Homonyms: Definition, +250 Homonyms Words List and Example Sentences
Table of Contents
Homonyms
Homonyms are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Words that look the same have different meanings in a sentence. This situation is called homophony. There are many examples and words on this subject. The correct use of these words in the everyday English language is very important. These words, which are confused by people, cause misunderstandings. Therefore, this subject should be studied carefully.
Homonym Examples
Words that sound the same but have different meanings and different spellings (homophones):
- Weak — Week
- Sun — End
- See — Sea
- Plane — plain
- Meet — Meat
Words that sound the same but have different meanings and may be spelled the same:
- Address – Address
- Band – Band
- Bat – Bat
- Match – Match
- Mean – Mean
- Right – Right
- Ring – Ring
Synonyms List with Examples
- Address – Address
I can give you my doctor’s address.
That book was addressed to me.
- Tape – Tape
The band was playing old Michael Jackson songs.
She always collects her hair with a stylish band.
- Bat – Bat
Young children are afraid of bats.
He plays bat for the first time in a big-league game.
- Match – Match
If you suspect a gas leak, be careful not to light any matches.
Fingerprints match the perpetrator.
Examples of Homonyms (Homophones)
Homonyms can refer to homophones. This can be cited as examples of words that are pronounced the same as other words but spelled differently.
- Fort – Fought
While in battle, you will hold the fort.
He fought the most against colonialism and oppression.
- Foul – Fowl
He woke up with a foul taste from what he ate.
Fowl always offers useful and nutritious products for humanity.
- Hour – Our
Our house was more spacious and larger than our neighbors’ house.
An hour passed and still, no one came.
- I-Eye
It had been years since I left this city, but everything remained the same.
The baby’s eyes looked pretty big.
The Importance of Homonym
Synonyms and homonyms are generally important in terms of alternative meanings of words. If we cannot recognize homonyms and synonyms in daily life, there may be difficulties in understanding. It is necessary to learn to distinguish homophones to prevent these troubles and to realize more correct usage and pronunciation in writings. More correct sentences are formed with these learned words. You will not have difficulty understanding the other party in conversations. You can easily notice the sentences that are shaped according to everyone’s speaking style. It is very important to learn homophones in English and to use them correctly.
+250 Homonyms List
abel – able
accede – exceed
accept – except
addition – edition
adds – adz
affect – effect
affected – effected
ale – ail
all ready – already
ax – acts
axel – axle
axes – axis
beer – bier
beet – beat
bell – belle
berry – bury
berth – birth
better – bettor
bib – bibb
bight – bite
bury – berry
bussed – bust
but – butt
buy – by – bye
byte – bight
cache – cash
caddie – caddy
cain – cane
cheap – cheep
check – Czech
clique – click
colonel – kernel
coolie – coulee
coop – coupe
cops – copse
coral – choral
cord – cored
core – corps
cored – chord
corps – core
coughers – coffers
coulee – coolie
council – counsel
coup – coo
course – coarse
cousin – cozen
coward – cowered
coy – koi
cozen – cousin
craft – kraft
crape – crepe
crawl – kraal
creak – creek
crepe – crape
dyeing – dying
fare – fair
fate – fete
faun – fawn
fax – facts
faze – phase
feat – feet
feint – faint
fends – fens
flour – flower
flow – floe
flower – flour
flu – flue – flew
flyer – flier
foaled – fold
fort – forte
gnu – knew – new
gofer – gopher
gored – gourd
gorilla – guerilla
gourd – gored
grade – grayed
graft – graphed
graham – gram
graphed – graft
heroin – heroine
hertz – hurts
hew – hue
hey – hay
hi – high
higher – hire
him – hymn
hire – higher
ho – hoe
hoard – horde
hoarse – horse
hoe – ho
hoes – hose
hold – holed
hole – whole
holed – hold
hue – hew
humerus
leased – least
led – lead
lee – lea
leech – leach
liar – lier
lichen – liken
lie – lye
lien – lean
lier – liar
lieu – Lou
liken – lichen
literal – littoral
loch – lock
lochs – locks
lock – loch
locks – lox
lode – load
lone – loan
mail – male
main – mane
maize – maze
male – mail
mall – maul
marc – mark
mare – mayor
mark – marc
meteor – meatier
mints – mince
missal – missile
missed – mist
misses – Mrs
missile – missal
mist – missed
mite – might
moan – mown
moat – mote
mousse – moose
mowed – mode
mown – moan
Mrs – misses
mucous – mucus
navel – naval
nay – neigh
need – knead
neigh – nay
new – gnu – knew
nice – gneiss
Nice – niece
nickers – knickers
niece – Nice
night – knight
ode – owed
oh – owe
one – won
overseas – oversees
owe – oh
padded – patted
paean – paeon
pail – pale
pain – pane
pair – pare
palate – pallet
pale – pail
parish – perish
pistil – pistol
plum – plumb
pole – poll
pore – pour
read – reed
real – reel
red – read
reed – read
reek – wreak
reel – real
roe – row
role – roll
Rome – roam
room – rheum
roomer – rumor
root – route
rose – rows
rows – rose
rude – rued
rue – roux
rued – rude
sane – seine
sari – sorry
sashay – sachet
saver – savor
tow – toe
vane – vein
vary – very
veil – vale
vein – vain
we’ll – wheel
weak – week
wear – where
yew – ewe – you
yews – use
yoke – yolk
you’ll – Yule
your – you’re
Yule – you’ll
