What are homophones? 20 pairs of homophones in English

Homophones 

Pronunciation - Part of speech

Meaning

Example

Then - than

Then

/ðen/

(adverb, adjective)

after that

Let me finish this job, then we'll go. 

Than

/ðæn/ or /ðən/

(preposition, conjunction)

used with "more" or "less" to compare numbers or amounts

My son is a lot taller than my daughter. 

To - too - two

To

/tu/

(preposition)

used before a verb to show that it is in the infinitive

I'll have to tell Alex. 

Too

/tuː/

(adverb)

more than is needed or wanted; more than is suitable or enough

Thank you, you're too kind. 

Two

/tuː/

(cardinal number)

the number 2

I have two cars. cars. 

Homographs

Meaning

Example

Lead

/liːd/

(noun)

a chemical element that is a very heavy, soft, dark grey, poisonous metal, used especially in the past on roofs and for pipes and also for protection against radiation

The lead pipe is broken. 

Lead

/led/

(verb) (simple past, past perfect)

to control a group of people, a country, or a situation

Who will lead the inquiry into the accident? 

Heterographs

Meaning

Example

Pear

/per/

(noun)

a sweet fruit, usually with a green skin and a lot of juice, that has a round base and is slightly pointed towards the stem

I love pears. 

Pair

/per/

(noun)

two things of the same appearance and size that are intended to be used together, or something that consists of two parts joined together

I can't find a matching pair of socks. 

Homophones in English

Pronunciation - Part of speech

Meaning

By - Buy

By /baɪ/ (preposition)

used to show the person or thing that does something

buy /baɪ/ (verb)

to get something by paying money for it

Whether - Weather - Wether

Whether  /ˈwɛðər/ (conjunction)

(used especially in reporting questions and expressing doubts) if, or not

Weather /ˈwɛðər/ (noun)

the conditions in the air above the earth such as wind, rain, or temperature, especially at a particular time over a particular area

Wether /ˈwɛðər/ (noun)

a male sheep that has been castrated (had its sex organs removed)

Principle - Principal

Principle /ˈprɪnsəpl/ (noun)

a basic idea or rule that explains or controls how something happens or works

Principal /ˈprɪnsəpl/ (noun)

first in order of importance

Brake - Break

Brake /breɪk/ (noun/ verb)

a device that makes a vehicle go slower or stop, or a pedal, bar, or handle that makes this device work/ to make a vehicle go slower or stop, using its brake or brakes

Break /breɪk/ (noun/ verb)

Waist - Waste

Waist /weɪst/ (noun)

the part of the body above and slightly narrower than the hips

Waste /weɪst/ (noun/ verb)

unwanted matter or material of any type, especially what is left after useful substances or parts have been removed/ to use too much of something or use something badly when there is a limited amount of it

Week - Weak

Week /wiːk/ (noun)

a period of seven days, especially either from Monday to Sunday or from Sunday to Saturday

Weak /wiːk/ (adjective)

not physically strong

Complement - Compliment

Complement /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ (noun/ verb)

a part of a clause that usually follows the verb in English and adds more information about the subject or object/ to make something else seem better or more attractive when combining with it

Compliment /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ (noun/ verb)

a remark that expresses approval, admiration, or respect/ to praise or express admiration for someone

Discreet - Discrete

Discreet /dɪˈskriːt/ (adjective)

careful not to cause embarrassment or attract too much attention, especially by keeping something secret

Discrete /dɪˈskriːt/ (adjective)

clearly separate or different in shape or form

Bail - Bale

Bail /beɪl/ (noun/ verb)

an amount of money that a person who has been accused of a crime pays to a law court so that they can be released until their trial/ to remove water from a boat using a container

Bale /beɪl/ (noun/ verb)

a large amount of something such as hay, paper, wool, or cloth that has been tied tightly together/ to tie up something tightly into bales

Bear - Bare

Bear /bɛər/ (noun/ verb)

a large, strong wild mammal with a thick fur coat that lives especially in colder parts of Europe, Asia, and North America/ to accept, tolerate, or endure something, especially something unpleasant

Bare /bɛər/ (adjective/ verb)

without any clothes or not covered by anything/ to take away the thing that is covering something so that it can be seen

Here - Hear

Here /hɪər/ (adverb)

in, at, or to this place

Hear /hɪər/ (verb)

to receive or become conscious of a sound using your ears

Illicit - Illicit

Illicite /ɪˈlɪsɪt/ (adjective)

illegal or disapproved of by society

Elicit /ɪˈlɪsɪt/ (verb)

to get or produce something, especially information or a reaction

Sight - Site/ Cite

Sight /saɪt/ (noun)

the ability to see

Site /saɪt/ (noun)

a place where something is, was, or will be built, or where something happened, is happening, or will happen

Cite /saɪt/ (verb)

to mention something as proof for a theory or as a reason why something has happened

Lead - Lead

Lead /liːd/ (noun)

a chemical element that is a very heavy, soft, dark grey, poisonous metal, used especially in the past on roofs and for pipes and also for protection against radiation

Lead /liːd/ (verb) (Simple tense)

to control a group of people, a country, or a situation

Carrot - Caret - Carat

Carrot /ˈkærət/ (noun)

a long pointed orange root eaten as a vegetable

Caret /ˈkærət/ (noun)

the symbol ^ , found on a keyboard and used in marking text

Carat /ˈkærət/ (noun)

a unit for measuring the weight of jewels (= precious stones)

Bark - Bark

Bark /bɑrk/ (verb)

(of a dog) to make a loud, rough noise

Bark /bɑrk/ (noun)

the hard outer covering of a tree

Be - Bee

Be /bi/ (verb)

used to say something about a person, thing, or state, to show a permanent or temporary quality, state, job, etc

Bee /bi/ (noun)

a yellow and black flying insect that makes honey and can sting you

Whole - Hole

Whole /hoʊl/ (adjective)

complete or not divided

Hole /hoʊl/ (noun)

an empty space in an object, usually with an opening to the object's surface, or an opening that goes completely through an object

Seal - Seal

Seal /sil/ (noun)

a large mammal that eats fish and lives partly in the sea and partly on land or ice

Seal /sil/ (verb)

to close an entrance or container so that nothing can enter or leave it

Definition

Pair of words

Example

Homophones 

Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings

Dear - Here

Although he is dear to me, he is currently far away. I wish he were here. 

Homographs 

Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and meanings

Like - Enjoy

I like studying, but I also enjoy taking breaks to relax and recharge. 

Heterographs

Heterographs are words that are spelled differently, pronounced the same, and have different meanings

Big – Small

The elephant is big, while the mouse is small.