Charlotte Smith - Homophones: Words That Sound Alike or One Reason English Is Difficult to Learn

Homophones Words that Sound Alike or One Reason English is Difficult to Learn
Charlotte Smith

Dedicated to my grandsons Levi and August
Introduction Homonyms are a large group of multiple-meaning words. They have the same sound and often the same spelling but different meanings. The term homonym comes from the Greek words homos (same) and onuma (name). This large group of homonyms includes words like lie (not tell the truth) and lie (recline or rest) and also words like see (use your eyes) and sea (the ocean). A homophone is a type of homonym. Homophones sound alike but have different meanings and different spellings, like see and sea.

The term homophone comes from the Greek words homos (same) and phone (sound). There are hundreds of homophones. This book lists those that may help English as a second language learners (ESL) the most in their study of the English language. Furthermore, this book will benefit anyone who wants to improve his or her English. Some words are not pronounced exactly the same way but are very similar. Homographs are words with the same spelling, but they may or may not sound the same.

For example, lie (recline) and lie (not tell the truth) are in this group. Wind (air blowing, short i sound) and wind (to twist something, long i sound) are also in this group. The term homograph comes from the Greek words homos (same) and graphe (writing). Finally, there is a special type of homograph called a heteronym. Heteronyms are words that have the same spelling but different sounds, like wind (air) and wind (twist), tear (moisture in the eye) and tear (to rip), present (accent on the first syllable) and present (accent on the second syllable), record (accent on the first syllable) and record (accent on the second syllable) to name a few. S. spelling of chili chili : n.; a small hot-tasting pod used in sauces, etc. chilly : adj.; cold Chile : n.; country in South America
choir : n.; a group of singers, usually religious quire : n.; today, one-twentieth of a ream (500 sheets) of paper
choler : n.; outdated word for anger collar : n.; a band of material around a piece of clothing v.; to arrest
choral : adj.; composed for or sung by a chorus or choir coral : n.; the hard substance that forms reefs in the ocean
chorale : n.; a type of musical composition corral :n.; a place for livestock, cattle and horses v.; gather together and confine; put animals in a corral
chord : n.; a group of notes played together v.; to play, arrange, or sing notes in chords cord : n.; rope or twine; a fabric, like corduroy cored : v.; past tense of to core (remove the center from a fruit)
chute : n.; a slide or tube; a narrow enclosure to restrain livestock; short for parachute shoot : v.; to wound or kill a person or animal; to move quickly n.; a young branch coming from the main body of a tree or plant inter.; an exclamation
cite : v.; to mention or quote; to praise someone, usually in the armed forces sight : n.; vision or eyesight v.; to see something; take aim using a gun site : n.; position or area or location
civilization : n.; advanced stage of human development and organization civilisation : n.; British spelling of civilization
clause : n.; a unit in the study of grammar; part of a sentence; part of a treaty or bill claws : n.; nails or talons on an animal Claus : n.; male first name or last name of Santa
clew : n.; part of a sail on a sailboat v.; to haul up the clews of a sail clue : n.; piece of information used in solving a crime; an indication of what letters are to be placed in a puzzle v.; to tell someone about a certain matter
climb : v.; to go up or ascend n.; an ascent by climbing clime : n.; climate or weather
close : v.; to shut; to end clothes : n.; materials that you wear
coal : n.; a substance used as fuel Cole : n.; a male name kohl : n.; black powder used as eye makeup, especially in Eastern countries
coarse : adj.; rough course : n.; path or direction or route
coat : n.; jacket or outer garment; a covering, as in paint v.; to give a covering to cote : n.; a shelter for animals or birds
cob : n.; central part of an ear of corn Cobb : n.; a last name
coffer : n.; a small chest to hold valuables cougher : n.; one who coughs (expels air from the lungs suddenly)
cokes : n.; short for coca colas coax : v.; to gently persuade someone to do something
colonel : n.; an army officer kernel : n.; a seed in a nut
color : n.; hue or tint v.; to paint or dye something to change its color colour : British spelling of color
complacence : n.; self-satisfaction; smugness complaisance : n.; willingness to please others
complacent : adj.; showing smug satisfaction with oneself complaisant : adj.; willing to please others
complement : n.; something that brings to perfection; something that makes a group complete v.; to make perfect compliment : n.; polite praise or admiration v.; to praise someone or something
confidant (or confidante) : n.; one with whom you share private matters confident : adj.; self-assured; showing confidence in oneself
conquered : v.; past tense of conquer (take control by using military force); successfully overcame a problem concord : n.; agreement; treaty; peace Concord : n.; capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States and also the name of cities in other states Concorde : n.; supersonic airline produced by America and France, operating from 1969-2003
consonance : n.; agreement between opinions; consonants (letters that are not vowels) that are close to each other, in literature consonants : n.; letters in the alphabet that are not vowels (a, e, i, o, and u)
coo : n.; the sound of pigeons and doves coup : n.; an overthrow of power or a takeover
coop : n.; a cage for poultry (chickens) v.; to put in a cage coupe : n.; a type of car
cops : n.; plural of cop (a policeman or policewoman) v.; catches or arrests a criminal; get something good, illegal or not; cops to means confesses to; cops a plea means to engage in plea bargaining in court copse : n.; a small group of trees
core : n.; inner part v.; to remove the inner part from a fruit corps : n.; branch of military service
correspondence : n.; communication correspondents : n.; people who correspond (communicate with each other); plural of correspondent
councillor : n.; member of a council counselor : n.; one who counsels someone else
counsel : v.; give advice to someone n.; advice; lawyer(s) on a case council : n.; a group of people meeting formally and regularly consul : n.; one appointed to live in a foreign place to protect the citizens
courier : n.; messenger or runner currier : n.; one who works with leather; one who combs horses
coward : n.; one with no courage cowered : v.; past tense of cower (to crouch down in fear)
coy : adj.; shy or modest koi : n.; a type of colorful fish originally from Japan
cozy : adj.; giving a feeling of warmth and comfort n.; a soft covering to keep something hot or cold cosy : British spelling of cozy
creak : v.; to make a harsh and high-pitched sound n.; a harsh scraping or squeaking sound creek : n.; a small brook or stream
cretin : n.; stupid person Cretan : adj.; related to the Greek island of Crete
crewel : n.; a type of yarn for embroidery cruel : n.; mean and unkind
crews : n.; plural of crew (a group of people working on a form of transportation) cruise : n.; a voyage on a ship or boat v.; to sail cruse : n.; a bottle to hold liquids Cruz : n.; a last name
criticize : v.; state the faults of someone or something; judge a literary or artistic work criticise : v.; British spelling of criticize cue : n.; a clue or hint; a stick used in playing pool v.; to give a cue to queue : n.; a line of people waiting v.; to line up