Homophones
This is a growing list of homophones (words with the same or close pronunciation, but different spelling and meanings) meant to help those in trouble. Without trying to give complete definitions of each word, I will try to be as detailed as possible. I will also give those meanings that most of us are aware of.
As you will easily realize, they are not only words related to business or any other particular area. They are every day words. Enjoy and see what you can learn and how it can help you in your writing projects.
a - 1. the first letter of the latin alphabet; 2. indefinite article, determiner
eh - an expression of inquire, slight surprise or doubt
accessary - someone who helps another person commit a crime, without being physically present, sometimes by just providing shelter for the criminal
accessory - something that is not a necessary part of something larger, but is added for convenience, attractiveness, etc
bare - naked; without additions or modifications
bear - n. an ursine; v. bore, born - 1. to carry from one place to another; 2. to support; 3. to put up with something or somebody unpleasant; 4. to have or show a mark or characteristic; 5. to suffer or accept; 6. to give birth to; in mind - to remember, to consider
canvas - a heavy closely woven cloth made of cotton, hemp or linen which is used for tents, bags, sails
canvass - 1. to solicit opinions, political support, orders for goods etc. by going from place to place and talking to people; 2. to examine thoroughly
complement - n. something that completes or makes perfect; in grammar a word or phrase used to complete a grammatical construction; v. to complete
compliment - n.an expression of admiration and praise; v. to say something that expresses admiration and praise; to pay a compliment
dear - a person who is beloved, loved or lovable
deer - a grass-eating animal that can run very fast (the males usually have solid antlers)
it’s - contraction of “it is” (It’s beautiful outside)
its - possessive pronoun (I don’t like its colour.)
licence - n. an official document (from the government or other constituted authority) giving official permission to do something; legal permission
license - v. to issue a licence; to give someone legal permission to do something
Note: In American English the noun (licence) is spelled just like the verb (license). If you have a hard time remembering which one is which you could either spell both of them license or think of the difference between advice (n.) and advise (v.). The difference between these two it’s easier to remember because of the different pronunciation.
lie - n. a false statement that, intentionally, deviates from or perverts the truth; v. 1. lied, lied - to make a false statement, to pretend with the intent to deceive; 2. lay, lain - to occupy a certain position; to be in a horizontal position; to be situated or located somewhere
lye - a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide used in soaps (potentially dangerous)
son - a male child
sun - the central star in our solar system, around which the Earth and the other planets in the solar system move and from which they receive their light and heat.
stair - step (the place to rest the foot while ascending or descending a stairway)
stare - a fixed look with eyes wide open
than - (conjuction) used to introduce the second member of a comparison (Your house is bigger than mine.); an alternative (I would rather drink water than soda.)
then - at a specific time (I was happy then.); subsequently, immediately or soon afterward (I stopped and then she got out of the car.); as a concequence (If you don’t want it, then I’ll keep it.); therefore (You’re staying over at my place then.)
tide - the periodic rise and fall of the sea level produced by the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun, occuring about every 12 hours
tied - past tense of the verb “to tie”; bound or secured closely
wander - to move about, usually on foot, without a fixed destination, aim or purpose
wonder - to think, speculate curiously or be curious about; to express a wish to know (I wonder how you found out about them.)
wether - a castrated male sheep
weather - the meteorological conditions (temperature, precipitations, wind and clouds)
whether - a word used to introduce either a single alternative (the other one being understood or implied) or the first of two or more alternatives (I’ll go whether you come or not.)
