Go to All About Homonyms
A
a very short little insignificant English word
eh an interrogative utterance
acts things done
ax chopping tool
ad short for advertisement
add short for addition
adds performs additions
ads more than one advertisement
adze axe-like tool
ade fruit beverage
aid to assist
aide an assistant
aerie eagle's nest
airy breezy
aero of aircraft
arrow slender, pointed shaft
affect to change
effect result
ail sick
ale beer
air stuff we breathe
are 1/100th of a hectare
e'er contraction of "ever"
ere eventually
err to make a mistake
heir one who will inherit
aisle walkway
I'll contraction of "I will"
isle island
all everything
awl pointed scriber
allowed permitted
aloud spoken
altar raised center of worship
alter to change
an a single instance
Ann a woman's name
ant insect
aunt parent's sister
ante preliminary bet
auntie sister of a parent
arc portion of a circle
ark vessel
ascent the climb
assent to agree
ate past tense of eat
eight the number base of octal
auger a drill
augur foretell
aught anything
ought should
aural of hearing
oral of the mouth
auricle external part of the ear
oracle seer
away distant
aweigh just clear of the bottom
awed in a state of wonder
odd not usual
aweful filled with awe
awful really bad
offal butchered entrails
aye naval affirmative
eye ocular organ
I oneself
B
bail bucket handle
bale bundle of hay
bailed pumping water out of a boat
baled to gather into a bale
bailee a person to whom goods are committed for custody or repair
bailey the outer wall of a castle
bailie a municipal officer in Scotland
bailer one who bails (water)
bailor a person that entrusts goods to a bailee
baler one who bales (hay)
bailing pumping water out of a boat
baling wire used to tie bales
bait to torment
bate to lessen
baited past tense of bait
bated past tense of bate
baiting tormenting
bating lessening
baize green felt
bays one or more enclosed arms of the ocean
beys one or more Turkish officials
bald hairless
balled carnal knowledge
bawled cried aloud
ball playful orb
bawl to cry
band a group
banned forbidden
bard a poet
barred enclosed by poles
bare naked
bear wild ursine
bark outer sheath of a tree
barque square-rigged sailing ship
baron minor royalty
barren unable to bear children
Barry a man's name
berry small fruit
bury to take under
basal forming the base
basil an herb
base the bottom support for anything
bass the lowest musical pitch or range
based supported
baste to swab with liquid during cooking
bases what baseball players like to steal
basis principal constituent of anything
basses many four-stringed guitars
bask to warm oneself pleasantly
basque tightfitting bodice or tunic (or, people of the Pyrenees)
bat a blind, flying rodent
batt a flat pad
baud bits per second
bawd brothel manager
bay an enclosed arm of the ocean
bey a Turkish official
be to exist
bee pollinating buzzer
beach where i want to be
beech a type of tree
bean a legume
been past tense of be
beat to hit
beet edible red root
beau male friend
bow a curve or bend; double-slipped reef knot
beaut slang for beauty, beautiful
butte steep sided hill
been past tense of be
bin a box or container
beer universally brewed comfort food
bier a temporary frame for a coffin
bel indian thorn tree
Bel Babylonian god
bell ding ding
belle beautiful woman
berth anchorage
birth your method of arrival
besot to get drunk
besought past tense of beseech
better superior
bettor one who bets
bight middle of a rope
bite a mouthful
byte eight bits
billed has a bill
build to construct
bit past tense of bite
bitt large cleat for tying up ships
blew past tense of blow
blue color of California sky
bloc an alliance
block square object
boar wild pig
Boer a South African of Dutch descent
boor tasteless buffoon
bore not interesting
board a plank
bored not interested
boarder lodger who gets meals, too
border perimeter
bode an omen
bowed curved
bold brave
bowled knocked over
bolder more courageous
boulder large rock
bole trunk
boll round seed pod
bowl dish
boos disparaging sounds from fans
booze whiskey
born brought into life
borne past participle of bear
bourn a small stream or boundary
borough township
burrow dig into the ground
bough tree branch
bow front of a ship; respectful bend
bouy navigational aid
boy male child
bra brassiere
braw well-groomed
braid a weave of three strands
brayed a donkey cried
braise cook with oil and water
brays loud, harsh cry
brake stopping device
break to split apart
breach to break through
breech the back part
bread a loaf
bred past tense of breed
brewed fermented
brood family
brews more than one beer
bruise a contusion
bridal pertaining to brides
bridle horse's headgear
broach to raise a subject
brooch an ornament fastened to clothes
brows multiple foreheads
browse grazing
bundt type of cake
bunt hit a pitch without swinging
burger meat sandwich
burgher merchant
bus large multi-passenger vehicle
buss a kiss
bussed kissed
bust head and shoulders sculpture
but excepting
butt the thick end
buy to purchase
by near
bye farewell
buyer one who purchases
byre a cow barn
C
cache hidden storage
cash legal tender
cached hidden away
cashed converted to legal tender
calendar chart of days
calender paper press
call to summon
caul amnionic membrane
col a mountain pass
caller one who calls
collar my cat has collar ID
can't contraction of "can not"
cant a bevel
cannon big gun
canon body of law
canter a moderate gallop
cantor singer
canvas rough cloth
canvass to examine thoroughly
capital most important
capitol center of government
carat unit of weight for precious stones, equal to 200 milligrams
caret proofreader's insertion mark
carrot edible orange root
karat one 24th part of otherwise pure gold
carol Christmas song
carrel study enclosure
carpal a bone of the carpus
carpel a pistil
cast to throw
caste a social class
caster one who throws
castor beaver's smelly gland
cause generative force
caws sounds of crows
cay a low island
key opens locks
quay a wharf
cedar an evergreen tree
seeder one who broadcasts seeds
cede to give
seed part of a plant from which a new one grows
ceding giving
seeding planting
ceiling top of the room
sealing to close a package or envelope
cell a small room
sell to exchange for money
cellar under a house
seller one who sells
censer incense dish
censor bad people who fear knowledge
sensor a device which detects
census numbering
senses faculties
cent one hundredth of a dollar
scent an aroma
sent dispatched
cents hundredths of a dollar
scents many things to smell
sense detection equipment
cere waxy fleshy covering at the base of the upper beak in some birds
sear to scorch
seer a prophet
sere natural succession of plant or animal communities
cereal grains
serial numbers in sequence
Ceres Roman Goddess of agriculture
series a sequence of things
cession giving up
session a group sitting
chalk calcareous earthy substance
chock wedge to keep wheels from rolling
chance happenstance
chants more than one litany
chard spinach-like vegetable
charred burnt
chased quickly followed
chaste virginal
check a tic mark
Czech from Czechoslovakia
chews masticating
choose to select
Chile a South American country
chili dried pod of red pepper
chilly uncomfortably cool
choir church singers
quire the twentieth part of a ream of paper
choler yellow bile
collar around your neck
choral by a chorus
coral marine polyp skeleton
chorale a choir
corral a pen for horses
chord three tones in harmony
cord very light rope
cored divested of its central part
chute inclined trough
shoot to project an object
cite to refer to
sight vision
site a location
cited referenced
sighted visually identified
sited located
cites past tense of cite
sights tourist rationale
sites more than one location
clack a chattering sound
claque a group hired to applaud, sycophants
Claus fat, jolly guy with presents
clause contractual unit
claws big fingernails
clew sheet cringle on a sail
clue a hint
click ticking noise
clique exclusive group
climb ascending
clime climate
close to shut
clothes garments
coal black mineral
cole plants in the crucifer family
coaled supplied with coal
cold not supplied with coal
coarse rough
course path of travel
coat wear it for warmth
cote small animal shed
coax persuade
cokes more than one soft drink
cocks more than one male bird
cox a coxswain
Cox a variety of eating apple
coddling tenderly treating
codling small, unripe apple
coffer a strongbox; decorative, sunken ceiling panels
cougher one who coughs
coin money
quoin corner stone
colonel military officer
kernel seed
complacence self-satisfaction
complaisance willingness to please
complacent self-satified
complaisant willing to please
complement allotment
compliment encomium
conch marine mollusk
conk blow to the head
coo a soft murmuring sound
coup a successful stroke
copes gets along with adversity
copse a stand of trees
copped swiped
copt a native Egyptian to a Roman
cops police officers
copse a small wood
core inner part
corps body
cosign to sign in addition
cosine sine of the complement
council group of leaders
counsel advisor
craft a manual occupation
kraft a strong paper made from wood pulp
crater impact hole
krater ancient Greek jar
Crays more than one supercomputer
craze sensation needed to buy more than one supercomputer
creak to squeak
creek small stream
crewed served by a crew
crude coarse
crewel embroidery yarn
cruel merciless
crews more than one crew
cruise a sea journey
cue a signal
Kew home of the famous English gardens
queue a waiting line (another famous English-ism)
currant small berry
current of the present
curser one who swears
cursor on-screen positional indicator
cygnet a young swan
signet an authenticating seal
cymbal percussive brass dish
symbol a representation
D
dam holds back water
damn a curse
dammed prevented from flowing
damned cursed
darn to mend
darne a fish steak
days more than one day
daze to bewilder
dear beloved
deer Bambi
dew morning condensation
do to perform
due payable
die to become dead
dye coloring agent
died passed away
dyed colored
dies passing away
dyes colors
dine to eat
dyne unit of energy
dire desperate
dyer one who dyes
disc a phonograph record
disk a round, plate-shaped object
discreet confidential
discrete individual
discussed talked about
disgust sickening
do first note of diatonic scale
doe a female deer
dough uncooked bread
doc a physician
dock where a boat is kept
does several female deer
doughs several uncooked breads
doze to nap
done completed
dun demand money
dos opposite of don'ts
dues membership payments
draft a preliminary written version
draught a gust of wind; depth of water needed to float a ship
dual two things
duel a fight between two over honor
E
e'er, see: air
e'er, see: air
earl British nobleman
URL Internet address
earn to come to deserve
urn a jar
effect, see: affect
eh, see: a
eight, see: ate
elicit to draw out
illicit unlawful
elude to escape from
illude to deceive
epic a narrative poem or story
epoch a noteworthy period in history
ere, see: air
err, see: air
eunuchs men unable to serve all of humanity
Unix operating system unable to serve all of humanity
ewe female sheep
yew a type of tree
you the second person
ewes more than one female sheep
use to apply
yews more than one yew tree
eye, see: aye
eyelet small hole for laces
islet small island
F
facts objective things
fax obsolete, but widespread, image transmission technology
fain willing
feign pretend to be affected
faint pass out
feint a weak, misdirected attack to confuse the enemy
fair even-handed
fare payment
fairing streamlining
faring the state of progress
fairy imaginary magic person
ferry river-crossing boat
faker a deceiver
fakir a Hindu ascetic
farrow a litter of pigs
pharoah Egyptian king
faux fake
foe enemy
fay a fairy
Faye a woman's name
fey strange and otherwordly
fays more than one fairy
faze to disconcert
faze to stun
phase a part of the sequence
fazed stunned
phased done in sequential parts
feat an accomplishment
feet look down
ferrate a salt containing iron and oxygen
ferret a domesticated polecat
feted celebrated
fetid stinking
few not many
phew expression of relief
file a folder for holding papers
phial a small glass bottle
fills plural of fill
fils one one-thousandth of an Iraqi dinar
filter keep the bad stuff from passing through
philter a love potion
find to locate
fined to have to pay a parking ticket
finish to complete
Finnish from Finland
fir evergreen tree
fur animal hair
furr to separate with strips of wood
fisher one who fishes
fissure a crack
flair verve
flare to spread
flea parasitic insect
flee to run away
flecks many tiny specks
flex to bend
flew past tense of fly
flu short for influenza
flue chimney pipe
Flo a girl's name
floe sheet of floating ice
flow to glide along
flocks more than one group of birds
phlox a scented plant
floes sheets of floating ice
flows glides along
floor what one walks on
fluor something that glows
flour powdered grain
flower a bloom
for in place of
fore in front
four number after three
forego to precede
forgo to abstain from
foreword introduction to a book
forward the facing direction
fort a fortification
forte a person's strong point
forth a direction
fourth following the third
foul grossly offensive to the senses
fowl domestic hen or rooster
frees releasing
freeze very cold
frieze a wall decoration
friar a monk
fryer small chicken
G
gaff a barbed spear
gaffe a mistake
gage a pledge or security deposit
gauge instrument for measuring
gait a manner of walking or running
gate fence door
gaited describing a walking horse
gated having a gate
galley ship's kitchen
gally to frighten or terrify
gallop horse's fastest gait
galop a round dance
gays a frisky gathering
gaze a languid look
gene a chromosome
jean cotton twill
gild to coat with gold
gilled having gills
guild a craft society
gilt gold-plated
guilt culpable
gin alcoholic beverage
jinn plural of jinni, a Muslim spirit or demon
gnawed chewed
nod head tilting
gneiss coarse-grained metamorphic rock of feldspar, quartz and mica
nice pleasant
gnu African antelope
knew past tense of know
new not old
gnus several antelope
news timely information
gored pierced by an animal's horns
gourd fleshy fruit with hard skin
gorilla large ape
guerrilla irregular soldier
grade a slope
grayed turned gray
graft to attach
graphed plotted
grate a lattice
great extremely good
grays more than one shade of black
graze to eat grass while wandering
grease lubricant
Greece Mediterranean country
greave leg armor
grieve to mourn
greaves more than one greave
grieves to mourn
grill to sear cook
grille an iron gate or door
groan reaction to hearing a pun
grown has gotten larger
guessed past tense of guess
guest a visitor
guide one who shows the way
guyed secured with a rope or wire
guise appearance
guys Garrison Keillor's obsession
gunnel small, eel-shaped marine fish; butterfish
gunwale upper part of sides of a boat
gym sports room
Jim nickname for James
H
hail frozen rain
hale robust health
hair grows from your head
hare rabbit
hairy having much hair
Harry a man's name
harry to harass or hunt
hall a large room
haul to carry
halve break in two
have to hold in possession
halves more than one half
haves those who possess
hammock rope bed
hummock low, rounded hill
hangar garage for airplanes
hanger from which things hang
Harold a man's name
herald a horn blower
hart a stag
heart blood pump
haut high, as in "haut couture"
ho an expression of admiration or surprise
hoe garden tool
hay grass
hey a shout
hays more than one type of hay
haze atmospheric obscuration due to water or dust
he'd contraction of "he would"
heed to pay attention
he'll contraction of "he will"
heal to make well
he'll contraction of "he will"
hill smaller than a mountain
heal to cure of disease
heel hind part of foot
hear to listen
here at this location
heard listened to
herd a group of ruminants
heigh an exclamation
hi a greeting
hie to go quickly
high way up
heir, see: air
heroin narcotic
heroine female hero
hew to chop
hue a color
Hugh a man's name
hide animal skin
hied hurried
higher farther up
hire to employ
him pronoun
hymn religious song
hoar a white frost
whore a prostitute
hoard a great stash
horde a great many people
whored prostituted
hoarse rough voice
horse equine
hoes more than one garden weeding tool
hose tube for watering garden weeds
hold to grip
holed full of holes
hole round opening
whole entirety
holey perforated
holy with religious significance
wholly completely
hostel inexpensive lodging for travelers
hostile unfriendly
hour sixty minutes
our possessed by us
hours time measurement
ours belonging to us
humerus funny bone
humorous funny
I
I, see: aye
I'll, see: aisle
I'll, see: aisle
idle not working
idol object of worship
idyl paradise
illicit, see: elicit
illude, see: elude
in expressing inclusion
inn hotel
inc short for incorporated
ink writing fluid
incite to provoke
insight understanding
innocence a state without guilt
innocents more than one innocent
inns hotels
ins those on the inside
isle, see: aisle
islet, see: eyelet
it's contraction of "it is"
its possessive pronoun
J
jam to smash together
jamb side post of a doorway
jean, see: gene
jewel precious stone
joule unit of energy measure
Jim, see: gym
jinn, see: gin
juggler one who juggles
jugular artery to head
K
karat, see: carat
kernel, see: colonel
Kew, see: cue
key, see: cay
knap crest of a hill; break with a hammer
nap a short sleep
knead working bread dough
need must have
knew, see: gnu
knickers woman's underwear
nickers those who nick
knight chivalrous man
night darkness
knit interlocking loops of yarn
nit louse egg
knits verb form of knit
nits louse eggs
knob handle
nob rich person
knock to rap
nock a notch in an arrow
knot fastening in cord
naught nothing
not negation
know to possess knowledge
no negation
knows "Only the shadow knows..."
noes "The noes have it..."
nose "Plain as the nose on your face..."
kraft, see: craft
krater, see: crater
L
lacks does not have
lax loose discipline
lain past tense of lay
lane narrow road
lam headlong flight
lamb baby sheep
lay to recline
lei a flower necklace
lays to recline
laze to recline with extreme prejudice
leis several flower necklaces
lea a meadow
lee downwind
li about one-third of a mile in China
leach washing action
leech sucking parasite
lead heavy metal
led guided
leak accidental escape of liquid
leek variety of onion
lean angle of repose
lien a claim on property
leas more than one meadow
lees the dregs
leased rented
least the minimum
lends allows to borrow
lens convex glass
lessen to reduce
lesson a segment of learning
liar tells falsehoods
lyre stringed instrument
lichen a fungus among us
liken to compare
lie an untruth
lye a caustic
lieu instead
loo British toilet
Lou short for Louis
lightening removing weight or darkness
lightning static electricity from the sky
limb tree branch
limn delineate
limbs arms or legs
limns to illuminate, as in a manuscript
links pieces of chain
lynx feral cat
literal taking words in their primary sense
littoral having to do with the shore
lo interjection
low not high
load cargo
lode mineral vein
load what is carried
lowed a cow mooed
loan allow to borrow
lone by itself
loch a lake
lock a security device
lochs more than one lake
locks more than one security device
lox salmon jerky
loon a water fowl
lune a crescent shape
loop a circular pattern
loupe a jeweler's monocular magnifier
loos several British toilets
lose fail to win
loot ill-gotten gains
lute stringed instrument
lumbar lower back
lumber dimensional wood
M
mach speed of sound
mock parody
made accomplished
maid young woman
mail postal delivery
male masculine person
main primary
mane back hair
maize corn
maze puzzle
mall hallway
maul shred
moll gangster's girlfriend
manner method
manor lord's house
marc coarse brandy
mark a sign
marque a license to privateer; a brand
marquee a rooflike projection over a theatre entrance
marquis a nobleman ranking between a duke and a count
marry to join in matrimony
merry happy
marshal to gather
martial warlike
massed grouped together
mast sail pole
Mays several spring months
maze a labyrinth
me myself
mi musical note
mean average
mein manner
meat animal flesh
meet to connect
mete a boundary
medal an award
meddle to interfere
men's owned by males
mends to repair
metal ductile element
mettle moxie
mewl to whimper
mule offspring of female horse and male donkey
mews stables
muse creative inspiration
might possible
mite tiny creature
mince chop finely
mints aromatic candies
mind thinking unit
mined looked for ore
miner one who digs
minor small
missal hymn book
missile projectile
missed not hit
mist fog
misses young ladies
Mrs. married lady
moan to groan
mown the lawn is freshly cut
moat water around a castle
mote a speck
mode condition
mowed a lawn in a well-trimmed condition
moiré optical illusion
moray eel
mood emotional state
mooed what the loquacious cow did
moor swampy coastland; to anchor
more additional
moose a large elk
mousse dessert of whipped cream and eggs
moral a social imperative
morel a mushroom
morn AM
mourn remember the dead
morning AM
mourning remembering the dead
muscle fibrous, contracting tissue
mussel a bivalve mollusc
muscles more than one muscle
mussels more than one mussel
mussed made messy
must required
mustard spicy yellow sauce
mustered assembled for roll call
N
nap, see: knap
naught, see: knot
naval pertaining to ships and the sea
navel pertaining to the belly button
nay no
neigh a horse's cry
nays votes against
neighs a horse vocalizes
neap the lowest tide
neep a turnip
need, see: knead
new, see: gnu
news, see: gnus
nice, see: gneiss
nickers, see: knickers
night, see: knight
nit, see: knit
nits, see: knits
no, see: know
nob, see: knob
nock, see: knock
nod, see: gnawed
noes, see: knows
none not one
nun woman of God
nose, see: knows
not, see: knot
O
oar boat propulsion system
or boolean deathtrap
ore mineral-laden dirt
odd, see: awed
offal, see: aweful
oh interjection
owe to be indebted
ohs more than one letter "O"
owes in debt
one singularity
won victorious
oohs as in "oohs and ahs"
ooze slime
oracle, see: auricle
oral, see: aural
ordinance a decree
ordnance artillery
ought, see: aught
our, see: hour
ours, see: hours
overdo carried to excess
overdue past time for payment
P
paced measured by footsteps
paste thick glue
packed placed in a container
pact agreement
pail bucket
pale light colored
pain it hurts
pane a single panel of glass
pair a set of two
pare cutting down
pear bottom-heavy fruit
palate taste
pallet a platform for transporting goods; bed
pallette a selection of paint
pall to become wearisome
Paul barefoot Beatle
pawl locks a ratchet
passed approved; moved on
past before now
patience being willing to wait
patients being willing to wait
pause to hesitate
paws cat transportation
pea round, green legume
pee piss
peace what hippies want
piece what hippies want
peak mountain top
peek secret look
pique ruffled pride
peal ringing sound
peel fruit wrapping
pealed rang with sound
peeled ready to eat
pearl round, luminescent gem from an oyster
purl to edge with a chain of small loops
pearl something of value made from an irritant
Perl something of value made from an irritant
pedal foot control
peddle to sell
peer an equal (a captain at sea has no peer)
pier wharf (a captain at sea has no pier)
pencil writing implement
pensil thin, swallowtail flag
per for each
purr endearing cat hum
pharoah, see: farrow
phase, see: faze
phased, see: fazed
phew, see: few
phew, see: few
phial, see: file
philter, see: filter
phlox, see: flocks
pi 3.1416
pie good eating
picnic outdoor meal
pyknic physiological type with thick neck, large abdomen and short limbs
pieced assembled from pieces
piste a ski run of compacted snow
pincer claw-like gripping action
pincher one who pinches
pinscher terrier
pistil seed-bearing organ of a flower
pistol hand gun
place a location
plaice a flounder
plain not fancy
plane a surface
plait braid
plate a dish
planar flat
planer one who planes
pleas crys for help
please good manners
pleural related to lungs
plural more than one
plum purple fruit
plumb straight up and down
polar relating to the North or South poles
poler one who uses a pole
Pole a person from Poland
pole big stick
poll a voting
poled a pole was used
polled lacking horns
pone the dealer's opponent in two-handed card games
pony a small horse
poor no money
pore careful study; microscopic hole
pour to flow freely
popery a disparaging term for Catholics
potpourri a miscellaneous collection
praise to commend
prays worships God
preys hunts
pray worship God
prey hunt
precedence priority
precedents established course of action
presidents commanders-in-chief
presence the state of being present
presents what Santa brings
pride ego
pryed opened
pries wedging open
prize the reward
prince son of the King
prints impressions
principal head of school
principle causative force
profit money earned
prophet seer
pros multiple experts
prose ordinary language
psi twenty-third letter of Greek alphabet
sigh sad and weary breath
xi fourteenth letter of Greek alphabet
Q
quarts several fourths-of-gallons
quartz crystalline rock
quay, see: cay
queue, see: cue
quince small, round fruit
quints multiple quintuplets
quire, see: choir
quoin, see: coin
R
rabbet a groove cut in a board
rabbit small mammal
rack shelf
wrack wreckage
racket illegal moneymaking scheme
racquet woven bat for tennis
rain precipitation
reign sovereign rule
rein horse's steering wheel
raise elevate
rays thin beams of light
raze to tear down completely
"raise" is the antonym of "raze" rap a sharp knock
wrap to encase in cloth
rapped knocked sharply
rapt spellbound
wrapped encased in cloth
ray arrow of light
re musical note
read having knowledge from reading
red a primary color
read to get the meaning by looking
rede advice
reed tall, thin water plant
reading what you are doing now
reeding a small semicylindrical moulding or ornamentation
reads gets the meaning by looking
reeds more than one aquatic plant
real authentic
reel armature for winding
recede to move backward
reseed to plant again
reck to care
wreck a ruin
reek smells bad
wreak to inflict
resinate to impregnate with resin
resonate sympathetic vibration
resisters protesters
resistors electrical restrictors
rest stop working
wrest take away
retch call Ralph on the porcelain telephone
wretch a ragamuffin
review a general survey or assessment
revue a series of theatrical sketches or songs
rheum watery discharge of mucous
room partitioned space
rheumy having a watery discharge of mucous
roomie colloquialism for "roommate"
roomy lots of space
rho seventeenth letter of Greek alphabet
roe fish eggs
row aisle; pull an oar
rhumb a constant compass direction
rum liquor distilled from sugar cane
rhyme a verse with regular recurrence of sounds
rime frost
rigger one who rigs
rigor discipline
right correct
rite ritual
wright a maker
write to inscribe
ring circle around your finger
wring twisting
rise to stand up
ryes varieties of grain
road a broad trail
rode past tense of ride
rowed to propel a boat by oars
roam to wander
Rome Italian capital
roil to make turbid
royal worthy of a king or queen
role part to play
roll rotate
rood a cross
rude coarse
roomer a tenant
rumor gossip
root subterranean part of a plant
route path of travel
rose pretty flower
rows linear arrangement
rot decay
wrought made
rote by memory
wrote has written
rough coarse
ruff pleated collar
rout to force out
route path of travel
roux cooked butter and flour
rue regret
rude impolite
rued regretted
rye grain
wry twisted
S
sachet a small bag containing perfumed powder
sashay to strut or flounce
sacks bags
sax short for saxophone
sail wind powered water travel
sale the act of selling
sane mentally normal
seine fishing net
saner more mentally normal than others
seiner one who fishes with a net
saver one who saves
savor to relish a taste
sawed cut timber
sod turf
scene visual location
seen past tense of saw
scent, see: cent
scents, see: cents
scull rowing motion
skull head bone
sea ocean
see to look
seal to close
seel to close someone's eyes
sealing, see: ceiling
seam row of stitches
seem appears
seamen sailors
semen male discharge
seams more than one rows of stitching
seems it appears to be
sear scorched
seer a person who sees
sear, see: cere
seas oceans
sees looks
seize to grab
sects religious factions
sex if you have to ask, you're too young
seed, see: cede
seeder, see: cedar
seeding, see: ceding
seek to look for
Sikh Hindu religious sect
seer, see: cere
sell, see: cell
seller, see: cellar
sense, see: cents
senses, see: census
sensor, see: censer
sent, see: cent
sere, see: cere
serf slave
surf breaking waves
serge strong twilled fabric
surge forceful push
serial, see: cereal
series, see: Ceres
session, see: cession
sew needle and thread
so in the manner shown
sol musical note
sow broadcasting seeds
sewer one who sews
sower one who sows
sewer waste drain
suer one who sues
shake vibrate
sheik Arab prince
shall is allowed
shell aquatic exoskeleton
she'll contraction of "she will"
shill a decoy
shear to cut or wrench
sheer thin; abrupt turn
shears cuts or wrenches; scissors
sheers abruptly turns
sheave pulley
shiv knife
shoe footwear
shoo "go away"
shoes more than one shoe
shoos sends away
shoot, see: chute
sic to set upon
sick ill
sics sets upon
six whole number
side lateral
sighed breathed sorrowfully
sigh, see: psi
sighs multiple sad and weary breaths
size magnitude
sight, see: cite
sighted, see: cited
sights, see: cites
sign displayed board bearing information
sine reciprocal of the cosecant
signet, see: cygnet
sink to submerge
synch together in time
Sioux tribe of native Americans
sou French coin worth five centimes
sough soft sound
sue bring civil action
site, see: cite
sited, see: cited
sites, see: cites
slay kill
sleigh snow carriage
sleight cunning skill
slight not much
slew past tense of slay
slough bog
slue to swing around
sloe blackthorn berries
slow not fast
soar fly
sore hurt
soared to have sailed through the air
sword long fighting blade
solace comfort
soulless lacking a soul
sole only
soul immortal part of a person
some a few
sum result of addition
son male child
sun star
sonny diminutive for male child
sunny lit by the sun
soot black residue of burning
suit clothes
sordid squalid
sorted arranged
spade shovel
spayed to sterilize a female animal
spoor trail of an animal
spore single cell reproductive body
staid reserved
stayed remained
stair a step
stare look intently
stake wooden pole
steak slice of meat
statice an astringent herb
status position with regard to law
stationary not moving
stationery writing paper
steal take unlawfully
steel iron alloy
step a measure taken
steppe a level, grassy, unforested plain
stile narrow passage
style mode
stoop a small porch
stoup a drinking cup
storey the horizontal divisions of a building
story a narrative tale
straight not crooked
strait narrow waterway
succor relief
sucker one who sucks
suede split leather
swayed curved; convinced
suite ensemble
sweet sugary
summary precis
summery like summer
sundae ice cream with syrup on it
Sunday first day of the week
symbol, see: cymbal
T
tach short for tachometer
tack small nail
tacks small nails
tax governmental tithe
tail spinal appendage
tale story
tailer one who hauls in on a ship's line
tailor one who makes clothes
taper wedge-shaped
tapir hoglike, Malaysian mammal
tare allowance for the weight of packing materials
tear to rip
taught past tense of teach
taut stretched tight
tea herbal infusion
tee golfball prop
ti musical note
team a group working together
teem to swarm
teaming a fortuitous pairing
teeming a swarming
tear eyeball lubricant
tier a horizontal row
teas more than one herbal infusion
tease tantalize
tees more than one tee
tenner English slang for a ten pound note
tenor tendency
tense nervous
tents more than one temporary shelter
tern a shorebird
terne alloy of lead and tin
turn rotate
Thai from Thailand
tie a draw
the denoting persons already mentioned
thee objective case of thou
their belonging to them
there a place
they're contraction of "they are"
threw to propel by hand
through from end to end
throe a spasm of pain
throw to discharge through the air
throes spasms of pain
throws discharging through the air
throne the royal seat
thrown was hurled
thyme herb
time natures way of keeping everything from happening at once
tic twitch
tick small noise; parasitic bug
ticks the sounds of a clock
tics more than one twitch
tide periodic ebb and flow of oceans
tied passed tense of tie
tighten to make tighter
titan a giant
timber wood for building
timbre musical quality
tire round, rubber things on your car
tyer one who ties
to toward
too also
two a couple
toad frog
toed having toes
towed pulled ahead
tocsin an alarm
toxin a poison
tocsins more than one alarm
toxins more than one poisons
toe forepart of the foot
tow to pull ahead
told what was spoken
tolled a bell was rung
tole lacquered metalware
toll a tax or charge
ton 2000 lbs.
Tun a large cask
tongue mouth muscle
tung Chinese tree and its oil (similar to linseed)
toon cartoon personality
tune song
tort a sweet cake for lawyers
torte a sweet cake for kids
tough difficult
tuff a stratified, porous rock
tracked having tracks
tract a plot of land
tray a platter
trey three; Bill Gates' nickname
troop a company of soldiers
troup a company of actors
trooper a private soldier
trouper a staunch colleague
troopers several soldiers
troupers multiple actors
trussed tied up
trust faith
U
Unix, see: eunuchs
URL, see: e'er,
urn, see: earn
use, see: ewes
V
vain worthless
vane flat piece moving with the air
vein blood vessel
vale valley
veil gauzy fabric
vary to change
very extremely
verses paragraphs
versus against
vial narrow glass container
vile despicable
viol stringed instrument
vice bad habit
vise bench-mounted clamp
W
The "W" section is specially dedicated to Lem Bingley. WACs members of the Women's Army Corps
wax candle stuff
whacks several blows
wade walk in shallow water
weighed weight was measured
wail a cry
wale welt; corduroy ridge
whale large oceanic mammal
wain a wagon
wane decrease
Wayne a man's name
waist between ribs and hips
waste make ill use of
wait remain in readiness
weight an amount of heaviness
waive give up rights
wave undulating motion
waiver contract for giving up rights
waver rocking motion
Wales Western division of UK
wales corduroy ridges
whales a pod of ocean mammals
walk perambulate
wok Chinese cooking pan
walks moves by foot
woks salient feature of a Chinese kitchen
want desire
wont accustomed
war large scale armed conflict
wore past tense of wear
ware merchandise
wear attire
where a place
warn to advise of a hazard
worn displaying evidence of use
warrantee one who is protected by a guarantee
warranty a guarantee
warship naval implement of destruction
worship revere in a religious manner
wary cautious
wherry light row boat
way path or direction
weigh to measure weight
whey watery part of milk
we us
wee very small
we'd contraction of "we would"
weed like how our flowers won't grow
we'll contraction of "we will"
wheel what we keep reinventing
we're contraction of "we are"
weir a low dam, or a fence in a river for catching fish
we're contraction of "we are"
were past tense plural of "to be"
whir prolonged swish or buzz
we've contraction of "we have"
weave to make cloth
weak not strong
week seven days
weal a skin welt
wheel what we in Silicon Valley continually reinvent
weald a rural area
wheeled having wheels
wield to apply or use
weather meteorological conditions
wether a castrated ram
whether if it be the case
weld to join metal by melting its edges
welled pouring forth
wen a benign skin tumor
when at a specific time
wet watery
whet prime
which selection
witch broomstick ridin' crones
whig supporter of American revolution
wig false hairpiece
while during
wile craft
whiled passing the time
wild untamed
whine annoying cry
wine fermented grape juice
whined past tense of whine
wind what you do to a clockwork
wined drank well of spirits
whirled rapidly rotated
world Earth
whirred made a whizzing or buzzing sound
word a speech sound
whit insignificant amount
wit cleverness; sense of humor
whither to which place, point, condition, etc.?
wither shrivel up
who's contraction of "who is"
whose belonging to whom
whoa equestrian directive to stop
woe despair
whole, see: hole
wholly, see: holey
whore, see: hoar
whored, see: hoard
why how come?
wye the shape of the letter "Y"
won, see: one
won't contraction of "will not"
wont accustomed
wood what trees are made of
would will do
worst least best
wurst sausage
wrack, see: rack
wrap, see: rap
wrapped, see: rapped
wreak, see: reek
wreck, see: reck
wrest, see: rest
wretch, see: retch
wright, see: right
wring, see: ring
write, see: right
wrote, see: rote
wrought, see: rot
wry, see: rye
X
xi, see: psi
Y
y'all Southern contraction of "you all"
yawl two-masted sailboat with mizzenmast abaft the tiller
yack informal talk
yak long-haired Tibetan ox
yew, see: ewe
yews, see: ewes
yoke oxen harness
yolk yellow egg center
yokes more than one harness
yolks an omelet
yore the past
you're contraction of "you are"
your belonging to you
you, see: ewe
you'll contraction of "you will"
yule Christmas
Z
Sets of homonyms: 706
Homonyms: 1529
New words: 487
References: 114
Last updated: 2/15/1997
Go to All About Homonyms
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Copyright © 1996-2001, Alan Cooper. Talk back to me!