Study Guide · Chapter 6
5. Homophones & Near-Homophones
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Homophones are words that sound identical (or, for near-homophones, very close to identical) but are spelled differently and carry different meanings. They are technically a vocabulary issue rather than a pure spelling issue, but Indian competitive exams test them inside exactly the same question formats as spelling errors — cloze passages, sentence-correction questions, and "choose the correct word" MCQs — because picking the wrong homophone produces a wrong word on the page, which is graded exactly like a misspelling. The table below covers more than eighty pairs and sets, each with a one-line meaning distinction and a worked example sentence for every word in the set, organized into thematic groups for easier revision.
5.1 Grammar-Function Homophones (possessives, contractions, pronouns)
| # | Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | their | possessive of "they" | "The students submitted their assignments on time." |
| 1 | there | refers to a place | "Please leave the documents over there." |
| 1 | they're | contraction of "they are" | "They're arriving at the venue by six o'clock." |
| 2 | your | possessive of "you" | "Is this your identity card?" |
| 2 | you're | contraction of "you are" | "You're required to report by 9 a.m." |
| 3 | its | possessive of "it" | "The committee announced its decision yesterday." |
| 3 | it's | contraction of "it is" or "it has" | "It's been a long day at the examination centre." |
| 4 | whose | possessive of "who" | "Whose file is this on the table?" |
| 4 | who's | contraction of "who is" or "who has" | "Who's responsible for verifying the documents?" |
| 5 | were | past tense of "are" | "They were present at yesterday's meeting." |
| 5 | we're | contraction of "we are" | "We're finalising the schedule this week." |
| 6 | whose | possessive, used for people or things | "Whose signature appears on the form?" |
| 6 | who's | contraction, used only for "who is/has" | "Who's going to chair tomorrow's session?" |
5.2 Everyday High-Frequency Homophone Pairs
| # | Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | affect | verb, "to influence" | "Heavy rain will affect the exam schedule." |
| 7 | effect | noun, "a result" (occasionally a verb meaning "to bring about") | "The effect of the new policy was immediate." |
| 8 | principal | adjective "main," or the head of an institution | "The principal addressed the students in the assembly." |
| 8 | principle | a fundamental rule or belief | "Honesty is a core principle of good governance." |
| 9 | stationary | not moving | "The vehicle remained stationary at the signal." |
| 9 | stationery | paper and writing materials | "The office ordered new stationery for the staff." |
| 10 | complement | to complete or go well with something | "Her calm manner complements his energetic style." |
| 10 | compliment | an expression of praise | "The examiner paid the candidate a genuine compliment." |
| 11 | discreet | careful and tactful in speech or action | "He was discreet about the confidential report." |
| 11 | discrete | separate and distinct | "The syllabus is divided into discrete units." |
| 12 | council | a group of people who advise or govern | "The city council approved the new budget." |
| 12 | counsel | advice, or the act of advising (also a lawyer) | "The senior officer offered wise counsel to the trainees." |
| 13 | elicit | to draw out a response | "The teacher tried to elicit answers from the class." |
| 13 | illicit | illegal or forbidden | "The police seized a large quantity of illicit goods." |
| 14 | desert | dry, sandy land; or to abandon | "The camel crossed the vast desert." |
| 14 | dessert | the sweet course of a meal | "They ordered dessert after dinner." |
| 15 | born | brought into life | "She was born in Hyderabad." |
| 15 | borne | carried, past participle of "bear" | "The cost of repairs was borne by the tenant." |
| 16 | cite | to quote or refer to as evidence | "The candidate cited a report in her essay." |
| 16 | site | a location or plot of land | "The construction site was inspected on Monday." |
| 16 | sight | the ability to see, or a view | "The mountain view was a beautiful sight." |
| 17 | passed | past tense of "to pass" | "She passed the examination with distinction." |
| 17 | past | a time before the present, or "beyond" | "He walked past the office without noticing." |
| 18 | peace | freedom from conflict | "The treaty brought peace to the region." |
| 18 | piece | a part or portion of something | "She read a piece of the report aloud." |
| 19 | weather | atmospheric conditions | "The weather turned cold overnight." |
| 19 | whether | introduces a choice or alternative | "She wasn't sure whether the office was open." |
| 20 | wear | to have on the body | "Candidates must wear their admit cards visibly." |
| 20 | ware | manufactured goods (as in "hardware") | "The shop sold kitchen ware and utensils." |
| 20 | where | asks or refers to a place | "Where is the examination hall located?" |
| 21 | allowed | given permission | "Calculators are not allowed in this section." |
| 21 | aloud | out loud, audibly | "The invigilator read the instructions aloud." |
| 22 | course | a direction, path, or programme of study | "She enrolled in a two-year course." |
| 22 | coarse | rough in texture | "The coarse fabric was uncomfortable to wear." |
| 23 | fair | just and unbiased; also a market/exhibition | "The examiner conducted a fair evaluation." |
| 23 | fare | the price of travel; or to get along | "The bus fare increased last month." |
| 24 | hear | to perceive sound | "Can you hear the announcement clearly?" |
| 24 | here | refers to this place | "Please sign here before you leave." |
| 25 | know | to have knowledge of | "Do you know the correct answer?" |
| 25 | no | a negative response | "No candidates were allowed to leave early." |
| 26 | letters and parcels, or to send them | "The mail arrived late this morning." | |
| 26 | male | of the masculine gender | "The form asks whether the applicant is male or female." |
| 27 | main | most important, primary | "The main gate was locked for security reasons." |
| 27 | mane | the long hair on a horse's or lion's neck | "The lion's mane was thick and dark." |
| 28 | meat | animal flesh used as food | "The market sold fresh meat and vegetables." |
| 28 | meet | to come together with someone | "The candidates will meet the panel at noon." |
| 29 | plain | simple, ordinary, or a flat area of land | "She wore a plain white shirt to the interview." |
| 29 | plane | an aircraft, or a flat surface | "The plane departed on schedule." |
| 30 | rain | precipitation from clouds | "The rain delayed the outdoor event." |
| 30 | reign | the period a ruler is in power | "The king's reign lasted three decades." |
| 30 | rein | a strap used to control a horse | "The rider pulled gently on the rein." |
| 31 | right | correct, or a legal entitlement | "You have the right to appeal the decision." |
| 31 | write | to put words on paper | "Candidates must write legibly in the answer sheet." |
| 32 | road | a path for vehicles | "The road to the examination centre was blocked." |
| 32 | rode | past tense of "ride" | "She rode her bicycle to the centre." |
| 33 | sea | a large body of salt water | "The port city lies beside the sea." |
| 33 | see | to perceive with the eyes | "Can you see the notice board from here?" |
| 34 | some | an unspecified quantity | "Some candidates arrived early." |
| 34 | sum | a total, or an amount of money | "The sum of the two numbers is fifty." |
| 35 | son | a male child | "Her son is preparing for the SSC exam." |
| 35 | sun | the star at the centre of our solar system | "The sun rose early over the hostel." |
| 36 | steal | to take without permission | "It is a crime to steal government property." |
| 36 | steel | a strong metal alloy | "The bridge was built using reinforced steel." |
| 37 | tail | the rear part of an animal | "The dog wagged its tail happily." |
| 37 | tale | a story | "The grandmother told an old folk tale." |
| 38 | waist | the narrow part of the human torso | "The belt was tied around his waist." |
| 38 | waste | to use carelessly, or unwanted material | "Do not waste time on questions you find difficult." |
| 39 | week | a period of seven days | "The results will be declared next week." |
| 39 | weak | lacking strength | "His grasp of grammar was still weak." |
| 40 | wood | the material from trees | "The furniture was made of solid wood." |
| 40 | would | past/conditional form of "will" | "She said she would attend the interview." |
5.3 Exam-Frequent and Formal-Register Homophones
| # | Word | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | altar | a raised structure used in religious ceremonies | "The couple stood before the altar." |
| 41 | alter | to change | "The committee decided to alter the schedule." |
| 42 | all together | everyone/everything in one place | "The team sat all together in the front row." |
| 42 | altogether | entirely, completely | "His explanation was altogether unconvincing." |
| 43 | assent | agreement or approval | "The President gave his assent to the bill." |
| 43 | ascent | the act of climbing upward | "The mountaineers began their ascent at dawn." |
| 44 | bare | uncovered or empty | "The walls of the room were bare." |
| 44 | bear | to carry or endure; also the animal | "She had to bear the burden of extra work." |
| 45 | berth | a sleeping place on a train or ship | "He booked a lower berth for the journey." |
| 45 | birth | the act of being born | "The certificate records her date of birth." |
| 46 | boarder | a person who lodges and takes meals at a place | "The hostel accommodated twenty boarders." |
| 46 | border | a boundary between regions or countries | "The two nations share a long border." |
| 47 | breach | a violation, or a gap/break | "The leak was a serious breach of security." |
| 47 | breech | the rear part of a gun barrel (also archaic for trousers) | "The soldier inspected the breech of the rifle." |
| 48 | canvas | heavy cloth used for painting or tents | "The artist stretched a fresh canvas." |
| 48 | canvass | to solicit votes or opinions | "Candidates canvass door to door before elections." |
| 49 | ceiling | the upper interior surface of a room; also an upper limit | "The government raised the ceiling on foreign investment." |
| 49 | sealing | closing something tightly | "The clerk was sealing the envelope with wax." |
| 50 | cereal | a grain-based food | "Wheat is an important cereal crop." |
| 50 | serial | occurring in a series | "The magazine published the story as a serial." |
| 51 | coarse | rough (also see entry 22) | "The coarse sand hurt their bare feet." |
| 51 | course | see entry 22 | "The training course lasted six weeks." |
| 52 | colonel | a military rank | "The colonel addressed the recruits." |
| 52 | kernel | the core or seed of a grain | "Each kernel of corn was carefully examined." |
| 53 | current | happening now; also a flow of water/electricity | "The current policy came into force last year." |
| 53 | currant | a small dried fruit | "The cake contained raisins and currants." |
| 54 | dual | consisting of two parts | "The officer holds dual responsibility." |
| 54 | duel | a formal fight between two people | "The two knights fought a duel." |
| 55 | eminent | distinguished, well-known | "An eminent scholar addressed the seminar." |
| 55 | imminent | about to happen very soon | "The storm's arrival was imminent." |
| 56 | flair | a natural talent | "She has a flair for languages." |
| 56 | flare | a sudden burst of light or emotion | "Tempers began to flare during the debate." |
| 57 | forth | forward, onward | "The troops marched forth at dawn." |
| 57 | fourth | the ordinal number after third | "She finished in fourth place." |
| 58 | gorilla | a large primate | "The zoo added a new gorilla enclosure." |
| 58 | guerrilla | an irregular soldier or fighter | "Guerrilla tactics were used in the resistance." |
| 59 | grate | to shred, or an iron framework | "She began to grate the cheese." |
| 59 | great | large, or excellent | "It was a great achievement for the team." |
| 60 | hoard | to store secretly in large quantity | "Traders began to hoard essential goods." |
| 60 | horde | a large crowd or group | "A horde of spectators gathered outside." |
| 61 | idle | not active, doing nothing | "The machine remained idle for weeks." |
| 61 | idol | an object of worship or admiration | "The cricketer became a national idol." |
| 62 | it's | see entry 3 | "It's important to verify your details." |
| 62 | its | see entry 3 | "The company revised its policy." |
| 63 | later | after some time | "We will discuss this later." |
| 63 | latter | the second of two things mentioned | "Of the two proposals, the latter was accepted." |
| 64 | lessen | to reduce | "The medicine helped lessen the pain." |
| 64 | lesson | something learned, or a class | "The teacher began the lesson on time." |
| 65 | loose | not tight (see also Rule 45) | "The screw had come loose." |
| 65 | lose | to misplace or fail to win | "Don't lose your admit card." |
| 66 | moral | concerning right and wrong; also a lesson | "The story had an important moral." |
| 66 | morale | the confidence or spirit of a group | "The team's morale improved after the win." |
| 67 | naval | relating to a navy | "The naval base was heavily guarded." |
| 67 | navel | the belly button | "The navel is located at the centre of the abdomen." |
| 68 | pedal | a foot-operated lever | "She pressed the brake pedal firmly." |
| 68 | peddle | to sell goods, often door to door | "Vendors peddle fruit along the highway." |
| 69 | pray | to offer prayer | "They gathered to pray before the exam." |
| 69 | prey | an animal hunted for food | "The eagle swooped down on its prey." |
| 70 | precede | to come before (see Rule 31) | "A brief introduction will precede the main speech." |
| 70 | proceed | to continue or go forward | "Please proceed to the next hall." |
| 71 | residence | a place where one lives | "The minister's official residence was renovated." |
| 71 | residents | people who live in a particular place | "The residents were informed about the power cut." |
| 72 | stationary | see entry 9 | "The queue remained stationary for an hour." |
| 72 | stationery | see entry 9 | "The clerk restocked the stationery cabinet." |
| 73 | statue | a sculpted figure | "A bronze statue stands in the town square." |
| 73 | stature | a person's height, or their reputation/importance | "He was a leader of great stature." |
| 74 | straight | without a bend or curve | "Draw a straight line across the page." |
| 74 | strait | a narrow passage of water; also difficulty | "Ships passed through the narrow strait." |
| 75 | suite | a set of connected rooms or furniture | "The hotel offered a spacious suite." |
| 75 | sweet | having a sugary taste | "The dessert was far too sweet." |
| 76 | throne | the ceremonial seat of a monarch | "The prince ascended to the throne." |
| 76 | thrown | past participle of "throw" | "The ball was thrown across the field." |
| 77 | vain | excessively proud; also "without success" | "His attempt was in vain." |
| 77 | vein | a blood vessel; also a seam of mineral | "The nurse located a vein for the injection." |
| 77 | vane | a device that shows wind direction | "The weather vane spun in the strong wind." |
| 78 | waive | to voluntarily give up a right or claim | "The bank agreed to waive the processing fee." |
| 78 | wave | a moving swell of water, or a hand gesture | "She gave a friendly wave from the platform." |
| 79 | who's | see entry 4 | "Who's attending the orientation session?" |
| 79 | whose | see entry 4 | "Whose responsibility is it to lock the gate?" |
| 80 | yolk | the yellow part of an egg | "The recipe calls for two egg yolks." |
| 80 | yoke | a wooden frame joining draught animals; also a burden | "The oxen were fitted with a wooden yoke." |
A practical note on using this section: in a cloze passage or sentence-correction question, decide the correct homophone by reading for meaning and grammatical role first, and only then confirm the spelling. Sound never tells you which one is correct — that is precisely what makes a homophone question a homophone question — but grammar almost always does: a possessive slot needs its/their/whose, a contraction slot needs it's/they're/who's, a noun slot needs principle/effect/stationery, and so on. Train yourself to ask "what job is this word doing in the sentence?" before you ask "how is it spelled?"
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