn today.
FARE
money you pay for transportation
- I canโt visit my parents very often. The train fare is too expensive.
17. FLEE/FLEA
FLEE
run away from danger
- If I was a bit younger, Iโd flee this boring town and move to the capital.
FLEA
a small insect that lives in the fur of animals
- Do you think fleas go into human hair?
- Well, a flea may jump on it if youโre around animals, but I donโt think it would like it there.
18. FLOUR/FLOWER
FLOUR
white powder-like foodstuff thatโs obtained by grinding grains
- Can you buy some flour on your way home? Iโd like to make pizza for dinner.
- Of course I will. I would do anything to have pizza for dinner.
FLOWER
the most beautiful part of plants that blossoms and smells nice
- You should make your wife breakfast in bed a few times every month. And donโt forget to lay a single flower on the tray before you serve it.

19. GRIZZLY/GRISLY
GRIZZLY
a big, brown bear that lives in North America
- Would you like to come trekking with us? Weโre going to the Rockies.
- You must be joking. What will you do if you bump into a grizzly?
GRISLY
unpleasant and frightening
- Did you see those black and white photos in her living room?
- Yeah, theyโre rather grisly, arenโt they? Especially the one with the zombies.
20. GUERRILLA/GORILLA
GUERRILLA
a member of a small group of irregular soldiers
- Guerrilla warfare has had a big impact on the area. Itโs not a safe place to go on holiday anymore.
GORILLA
the largest and strongest ape
- Have you seen the film โKing Kongโ? Itโs about a giant gorilla that is taken to New York to be exhibited.
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21. HAIR/HARE
HAIR
what grows on your head
- Her hair used to be much shorter. Do you think sheโs got hair extensions?
HARE
an animal thatโs similar to a rabbit, but has longer ears and legs
- Rabbits live underground, but hares live in overground nests.
- Can I get a pet hare?
22. HEAL/HEEL
HEAL
become or make healthy again
- How long will this wound take to heal?
HEEL
the part of a foot thatโs under the ankle
- I hurt my left heel while playing football. I hope it will heal soon.
23. HEROINE/HEROIN
HEROINE
a brave woman, usually the principal character of a book or a film
- My favourite heroine is Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books.
HEROIN
a white, highly addictive narcotic
- I stopped reading that book when the heroine turned out to be a heroin addict. I donโt like stories about drug addicts. Theyโre so sad.
24. HOLY/WHOLLY
HOLY
sacred, dedicated to God
- The Christian holy book is called the Bible.
WHOLLY
completely, fully
- The dress she was wearing to church was wholly inappropriate.
25. HUMERUS/HUMOROUS
HUMERUS
the bone in the body which is between the shoulder and the elbow
- Humerus fractures usually heal without surgery, but you may have to wear a shoulder sling for a couple of weeks.
HUMOROUS
funny, comical
- I write humorous stories for children in my free time, but my daughter doesnโt seem to like them at all.
26. IDOL/IDLE
IDOL
a false god, someone or something people love and adore
- Aretha Franklin is my idol. Sheโs such a fantastic singer.
IDLE
not busy, lazy
- Peterโs such an idle child. He never does his homework and doesnโt pay attention in class at all.
27. IN/INN
IN
contained/inside something
- I love living in this town. I can spend hours just watching the people go by.
INN
a small hotel that provides food and accommodation
- We usually stay in this inn when we are visiting my parents. Itโs the best inn in town.
28. KNOT/NOT
KNOT
when you tie two pieces of string or rope together a knot is formed
- My son can tie his shoelaces by himself now. He tied his first everย knot last week.
NOT
a word you use to make negative forms
- I do not remember when my daughter learnt how to tie a knot. She was not as young as your son.
29. MADE/MAID
MADE
past form of โmakeโ
- I made a cake for my husbandโs birthday.
MAID
a woman you pay to do housework for you
- I think Iโll hire a maid. I canโt do everything myself, can I?
30. MORNING/MOURNING
MORNING
the part of the day after sunrise
- I feel really unsocial in the morning until I have my first coffee. Itโs not the best time to talk to me about important things.
MOURNING
the sad emotion you feel after somebody you love dies
- In my country, women wear black clothes during the mourning period.
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31. MUSCLES/MUSSELS
MUSCLES
fiber-like, flexible organ that moves the bones and different parts of the body
- Arnold Schwarzenegger is really muscular. Have you seen his muscles? Theyโre huge like mountains.
MUSSELS
edible, marine animals with soft bodies inside black or green shells
- I saw Arnold Schwarzenegger in a restaurant last night. He was eating mussels with bare hands.
- Oh, I hate mussels.
32. NIGHT/KNIGHT
NIGHT
the time between sunset and sunrise
- Where were you last night? I waited up for you until 2am. You shouldnโt be out so late at night.
- Mum, I was in bed all night. Why didnโt you knock on my door?
KNIGHT
a medieval soldier, a gentleman
- Why donโt you go out with Jack? You canโt wait for a knight in shining armor forever.
- Iโm not waiting for a knight, but I definitely need someone more reliable than Jack.
33. NONE/NUN
NONE
not any, no one
- None of the students wanted to go to the museum, so we ended up feeding the pigeons on the square.
NUN
a woman who belongs to a religious order and lives in a monastery
- Why did Mother Teresa become a nun?
- She just liked helping people, I guess.
34. OUR/HOUR
OUR
belonging to us
- Our house is the nicest in the street.
HOUR
sixty minutes
- It takes an hour to get to our house from here.
35. PAIR/PEAR
PAIR
two similar things together
- I need a new pair of shoes. Will you come with me to help me choose?
PEAR
juicy fruit, similar to an apple in size
- Would you like to stay for tea? Iโm making pear tarts.
- Iโve never tried pear tarts. Are they as good as apple tarts?
36. PATIENCE/PATIENTS
PATIENCE
the capacity of being tolerant and able to wait without getting angry
- Youโd better stop kicking your sister. Iโm losing my patience and you donโt want to find out what happens when Iโve lost it.
PATIENTS
people who receive medical advice and care
- Iโve got so many patients to visit today. Iโm not sure if Iโll have the patience to listen to all of them.
- But Dr Brown, there are only two more patients left.
37. PAUSE/PAWS
PAUSE
stop something temporarily
- Letโs pause the film. I want to go to the kitchen to get more popcorn.
PAWS
the feet of animals like cats or dogs
- My cat puts her paws gently on my face every morning to wake me up. Itโs lovely, but she never seems to notice how early it is.
38. PIECE/PEACE
PIECE
a part of something
- Here, have a piece of apple pie. I made it myself.
PEACE
the state of tranquillity and no war
- I wish there was peace on Earth.
39. PLAIN/PLANE
PLAIN
simple, clear, unmixed
- I like all kinds of chocolate. Chocolate with nuts, chocolate with fruit, chocolate with cream filling or just plain chocolate.
PLANE
aeroplane, airplane
- Iโm not afraid of flying, but I really donโt like sitting in a plane for hours. Itโs so boring.
40. POOR/POUR
POOR
someone who doesnโt have enough money/ someone you feel sorry for
- Poor Jackie! She didnโt pass the exam, even though she had studied a lot.
POUR
to make some liquid flow onto or into something
- You poor thing! You must be freezing, itโs so cold outside. Come in, let me pour you some nice, hot tea.
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41. PROPHETS/PROFITS
PROPHET
someone who teaches the words of God and makes predictions about the future
- Do you think there are any modern day prophets? Do we still need prophets?
PROFITS
the money businesses have left after paying all the expenses
- A lot of companies are more interested in profits than the safety of their workers.
42. SAIL/SALEย
SAIL
to move smoothly through water or air
- Iโd like to sail through the Mediterranean. Do you want to come with me?
SALE
selling goods or services
- Tedโs house is for sale. I wonder where heโs going to move once itโs sold.
43. SAW/SAW
SAW
past tense of โseeโ
- I saw Glenn at the post office yesterday, but she didnโt see me.
SAW
a thin metal tool that is used for cutting wood
- Have you seen my saw? Iโd like to make a house for the dog.
44. SERIAL/CEREAL
SERIAL
a story published or performed in parts
- I like that website. I can watch my favourite TVย serials there online.
CEREAL
breakfast food made from grains, eaten with milk
- Whatโs your favourite breakfast cereal?
45. SO/SEW
SO
to a certain extent
- Iโm so happy, I could kiss you. Thanks a lot for the lovely present.
SEW
make or repair clothes using a needle and thread
- I love designing clothes, but I canโt sew.
- Why donโt you learn how to sew? Iโd be so glad to wear the clothes you make.
46. SOUL/SOLEย
SOUL
the spirit of a person
- Do you like my painting? I put my heart and soul in it.
- Well, I can see some paint there on a canvas, but I canโt see your heart and soul anywhere.
SOLE
a type of fish native to Europe, valued as food ย โ ALSO โ
the under surface of a personโs foot
- Iโd like to make something light for dinner. Have you got any sole recipes?
- The soles of their feet were nearly black with dirt.
47. WAIST/WASTE
WAIST
the part of the human body thatโs between the upper body and the lower body
- She got extremely upset when I told her. She was just standing there with her hands on her waist and didnโt say a word.
WASTE
when you spend money or time on something you donโt really need, itโs a waste
- Letโs not waste more time on this subject. Weโve said everything that can be be said.
48. WAIT/WEIGHT
WAIT
to spend time and stay somewhere until something happens
- Will you wait here until I get back? I wonโt be long.
WEIGHT
the weight of something shows how heavy it is
- Do you think I should lose some weight?
- No, I donโt. I actually think you need to put on some weight- youโre too thin.
49. WINE/WHINE
WINE
alcoholic drink made of grapes
- A glass of red wine before bed is good for your heart.
WHINE
complain like a child
- Donโt whine! I wonโt give you more wine unless you stop whining.
50. WRITE/RIGHT
WRITE
to form letters, words and sentences using pen and paper or a computer
- How old were you when you learnt to write?
- I was three years old.Three?
RIGHT
correct, true
- Thatโs right. I was only three when I learnt to write.
Homophones Translation
English ![]() | 1. Ad โ Add, 2. Air โ Heir, 3. All โ Awl, 4. Allowed โ Aloud, 5. Alms โ Arms |
Spanish![]() | 1. Anuncio โ Aรฑadir, 2. Aire โ Heredero, 3. Todo โ Punzรณn, 4. Permitido โ En voz alta, 5. Limosna โ Armas |
French![]() | 1. Ad โ Ajouter, 2. Air โ Hรฉritier, 3. Tous โ Allier, 4. Autorisรฉ โ A haute voix, 5. Aumรดne โ Armes |
Italian![]() | 1. Annuncio โ Aggiungere, 2. Aria โ Erede, 3. Tutto โ Punteruolo, 4. Permesso โ Ad alta voce, 5. Elemosina โ Braccia |
German![]() | 1. Anzeigen โ Hinzufรผgen, 2. Luft โ Erbe, 3. alle โ Ahle, 4. erlaubt โ laut, 5. alms โ Arme |
Hungarian | 1. Hirdetรฉs โ Hozzรกadรกs, 2. Levegล โ รrรถkรถs, 3. Minden โ รl, 4. Engedรฉlyezett โ Hangosan, 5. Alamizsnรกt โ Karok |
Portuguese![]() | 1. Anรบncio โ Adicionar, 2. ar โ Herdeiro, 3. tudo โ Coruja, 4. permitido โ Em voz alta, 5. esmola โ Braรงos |
Russian![]() | 1. ะ ะตะบะปะฐะผะฐ โ ะะพะฑะฐะฒะธัั, 2. ะะพะทะดัั โ ะะฐัะปะตะดะฝะธะบ, 3. ะัะต โ ะัะป, 4. ะ ะฐะทัะตัะตะฝะพ โ ะัะปัั , 5. ะะธะปะพัััะฝั โ ะััะถะธะต |
Slovenian | 1. Oglas โ Dodaj, 2. Zrak โ Dediฤ, 3. Vse โ ล ila, 4. Dovoljeno โ Glasno, 5. Almuzina โ Roka |
Czech | 1. Pลรญdavek โ Pลidat, 2. Vzduch โ Dฤdic, 3. Vลกe โ ล รญdlo, 4. Povoleno โ Nahlas, 5. Almuลพna โ Ruce |
Dutch | 1. Reclame โ Toevoegen, 2. Lucht โ Erfgenaam, 3. Alles โ Awl, 4. Toegestaan โ Hardop, 5. Armen โ Armen |
Chinese![]() | 1.ๅนฟๅโๆทปๅ ๏ผ2.็ฉบๆฐโ็ปงๆฟไบบ๏ผ3.ๆๆโ็ฎญๅคด๏ผ4.ๅ ่ฎธโๅคงๅฃฐ๏ผ5.ๆฝ่โๆญฆๅจ |
Polish![]() | 1. Reklama โ Dodaj, 2. Powietrze โ Dziedzic, 3. Wszystko โ Awl, 4. Dozwolone โ Gลoลno, 5. Jaลmuลผna โ Broล |
Swedish | 1. Reklam โ tillรคgg, 2. Luft โ arvtagare, 3. Alla โ panna, 4. Tillรฅtet โ hรถgt, 5. Alms โ armar |
English ![]() | 1. Ant โ Aunt, 2. Arc โ Ark, 3. Ate โ Eight, 4. Aural โ Oral 5. Bald โ Bawled |
Spanish![]() | 1. Hormiga โ Tรญa, 2. Arco โ Arca, 3. Ave โ Ocho, 4. Aural โ Oral 5. Calvo โ Batido |
French![]() | 1. Fourmi โ Tante, 2. arceau โ Arche, 3. Ate โ Huit, 4. auditif โ Oral, 5. chauve โ braillรฉ |
Italian![]() | 1. Formica โ Zia, 2. Arc โ Arca, 3. Mangia โ Otto, 4. Aural โ Orale, 5. Calvo โ Balenรฒ |
German![]() | 1. Ameise โ Tante, 2. Bogen โ Arche, 3. aร โ Acht, 4. aural โ mรผndlich, 5. kahl โ gebrรผllt |
Hungarian | 1. Hangya โ nรฉni, 2. รv โ bรกrka, 3. Evett โ nyolc, 4. Hangos โ szรณbeli 5. Kopasz โ รผvรถltรถtt |
Portuguese![]() | 1. Formiga โ Tia, 2. Arca โ Arca, 3. Comida โ Oito, 4. Aural โ Oral, 5. Careca โ Berrada |
Russian![]() | 1. ะััะฐะฒะตะน โ ัะตัั, 2. ะัะบ โ ะบะพะฒัะตะณ, 3. ะะป โ ะฒะพัะตะผั, 4. ะััะฐะป โ ัััะฝัะน, 5. ะัััะน โ ะพัะฐะป |
Slovenian | 1. Mravlja โ teta, 2. Ark โ arka, 3. Ete โ osem, 4. Aural โ ustno, 5 Toplega โ bledi |
Czech | 1. Mravenec โ teta, 2. Oblouk โ archa, 3. Jรญdlo โ osm, 4. Sluch โ รบstnรญ, 5. Lysรฝ โ plavรฝ |
Dutch | 1. Mier โ Tante, 2. Boog โ Ark, 3. Eet โ Acht, 4. Auditief โ Mondeling, 5. Kaal โ Gebauwd |
Chinese![]() | 1. ่่โ้ฟๅงจ๏ผ2.ๅผงๅฝขโๆน่๏ผ3.ๅโๅ ซ๏ผ4.ๅฌโๅฃ่ฟฐ๏ผ5.็งๅคดโๅๅๅคงๅญ |
Polish![]() | 1. Mrรณwka โ Ciotka, 2. ลuk โ Arka, 3. Ate โ Osiem, 4. Aural โ Ustny, 5. ลysy โ Bawiล siฤ |
Swedish | 1. Myr โ moster, 2. Ark โ ark, 3. รt โ รฅtta, 4. Hรถrsel โ muntligt, 5. Skallig โ skรคllde |
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And donโt forget, you can always use spell/grammar checkers to instantly proofread your writing.
I hope youโve found this lesson interesting and youโre not board. Umm, I mean bored.
Remember, these are mistakes that spell checkers wonโt recognize, so pay extra attention to homophones when writing. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comment area below. We are hear two help. I mean, we are here to help.
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