Are you an ESL student looking to master the English language? Homophones can be a real challenge. These tricky words may sound the same but have different meanings and spellings, leading to confusion in both speaking and writing.
In this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of 100 homophones with their meanings to help you navigate this linguistic challenge.
Plus, you can download a PDF for easy reference! So, let’s dive into the world of homophones and enhance your English skills.
What are Homophones in English?
Homophones in English are words that sound the same when pronounced, but they have different meanings and often different spellings. These linguistic twins can be a source of confusion for learners and native speakers alike. Learning to distinguish and use homophones correctly is crucial for effective communication in the English language.
100 Homophones with Meanings
Below are 100 homophones with their meaning in english.
- Aisle – Isle
Aisle: A passageway between rows.
Isle: An island.
- Brake – Break
Brake: Device to stop a vehicle.
Break: To fracture or separate.
- Flour – Flower
Flour: Wheat-based powder for baking.
Flower: The blooming part of a plant.
- Knight – Night
Knight: A medieval warrior.
Night: Darkness after sunset.
- Mail – Male
Mail: Delivered letters and parcels.
Male: A gender category.
- Meat – Meet – Mete
Meat: Edible animal flesh.
Meet: To encounter someone.
Mete: To distribute or allot.
- Pair – Pear
Pair: A set of two.
Pear: A type of fruit.
- Peace – Piece
Peace: Freedom from disturbance.
Piece: A portion of something.
- Plain – Plane
Plain: Simple or unadorned.
Plane: A flat surface or aircraft.
- Rain – Rein – Reign
Rain: Precipitation from clouds.
Rein: A strap for controlling an animal.
Reign: To rule as a monarch.
- Right – Write – Rite
Right: Correct or opposite of left.
Write: To mark letters or words.
Rite: A religious or ceremonial act.
- See – Sea
See: To perceive with eyes.
Sea: Large body of saltwater.
- Son – Sun
Son: A male child.
Sun: The star at the center of our solar system.
- Tail – Tale
Tail: The rear part of an animal.
Tale: A story or narrative.
- Their – There – They’re
Their: Belonging to them.
There: In that place.
They’re: Contraction of ‘they are’.
- To – Too – Two
To: Expressing direction or purpose.
Too: Also or excessively.
Two: The number after one.
- Waste – Waist
Waste: To use carelessly.
Waist: Part of the body above the hips.
- Weak – Week
Weak: Lacking strength.
Week: Seven days period.
- Weather – Whether
Weather: Climate conditions.
Whether: Expressing a doubt or choice.
- Which – Witch
Which: Asking for information.
Witch: A woman thought to have magic powers.
- Bare – Bear
Bare: Uncovered or naked.
Bear: A large mammal or to carry.
- Berry – Bury
Berry: Small edible fruit.
Bury: To cover or conceal.
- Board – Bored
Board: A flat piece of wood.
Bored: Feeling weary or uninterested.
- Cell – Sell
Cell: A small room or biological unit.
Sell: To exchange for money.
- Cite – Sight – Site
Cite: To quote as evidence.
Sight: The ability to see.
Site: A location or place.
- Complement – Compliment
Complement: Something that completes.
Compliment: An expression of praise.
- Dew – Due
Dew: Moisture condensed from air.
Due: Expected at a certain time.
- Die – Dye
Die: To cease living.
Dye: Colorant for materials.
- Fair – Fare
Fair: Equitable or a gathering.
Fare: A fee for transport.
- Feat – Feet
Feat: An achievement or skill.
Feet: Plural of foot.
- Fir – Fur
Fir: A type of tree.
Fur: Animal hair.
- Flea – Flee
Flea: A small jumping insect.
Flee: To run away.
- Flour – Flower
Flour: Grain-based powder.
Flower: Reproductive part of a plant.
- For – Four
For: Introducing purpose.
Four: The number 4.
- Groan – Grown
Groan: A low sound of pain.
Grown: Increased in size.
- Hair – Hare
Hair: Filaments on the head.
Hare: A fast-running animal.
- Heal – Heel
Heal: Become healthy again.
Heel: Back part of the foot.
- Hear – Here
Hear: To perceive sound.
Here: In this place.
- Higher – Hire
Higher: More elevated.
Hire: To employ or rent.
- Hole – Whole
Hole: An opening or gap.
Whole: Entire or complete.
- Hour – Our
Hour: Sixty minutes.
Our: Belonging to us.
- Idle – Idol
Idle: Not active.
Idol: An object of worship.
- In – Inn
In: Inside or within.
Inn: A small hotel.
- Knew – New
Knew: Past tense of know.
New: Not old or used.
- Knot – Not
Knot: A fastening made by looping.
Not: Used to negate.
- Made – Maid
Made: Past tense of make.
Maid: A female servant.
- Mail – Male
Mail: Letters and packages.
Male: A gender category.
- Main – Mane
Main: Most important.
Mane: Hair on a horse’s neck.
- Meat – Meet
Meat: Animal flesh.
Meet: To come into contact.
- Medal – Meddle – Metal – Mettle
Medal: An award.
Meddle: To interfere.
Metal: Element, compound, or alloy.
Mettle: Courage or fortitude.
- Morning – Mourning
Morning: Start of the day.
Mourning: Grieving for someone.
- No – Know
No: The opposite of yes.
Know: To be aware of.
- One – Won
One: The number 1.
Won: Past tense of win.
- Pair – Pare – Pear
Pair: Two of something.
Pare: To trim or peel.
Pear: A type of fruit.
- Peace – Piece
Peace: Tranquility.
Piece: A part of something.
- Peek – Peak – Pique
Peek: A quick look.
Peak: The top of a mountain.
Pique: To stimulate interest.
- Plane – Plain
Plane: A flat surface or aircraft.
Plain: Simple or clear.
- Poor – Pour – Paw
Poor: Lacking wealth.
Pour: To flow or transfer liquid.
Paw: The foot of an animal.
- Pray – Prey
Pray: To speak to a deity.
Prey: An animal hunted for food.
- Principal – Principle
Principal: Main or head of a school.
Principle: A fundamental truth or belief.
- Rain – Rein – Reign
Rain: Water from the sky.
Rein: A strap to control an animal.
Reign: To rule as a monarch.
- Read – Red
Read: To look at and comprehend text.
Red: A color.
- Right – Rite – Write
Right: Correct or a direction.
Rite: A ceremonial act.
Write: To mark down words.
- Ring – Wring
Ring: A circular band.
Wring: To twist and squeeze.
- Road – Rode – Rowed
Road: A path or street.
Rode: Past tense of ride.
Rowed: Past tense of row.
- Role – Roll
Role: A character played by an actor.
Roll: To turn something over.
- Rose – Rows
Rose: A flower.
Rows: Plural of row.
- Sail – Sale
Sail: To travel by boat.
Sale: The act of selling.
- Scene – Seen
Scene: A part of a play or movie.
Seen: Past participle of see.
- Sea – See
Sea: Large body of saltwater.
See: To perceive visually.
- Seam – Seem
Seam: A line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together.
Seem: To appear in a certain way.
- Sees – Seas – Seize
Sees: Third person of see.
Seas: Plural of sea.
Seize: To grasp suddenly.
- Sell – Cell
Sell: To give in exchange for money.
Cell: A small room or biological unit.
- Sent – Scent – Cent
Sent: Past tense of send.
Scent: A distinct smell.
Cent: A coin worth one-hundredth of a dollar.
- Serial – Cereal
Serial: A story or play appearing in parts.
Cereal: A breakfast food.
- Shear – Sheer
Shear: To cut, especially wool from sheep.
Sheer: Very thin or transparent.
- Sight – Site – Cite
Sight: The ability to see.
Site: A location.
Cite: To quote as evidence.
- Soar – Sore
Soar: To fly high.
Sore: Painful or aching.
- Sole – Soul
Sole: The bottom part of a shoe.
Soul: The spiritual part of a person.
- Some – Sum
Some: An unspecified amount.
Sum: The total amount.
- Son – Sun
Son: A male child.
Sun: The star at the center of our solar system.
- Stair – Stare
Stair: A set of steps.
Stare: To look fixedly.
- Stake – Steak
Stake: A strong stick or post.
Steak: A piece of meat.
- Stationary – Stationery
Stationary: Not moving.
Stationery: Writing materials.
- Steal – Steel
Steal: To take without permission.
Steel: A hard, strong alloy.
- Sweet – Suite
Sweet: Having a sugary taste.
Suite: A set of rooms.
- Tail – Tale
Tail: The rear part of an animal.
Tale: A story or narrative.
- Tea – Tee
Tea: A hot beverage.
Tee: A stand used in golf.
- Team – Teem
Team: A group of players.
Teem: To be full of.
- Threw – Through
Threw: Past tense of throw.
Through: From end to end.
- Thyme – Time
Thyme: A type of herb.
Time: Measured in hours and minutes.
- Tide – Tied
Tide: The rise and fall of the sea.
Tied: Bound with a rope or string.
- Toe – Tow
Toe: A digit on the foot.
Tow: To pull behind.
- Vain – Vein – Vane
Vain: Excessively proud.
Vein: A blood vessel.
Vane: A device showing wind direction.
- Waist – Waste
Waist: Part of the body between ribs and hips.
Waste: To use carelessly.
- Wait – Weight
Wait: To stay in place.
Weight: The measure of heaviness.
- Way – Weigh – Whey
Way: A path or direction.
Weigh: To measure heaviness.
Whey: A milk byproduct.
- Weak – Week
Weak: Lacking strength.
Week: Seven days.
- Wear – Where
Wear: To have on the body.
Where: In or at what place?
- Weather – Whether
Weather: Climate conditions.
Whether: Expressing a doubt or choice.
Must Read: Synonyms Words A to Z
Must Learn: Pairs of Words in English
Infographics (Homophones List in English)
Download the List of homophone words in English pdf (Download PDF)
