Homophones-May 2007 Homophones

Often the terms homonym, homophone and homograph are used interchangeably. The following definitions should help clarify the differences between the three. Definitions Homophone: One of two or more words pronounced ali e, but different in spelling or meaning !e.g. to, too, two". Homonyms and homographs are both types of homophones. Homonym: One of two or more words spelled and pronounced ali e, but different in meaning !e.g. clea#e, which can mean to cut and to adhere". Homograph: One of two or more words spelled ali e but different in meaning or pronunciation !e.g. the bow of a ship, a bow and arrow". $s re%uested by teachers, here is a list of common homophones. Teachers are not expected to teach the words from this list; rather, this list is for reference only. &lease see the districtadopted materials for specific grade-le#el homonyms.

Already, all ready

Already is an ad#erb that tells when. All ready is a phrase meaning 'completely ready.(

Ant, aunt

$n ant is an insect. $n aunt is a female relati#e, the sister of a mother or father. )egional dialect can change the pronunciation of aunt.

Bare, bear

The ad*ecti#e bare means 'na ed.( $ bear is a large animal with shaggy hair.

Homophones-May 2007 Base, bass Base is a foundation or the lower part of something.

Bass !pronounced 'base(" is a deep sound or tone or an instrument ha#ing a deep sound or tone. Bass !rhymes with 'mass(" is a fish. Board, bored $ board is a piece of wood. Board also refers to a group or council that helps run an organi,ation. Bored means 'to become weary or tired of something.( -t can also mean 'a hole made by drilling.( Brake, break $ brake is a de#ice used to stop a #ehicle. The #erb break means 'to crac , split or destroy(. The noun break refers to a gap or interruption. By, buy, bye By is a preposition meaning near or not later than. Buy is a #erb meaning to purchase. Bye is the position of being automatically ad#anced to the ne.t round of a competition without playing. Bye is also a clipped #ersion of 'good-bye.( Capital, capitol Capital can be either a noun, referring to a city or money, or an ad*ecti#e, meaning 'important( or 'ma*or.( Capitol is used when tal ing about a building. Cent, sent, scent Cent refers to money !+/+00th 0f a dollar", sent is past tense of the #erb 'send(, and scent is a smell. Complement, Compliment Counsel, council Complement means 'to complete or go with.( Compliment is an e.pression of admiration or praise. Counsel as a noun means 'ad#ice( and as a #erb, means 'to ad#ise.( $ council is a group that ad#ises.

Homophones-May 2007 die, dye

1 Die is a #erb meaning 'to stop li#ing(, while dye is used to change the color of something.

for, four

For is a preposition meaning 'because of( or 'directed to.( Four is the number 0.

hear, here

ear is a #erb meaning to recogni,e sound. of there and means 'nearby.(

ere is the opposite

heard, herd

eard is the past tense of the #erb 'to hear.( animals.

erd is a group of

hole, whole its, its knew, new

ole is a hollow place. !hole means 'entire or complete.( "t#s is the contraction of 'it is.( "ts is the possessi#e form of 'it.( $new is past tense of the #erb now. %ew means 'recent( or 'modern.(

know, no

$now means 'to recogni,e and understand( while no means 'the opposite of yes.(

lead, led

&ead 'l(d' is a present tense #erb meaning 'to guide.( &ed 'l)d' is past tense of the #erb lead. The noun lead 'l)d' is the metal.

loose, lose

&oose 'l*s' means 'free or untied(. 'misplace( or 'fail to win.(

&ose 'l++s' means to

morning, mourning

,ornin- refers to the first part of the day. 'showing sorrow.(

,ournin- means

Homophones-May 2007

pair, pare, pear

$ pair is a couple, pare is a #erb meaning 'to peel(, and pear is the fruit.

past, passed

.assed is always a #erb, the past tense of pass. .ast can be used as a noun, an ad*ecti#e, or as a preposition. $ motorcycle passed our car. !#erb" - cannot forget the past. !noun" -n my past life - was a dog. !ad*ecti#e" He dro#e right past the house. !preposition"

peace, piece

.eace means 'harmony( or 'free from war.( .iece is a section or part of something.

peak, peek, pique

.eak is the highpoint of a mountain. .eek means 'a %uic loo .( The #erb pi/ue means to 'create interest( as in 'The mo#ie poster pi%ued my curiosity.( sisters.( The noun pi/ue means 'a feeling of resentment( as in '-n a pi%ue, she marched away from her teasing

principal, principle

.rincipal is an ad*ecti#e meaning 'primary( or a noun referring to a school administrator or sum of money. .rinciple is an idea or doctrine.

red, read

0ed is a color2 read pronounced the same way, is the past tense of the #erb meaning (to understand the meaning of written words and symbols.

right, rite, write

0i-ht is the direction opposite of left, and is used to refer to a legal claim. 0i-ht also means 'correct or proper.( -t is also the opposite

Homophones-May 2007

3 of wrong. !rite is a #erb meaning 'to record in print.( 0ite is a ritual or ceremonial act.

sew, so, sow

1ew is the #erb meaning 'to stitch.( 1o is a con*unction meaning 'in order that.( 1ow is the #erb meaning 'to plant.

sight, cite, site

1i-ht means 'the act of seeing.( Cite means 'to %uote or refer to.( $ site is a location or position.

stationary, stationery

1tationary means 'not mo#eable.( 1tationery refers to paper and en#elopes use to write letters.

than, then their, there, theyre

Than is used to ma e a comparison. Then tells when. Their is a possessi#e pronoun indicating ownership. There is an ad#erb that tells where. They#re is the contraction for they are.

to, too, two

To is the preposition that can mean 'in the direction of.( Too means also or is an ad#erb meaning '#ery or e.cessi#e.( Two is the number 2.

ary, ery

2ary means 'to change.(

2ery can be used as an ad*ecti#e

meaning 'in the fullest sense( or 'complete.( 2ery can also be used as an ad#erb meaning 'e.tremely.( waist, waste !aist is the part of the body *ust abo#e the hips. !aste is the #erb meaning 'to wear away( or 'use carelessly.( !aste is also a noun referring to unusable or left o#er material.

Homophones-May 2007 ware, wear, where

6 !are means 'a product to be sold. !ear means 'to ha#e on or carry on one4s body.( !here as s the %uestion 'in what place or in what situation5(