List of Homophones & Homonyms

Here’s a language refresher on Homophones: words that sound alike but have different spelling and meanings; and Homonyms: words having the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings.

List of Important Homophones & Homonyms for Competitive Exams

• accept // except

  accept
  verb
  to agree to receive or do

  except
  preposition
  not including

• accede // exceed

  accede
  verb
  to give one’s consent

  exceed
  verb
  to surpass or go beyond the limit

• access // excess

  access
  noun
  the means or the right to enter a place

  excess
  noun
  a quantity much larger than is needed

• adverse // averse

  adverse
  adjective
  unfavourable, harmful

  averse
  adjective
  strongly disliking; opposed

• advice // advise

  advice
  noun
  guidance or recommendations about what to do

  advise
  verb
  to recommend something

• affect // effect

  affect
  verb
  to change or make a difference to

  effect
  noun
  1. a result;
  2. the lighting, sound, or scenery used in a play, movie, or broadcast

• aisle // isle

  aisle
  noun
  a passage between rows of seats

  isle
  noun
  an island

• altar // alter

  altar
  a sacred table in a church

  alter
  to change

• assent // ascent

  assent
  agreement, approval

  ascent
  the action of rising or climbing up

• aural // oral

  aural
  relating to the ears or hearing

  oral
  relating to the mouth; spoken

• bated // baited

  bated
  adjective
  in phrase ‘with bated breath’, i.e. in great suspense; in an excited way

  baited
  adjective
  with bait attached or inserted

• born // borne

  born
  noun
  having started life

  borne
  carried

• breach // breech

  breach
  to break through, or break a rule; a gap

  breech
  the back part of a gun barrel

• climactic // climatic

  climactic
  forming a climax

  climatic
  relating to climate

• complement // compliment

  complement
  to add to so as to improve; an addition that improves something

  compliment
  to praise or express approval; an admiring remark

• cue // queue

  cue
  a signal for action; a wooden rod

  queue
  a line of people or vehicles

• curb // kerb

  curb
  to keep something in check; a control or limit

  kerb
  (in British English) the stone edge of a pavement

• desert // dessert

  desert
  a waterless, empty area; to abandon someone

  dessert
  the sweet course of a meal

• discreet // discrete

  discreet
  careful not to attract attention

  discrete
  separate and distinct

• dual // duel

  dual
  adjective
  consisting of two parts, elements, or aspects

  duel
  noun
  a fight or contest between two people

• elicit // illicit

  elicit
  to draw out a reply or reaction

  illicit
  not allowed by law or rules

• ensure // insure

  ensure
  to make certain that something will happen

  insure
  to provide compensation if a person dies or property is damaged

• envelop // envelope

  envelop
  to cover or surround

  envelope
  a paper container for a letter

• fawn // faun

  fawn
  a young deer; light brown

  faun
  a mythical being, part man, part goat

• forbear // forebear

  forbear
  to refrain

  forebear
  an ancestor

• foreword // forward

  foreword
  an introduction to a book

  forward
  onwards, ahead

• freeze // frieze

  freeze
  to turn to ice

  frieze
  a decoration along a wall

• loath // loathe

  loath
  reluctant, unwilling

  loathe
  to hate

• pedal // peddle

  pedal
  a foot-operated lever

  peddle
  to sell goods

• practice // practise

  practice
  the use of an idea or method; the work or business of a doctor, dentist, etc.

  practise
  to do something repeatedly to gain skill; to do something regularly

• principal // principle

  principal
  most important; the head of a school

  principle
  a fundamental rule or belief

• prophecy // prophesy

  prophecy
  noun
  a prediction

  prophesy
  verb
  say that (a specified thing) will happen in the future

• rational // rationale

  rational
  adjective
  based on clear thought and reason

  rationale
  noun
  the reasons or intentions that cause a particular set of beliefs or actions

• sceptic // septic

  sceptic
  a person inclined to doubt

  septic
  infected with bacteria

• stationary // stationery

  stationary
  not moving

  stationery
  writing materials

• tortuous // torturous

  tortuous
  adjective
  full of twists and turns; complex

  torturous
  adjective
  full of pain or suffering

• urban // urbane

  urban
  adjective
  relating to or concerned with a city or densely populated area

  urbane
  adjective
  (of a person, especially a man) suave, courteous, and refined in manner

• vale // veil

  vale
  noun
  a valley

  veil
  noun
  a piece of fine material worn by women to protect or conceal the face

• waive // wave

  waive
  verb
  refrain from insisting on or using (a right or claim)

  wave
  verb
  move one’s hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal
  noun
  a gesture or signal made by moving one’s hand to and fro

• weak // week

  weak
  adjective
  lacking physical strength and energy

  week
  noun
  a period of seven days

• weather // whether

  weather
  noun
  the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

  whether
  conjunction
  expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives

• wreath // wreathe

  wreath
  noun
  a ring-shaped arrangement of flowers, leaves etc.

  wreathe
  verb
  to surround or encircle (something)

• yoke // yolk

  yoke
  noun
  a wooden crosspiece for harnessing a pair of oxen

  yolk
  noun
  the yellow center of an egg

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