homonyms

altar & alter | altar = sacred table in a church; alter = to change ascent & assent | ascent = act of climbing up; assent = agreement allowed & aloud | allowed = permitted; aloud = spoken out loud auger & augur | auger = tool for boring holes; augur = to predict ail & ale | ail = to be ill; ale = a type of beer arc & ark | arc = curved line; ark = large biblical boat ad & add | ad = advertisement; add = to increase or join aide & aid | aide = assistant; aid = help ante & anti | ante = poker stake or before; anti = against aunt & ant | aunt = mother's or father's sister; ant = small insect ally & alley | ally = friend or partner; alley = narrow passage all ready & already | all ready = fully prepared; already = by now all together & altogether | all together = as a group; altogether = completely awhile & a while | awhile = for a short time; a while = a period of time aw & awe | aw = expression of disappointment; awe = wonder assistance & assistants | assistance = help given; assistants = people who help access & excess | access = ability to enter or use; excess = more than needed accept & except | accept = to receive or agree; except = excluding affect & effect | affect = to influence; effect = result air & heir | air = gas we breathe; heir = person who inherits aisle & isle | aisle = passage between seats; isle = small island ate & eight | ate = past tense of eat; eight = number 8 aye & eye | aye = yes; eye = organ of sight bail & bale | bail = to release from jail or remove water; bale = bundle of hay or cotton bait & bate | bait = food to lure fish; bate = to lessen or hold back ball & bawl | ball = round object for games; bawl = to cry loudly band & banned | band = musical group; banned = prohibited bare & bear | bare = naked or empty; bear = large animal or to carry base & bass | base = bottom or foundation; bass = low sound or a fish be & bee | be = to exist; bee = flying insect that makes honey beach & beech | beach = sandy shore; beech = type of tree bean & been | bean = edible seed; been = past participle of be beat & beet | beat = to hit or rhythm; beet = red root vegetable berry & bury | berry = small fruit; bury = to put underground berth & birth | berth = sleeping place on ship; birth = being born bight & bite | bight = curve in rope or coast; bite = to chew with teeth blew & blue | blew = past tense of blow; blue = color bloc & block | bloc = political group; block = solid piece or to obstruct boar & bore | boar = wild pig; bore = to drill or to be dull board & bored | board = flat wood or to get on; bored = uninterested bolder & boulder | bolder = more brave; boulder = large rock born & borne | born = brought into life; borne = carried boy & buoy | boy = young male; buoy = floating marker (US pronunciation) brake & break | brake = device to stop; break = to shatter or pause bread & bred | bread = baked food; bred = past tense of breed bridal & bridle | bridal = relating to wedding; bridle = horse headgear buy & by | buy = to purchase; by = near or beside butt & but | butt = end or to hit with head; but = except or however bell & belle | bell = ringing instrument; belle = beautiful woman cache & cash | cache = hidden storage; cash = paper money or coins cannon & canon | cannon = large gun; canon = rule or body of works canvas & canvass | canvas = heavy cloth; canvass = to solicit votes or opinions capital & capitol | capital = city or money; capitol = government building carat & carrot | carat = weight for gems; carrot = orange vegetable cast & caste | cast = to throw or actors; caste = social class ceiling & sealing | ceiling = overhead interior surface; sealing = closing tightly cell & sell | cell = small room or biological unit; sell = to exchange for money cent & scent | cent = one-hundredth of dollar; scent = smell cereal & serial | cereal = breakfast grain; serial = in series or sequence cite & sight | cite = to quote source; sight = vision chord & cord | chord = musical notes together; cord = string or rope coarse & course | coarse = rough texture; course = path or class complement & compliment | complement = something that completes; compliment = praise council & counsel | council = governing group; counsel = advice or lawyer creak & creek | creak = squeaking sound; creek = small stream cue & queue | cue = signal to start; queue = line of people currant & current | currant = small dried fruit; current = flow or present time cymbal & symbol | cymbal = percussion instrument; symbol = sign representing idea censor & sensor | censor = to suppress content; sensor = device that detects cellar & seller | cellar = underground room; seller = person who sells cheap & cheep | cheap = low price; cheep = bird's short sound colonel & kernel | colonel = military officer; kernel = seed core (pronounced "kernel") call & caul | call = to shout or phone; caul = membrane covering newborn dam & damn | dam = barrier holding water; damn = to condemn days & daze | days = plural of day; daze = to stun or confuse dear & deer | dear = beloved or expensive; deer = woodland animal dew & do | dew = morning moisture; do = to perform die & dye | die = to stop living; dye = to color fabric discreet & discrete | discreet = careful and private; discrete = separate and distinct doe & dough | doe = female deer; dough = unbaked bread mixture dual & duel | dual = double; duel = formal fight between two descent & dissent | descent = going down; dissent = disagreement desert & dessert | desert = to abandon; dessert = sweet course after meal draft & draught | draft = current of air or preliminary version; draught = same as draft (British spelling) or a drink done & dun | done = finished; dun = gray-brown color or to demand payment disc & disk | disc = flat round object; disk = same, often computer storage douse & dowse | douse = to soak with water; dowse = to search for water with a rod dying & dyeing | dying = approaching death; dyeing = coloring dyer & dire | dyer = person who dyes cloth; dire = terrible or urgent drachm & dram | drachm = old unit of weight; dram = small drink of whiskey dyne & dine | dyne = unit of force; dine = to eat dinner dew & due | dew = morning moisture; due = owed or expected do & due | do = to perform; due = owed (US pronunciation) dew & do & due | all pronounced "doo" — dew = moisture, do = perform, due = owed earn & urn | earn = gain through work; urn = vase for ashes earn & erne | earn = gain; erne = sea eagle ease & aes | ease = comfort or relieve; aes = ancient Roman bronze coin eave & eve | eave = roof overhang; eve = evening before eek & eke | eek = squeal of fright; eke = barely manage or supplement eight & ate | eight = number 8; ate = past of eat eight & ait | eight = number 8; ait = small river island elicit & illicit | elicit = draw out; illicit = illegal elusion & illusion | elusion = evasion; illusion = false perception elusion & allusion | elusion = evading; allusion = indirect reference emerge & immerge | emerge = come out; immerge = plunge into ensure & insure | ensure = make certain; insure = provide insurance epic & epoch | epic = long heroic story; epoch = historical era er & err | er = hesitation sound; err = make a mistake ere & air | ere = before (poetic); air = atmosphere ere & heir | ere = before; heir = inheritor erk & irk | erk = annoying person; irk = annoy erred & urd | erred = made error; urd = Norse fate or bean name error & airer | error = mistake; airer = clothes drying rack erupt & irrupt | erupt = burst out; irrupt = forcefully enter ewe & yew | ewe = female sheep; yew = evergreen tree ewe & you | ewe = female sheep; you = second person ewes & use | ewes = female sheep (plural); use = employ ex & x | ex = former partner; x = letter or unknown exalt & exult | exalt = praise highly; exult = rejoice exercise & exorcise | exercise = physical activity; exorcise = cast out spirit eye & I | eye = sight organ; I = self eye & aye | eye = sight organ; aye = yes eyed & I'd | eyed = looked at; I'd = I would / had eyelet & islet | eyelet = small hole; islet = tiny island facks & fax | facks = facts (dialect); fax = send document by phone faery & fairy | faery = fairy (old spelling); fairy = magical sprite faery & ferry | faery = fairy; ferry = passenger boat fah & far | fah = musical note fa; far = distant faille & file | faille = ribbed silk; file = folder or smoothing tool faille & phial | faille = fabric; phial = small glass bottle fain & feign | fain = gladly; feign = pretend fain & fane | fain = gladly; fane = temple faint & feint | faint = pass out / weak; feint = deceptive move fair & fare | fair = just or festival; fare = ticket price or food fair & fayre | fair = just; fayre = archaic market faker & fakir | faker = fraud; fakir = Muslim holy ascetic farce & farse | farce = absurd comedy; farse = stuffing (old) farmer & pharma | farmer = grows crops; pharma = drug industry farming & pharming | farming = agriculture; pharming = web scam faro & farrow | faro = card game; farrow = litter of pigs faro & pharaoh | faro = card game; pharaoh = Egyptian king farther & father | farther = more distant; father = male parent fat & phat | fat = plump; phat = cool (slang) fate & fete | fate = destiny; fete = festival faun & fawn | faun = goat-man myth; fawn = baby deer or flatter faux & foe | faux = fake; foe = enemy fay & fey | fay = fairy; fey = otherworldly or doomed fays & faze | fays = fairies; faze = disturb fays & phase | fays = fairies; phase = stage gaff & gaffe | gaff = hook; gaffe = social blunder gage & gauge | gage = pledge; gauge = measure gait & gate | gait = way of walking; gate = doorway gaiter & gator | gaiter = leg cover; gator = alligator galipot & gallipot | galipot = pine resin; gallipot = small jar galley & gally | galley = ship kitchen; gally = frighten gallop & galop | gallop = fast horse run; galop = lively dance gamble & gambol | gamble = bet; gambol = frolic gamin & gammon | gamin = street urchin; gammon = ham or deceive gang & gangue | gang = group; gangue = worthless rock in ore gassed & gast | gassed = filled with gas; gast = scare (archaic) gaud & gourd | gaud = showy trinket; gourd = hard fruit gays & gaze | gays = homosexual men; gaze = stare geezer & geyser | geezer = old man; geyser = hot spring gel & jell | gel = jelly-like; jell = set or become clear genes & jeans | genes = DNA units; jeans = denim pants gest & jest | gest = exploit or tale; jest = joke ghat & got | ghat = river steps (India); got = obtained ghillie & gilly | ghillie = servant or shoe; gilly = guide gib & jib | gib = bolt; jib = sail or refuse gibe & jibe | gibe = taunt; jibe = agree or shift sail gild & guild | gild = coat with gold; guild = trade association gill & jill | gill = fish organ / measure; jill = girl's name gilt & guilt | gilt = gold plating; guilt = remorse gin & jinn | gin = liquor or trap; jinn = spirit giro & gyro | giro = bank transfer; gyro = sandwich or spin hae & hay | hae = have (Scots); hay = dried grass haik & hike | haik = Arab garment; hike = long walk hail & hale | hail = ice pellets or greet; hale = healthy hair & hare | hair = head strands; hare = rabbit-like animal hall & haul | hall = corridor; haul = pull or carry halve & have | halve = cut in two; have = possess handmade & handmaid | handmade = crafted by hand; handmaid = female servant handsome & hansom | handsome = good-looking; hansom = two-wheel carriage hangar & hanger | hangar = aircraft shed; hanger = clothes hook hart & heart | hart = male deer; heart = organ haw & whore | haw = hedge fruit or hesitate; whore = prostitute (historic pron.) hawed & hoard | hawed = hesitated; hoard = stockpile hays & haze | hays = dried grasses; haze = light mist heal & heel | heal = cure; heel = back of foot heal & he'll | heal = cure; he'll = he will heald & healed | heald = loom wire; healed = cured hear & here | hear = listen; here = this place heard & herd | heard = listened; herd = animal group heed & he'd | heed = pay attention; he'd = he would/had height & hight | height = tallness; hight = named (archaic) heir & air | heir = inheritor; air = atmosphere herds & hurds | herds = animal groups; hurds = flax waste fibers heroin & heroine | heroin = addictive drug; heroine = female hero hertz & hurts | hertz = frequency unit; hurts = causes pain hew & hue | hew = chop; hue = color hi & high | hi = greeting; high = tall I'll & isle & aisle | I'll = I will; isle = island; aisle = passage I & eye & aye | I = self; eye = sight organ; aye = yes ice & eyes | ice = frozen water; eyes = sight organs idle & idol & idyll | idle = inactive; idol = worshipped figure; idyll = peaceful scene in & inn | in = inside; inn = lodging incite & insight | incite = provoke; insight = understanding indict & indite | indict = formally charge; indite = write (archaic) its & it's | its = belonging to it; it's = it is ileum & ilium | ileum = small intestine part; ilium = hip bone imminent & immanent | imminent = about to happen; immanent = inherent jail & gaol | jail = prison; gaol = prison (British) jam & jamb | jam = preserve or squeeze; jamb = door post jay & J | jay = blue bird; J = tenth letter jeans & genes | jeans = denim pants; genes = hereditary units jewel & joule | jewel = gem; joule = energy unit jibe & gibe & gybe | jibe/gibe = taunt or agree; gybe = shift sail jinn & gin | jinn = spirit; gin = liquor knight & night | knight = armored warrior; night = darkness know & no | know = understand; no = negative knew & new & gnu | knew = past know; new = fresh; gnu = wildebeest knit & nit | knit = loop yarn; nit = louse egg knot & not | knot = tied loop; not = negative key & quay | key = opener or island; quay = dock knead & need | knead = work dough; need = require kernel & colonel | kernel = seed core; colonel = army officer lead & led | lead (metal) = heavy element; led = guided leak & leek | leak = drip out; leek = onion-like vegetable lean & lien | lean = tilt or thin; lien = legal claim lesson & lessen | lesson = teaching; lessen = reduce lie & lye | lie = untruth or recline; lye = caustic soda lama & llama | lama = monk; llama = Andean animal light & lite | light = illumination; lite = low-calorie made & maid | made = created; maid = female servant mail & male | mail = post; male = masculine main & mane | main = chief; mane = horse's neck hair meat & meet & mete | meat = flesh; meet = gather; mete = allot metal & mettle | metal = iron etc.; mettle = courage miner & minor | miner = digs ore; minor = underage moat & mote | moat = castle ditch; mote = tiny speck naval & navel | naval = navy; navel = belly button nay & neigh | nay = no; neigh = horse sound none & nun | none = not any; nun = religious sister oar & or & ore | oar = paddle; or = alternative; ore = mineral rock one & won | one = number 1; won = past win our & hour | our = belonging to us; hour = 60 minutes oh & owe | oh = exclamation; owe = be in debt pail & pale | pail = bucket; pale = light colored pain & pane | pain = ache; pane = window glass pair & pare & pear | pair = two; pare = trim; pear = fruit peace & piece | peace = calm; piece = part peak & peek & pique | peak = top; peek = glance; pique = irritate plain & plane | plain = simple; plane = aircraft or flat surface principal & principle | principal = head or main; principle = rule queue & cue & Q | queue = line; cue = signal; Q = letter quay & key | quay = dock; key = opener rain & reign & rein | rain = water; reign = rule; rein = horse strap right & rite & write | right = correct; rite = ceremony; write = inscribe red & read | red = color; read (past) = studied road & rode | road = street; rode = past ride sea & see | sea = ocean; see = view son & sun | son = male child; sun = star stair & stare | stair = step; stare = gaze steal & steel | steal = take; steel = metal sight & site & cite | sight = vision; site = location; cite = quote to & too & two | to = toward; too = also; two = number 2 their & there & they're | their = belonging to them; there = that place; they're = they are tail & tale | tail = animal rear; tale = story time & thyme | time = duration; thyme = herb use & ewes & yews | use = employ; ewes = female sheep; yews = trees urn & earn | urn = vase; earn = gain udder & utter | udder = milk organ; utter = speak or complete vain & vane & vein | vain = conceited; vane = wind pointer; vein = blood vessel vale & veil | vale = valley; veil = face cover vice & vise | vice = wrongdoing; vise = clamp wait & weight | wait = stay; weight = heaviness wear & ware & where | wear = dress; ware = goods; where = what place weather & whether | weather = climate; whether = if which & witch | which = what one; witch = sorceress whole & hole | whole = entire; hole = opening x & ex | x = letter 24; ex = former xerox & zerox | xerox = photocopy (brand); zerox = misspelling, sounds same yew & you & ewe | yew = tree; you = second person; ewe = female sheep yoke & yolk | yoke = harness; yolk = egg yellow yore & your & you're | yore = long ago; your = belonging to you; you're = you are why & Y & wye | why = for what reason; Y = letter; wye = Y-shaped zee & z | zee = US name for Z; z = letter 26 zinc & sink | zinc = metal; sink = go down or basin (near-homophone)