Homophones and Homonyms

• Homophones: Words which sound similar but either their meanings or their grammatical functions are completely different, that is, they are two different words. Example: Allowed - The teacher allowed me to go home a little early. Aloud - Please read this poem aloud.
• Homonyms: Words that have the same spelling and same pronunciation, but different meanings. Example: (a) telling a lie I hope you are not lying to me. (b) being in a horizontal position My books are lying on the table.

Homophones

• Angel - An angel appeared to the child in a dream. Angle - A triangle can have only one right angle.
• Berth - We cancelled the trip because we weren't getting a berth. Birth - You must write your date of birth correctly.
• Brake - The brake failed and the bus hit the Maruti car in front of it. Break - This vase is made of glass. If it falls, it will immediately break.
• Cell - This transistor works on two pencil cells. Sell - We want to sell our old furniture.
• Died - His father died at the age of eighty. Dyed - She dyed her hair dark brown.
• Dose - Just one dose of this medicine cured me of my headache. (of medicine) Doze - If I can doze for a few minutes, I will again become fresh. (light sleep)
• Floor - We want to cover the floor with a carpet. Flour - Chapatis are usually made of wheat flour.
• Hair - Grey hair is thought to be a sign of wisdom. Hare - The hare could run very fast but it was lazy.
• Heal - The wound took a long time to heal. Heel - He fell on a piece of broken glass and got a cut on the heel.
• Pain - She over-ate and got pain in the stomach. Pane - The ball hit the window pane and broke it.
• Pair - I have bought a new pair of shoes. Pare - You must pare your nails regularly.
• Peace - A country can progress only during peace time. Piece - I need a piece of rope to tie this bundle.
• Pray - I pray to God for your good health. Prey - The tiger jumped on its prey.
• Principal - My mother went to the school to meet the Principal. Principle - Gandhiji always followed noble principles. (a basic rule)
• Quiet - This child cannot keep quiet even for two minutes. Quite - My father was quite satisfied with my result.
• Root - A plant gets water through its root. Route - Trains running on this route are often late.
• Stair - The man slipped while climbing the stairs. Stare - It is a bad habit to stare at anyone.
• Storey - My room is on the upper storey of the house. Story - My grandmother told me a very interesting story.
• Their - Their house is small but comfortable. (from 'they') There - We went there in a group. (opposite of 'here')
• Wait - Don't wait for me for more than ten minutes. Weight - What is the weight of this bag of cement? (look at)

Homonyms

• Homonyms are words that are spelt and pronounced like another but have a different meaning.

Some examples of homonyms are: Bank - a place where money is stored Bank - River bank Ring - to call someone on the phone Ring - A band on the finger

• Homophones are words that are pronounced the same as another but have different spelling and meaning. Some examples of homonyms are: Heal - The wound took a long time to heal Heel - He fell on a piece of broken glass and got a cut on the heel Pain - She over-ate and got pain in the stomach Pane - The ball hit the window pane and broke it
• Homophones & Homonyms are important in improving spelling and help in developing vocabulary.