Homophones - Explanation & Examples

 Homophones

 Homophones

Homophones are words that sound alike but are different in spelling and meaning. E.g. feet – feat / face – phase / sort – sought / hair – heir/ 

1. affect/effect 

Use affect to indicate influence: The medicine did not affect her the way the doctor had hoped. 

Use effect as a noun: The new medicine had negative side effects. (Note: effect can sometimes be used as a verb meaning to cause/achieve or to bring about – as in "The magician effected his escape with a false door" – but this is mostly a technical term and not used very often.)

2. than/then

Use than for comparisons: John is much taller than his brother. 

Use then to indicate the passage of time, or when: We went to the park in the morning, and then we left to pick up lunch.

3. which/witch

Use which as a pronoun when referring to things or animals:  Cora wore her favorite pink shoes, which she received as a birthday gift.

Use witch to mean a scary or nasty person: The Halloween witch decorations must finally come down off of the wall!

4. here/hear

Use here as an adverb to indicate location:  Please come back here and put your shoes away! 

Use hear as a verb to indicate listening:  Can you hear the birds' beautiful singing outside?

5. are/our

Are is a verb in present tense, a form of the verb "to be."

We are staying at the hotel closest to the stadium. 

Our is an adjective, the plural possessive form of we.

They will bring our keys to the hotel lobby. 

6. buy/by

Use buy when purchasing an item: I do need to buy new shoes for the kids. 

Use by as a preposition to indicate location: Please put the sandwiches by the door so we don't forget them!  

7. accept/except

Use accept as a verb to mean receive: The organization will accept donations through the first of the month. 

Use except as a preposition to mean exclude:  You may donate all items except car seats and cribs. 

8. weather/whether

Use weather when referring to the state of the atmosphere: The constantly changing springtime weather is driving us crazy.

Use whether as a conjunction to introduce choices: Please tell us whether you would prefer steak or salmon for dinner. 

9. there/their/they're

there

There  Most commonly, it is used to refer a place.

There will be a lot to eat at the party tonight.

Their is a possessive pronoun.

The students put their coats in the closet. 

they're is the contraction for they are
They're going to have practice immediately after school today.

10. to/too/two

To can be a preposition.

We're going to the park. 

To can indicate an infinitive when it precedes a verb.

We want to help in any way we can. 

Too is an adverb that can mean excessively when it precedes an adjective or adverb.

I ate too much ice cream for dessert.

Two is a number.  

Marcy ate two pieces of pie.

11. you're/ your

You're is a contraction for you are.

You're going to absolutely love this new recipe. 

Your is a pronoun.

Please bring your books to class with you tomorrow.

12. bear/ bare

Use bear when referring to the large mammal or to indicate the act of holding or supporting: it's a brown bear  |  How to bear this long time.

Use bare as an adjective indicating lack of clothing or adornment:  His bare neck burned in the direct sunlight.

13. one/won

Use one when referring to a single unit or thing:  I have one rupee.

Use won as the past tense form of the verb "to win": Shelly's team won the tournament.

14. brake/break

Use brake as a verb meaning to stop or as a noun when referring to a device used to stop or slow motion:  The bike's brake failed, which is why he toppled town the hill. 

Use break to indicate smashing or shattering or to take a recess:  he break the class.

15. complement/compliment

Use complement when referring to something that enhances or completes: The cranberry sauce is a perfect complement to the turkey dinner. 

Use compliment as an expression of praise: I was pleased to have received so many compliments on my new dress and shoes today. 

16. aloud/allowed

Use aloud it use as loud:  Reading aloud –and doing it well.

Use allowed-permitted:  Dogs are not allowed here.

17.  lie/lay

Use lie to indicate the act of reclining:  he lies to me

Use lay to indicate the placement of something:  Please lay the paper on the table.   

18. it's/its

It's is the contraction for it is.

It's raining today, so the baseball game will be cancelled.

Its is the possessive form ("possessive" means belongs to) of it.

The cat is licking its paws.

19. capital/capitol

Use capital when referring to a city, a wealth or resources, or an uppercase letter: Delhi is a capital of India.

Use capitol when referring to a building where lawmakers meet: The capitol has undergone extensive renovations this year. 

20. principle/principal

Use principle as a noun meaning a basic truth or law: Truth is the vital principles in my life.

Use principal as a noun meaning the head of a school or organization, or a sum of money: he is our principal

 

 

 

Rewrite the following sentences by using the correct homophones for the underlined words:

 1. Your excuse is .....  (excepted/accepted), you may go and sit in your place.

2. My mother’s .....  (aid /aide ) made a lot of different dishes and surprised us.

3. Many experts believe it may be too late to prevent .....  (adverse / averse )consequences to the world’s climate system.

4. Mr. Sathish was fined a sum of Rs. 20,000 as the prosecutor found the witness who could  ..... (collaborate/corroborate) with the allegations.

5. Rather than reading novels, Vishal prefers to .... (hear/here) the story aurally from his brother Kannan

6. The trekkers began the  ..... (assent/ascent) on to the hill top immediately after the sunrise.

7. A boy near the .... (naval /navel)  officer was injured by the mob.