Often, a word can have multiple meanings despite having the same sound or spelling. If someone does not have proper knowledge of such words, understanding English can be a difficult task.
Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings are called homophones.
Homo (same) + Phone (sound) = Homophone (same sound)
In this post, you will find the top 100 Homonyms Examples with Meaning.
Homonyms Examples with Meaning
1. Abate (become less strong): The ship waited in the harbour until the storm abated. Abet (to help someone to do something wrong): He was arrested for abetting the murder.
2. Accept (to agree or receive something): Accept the proposal. Except (not included): He answered all the questions except the last one.
3. Accede (consent): I cannot accede to your request. Exceed (surpass): The cost will not exceed Rs. 100.
4. Access (entrance): Students need easy access to books. Excess (more than sufficient): Excess of anything is not good at all.
5. Adapt (to fit one thing to another): Try to adapt to the new post/situation. Adopt (ergot pat; take up): She adopted my suggestions. Adept (skilful): He is adept in tinting.
6. Addition: Some additions have been made to the book. Edition: The latest edition of the book has come out.
7. Advice (counsel): You should follow the advice of your parents. Advise: The doctor advised him to take rest.
8. Affect (to act upon): Over-exercise has affected his health. Effect (result): The advertising campaign didn’t have much effect on sales.
9. Affection (feeling of love): Every mother has affection for her child. Affectation (pretence): He has an affectation to be a
10. Bail (security): The accused was released on bail. Bale (bundle): Bales of cotton are being unloaded from the truck. Bell: With the ringing of the bell the students enter the classroom.
11. Beneficial: (useful): Morning walk is beneficial to health, Beneficent (lit; doing good) The beneficent king established a school for the downtrodden people.
12. Biannual (twice every year): It is a biannual magazine. Biennial (once every two years): The city’s biennial food festival begins next week.
13. Bare (not covered by anything). He came here bare-footed. Bear (tolerate; endure): (i) I cannot bear such insult. (ii) The bear is a ferocious animal.
14. Bard (poet): Shakespeare is called ‘the Bard of Avon’. Bird: Eagle is a bird of prey. Beard: Sunil no longer wears a beard.
15. Born: He was born into a noble family. Borne (carried) Cholera is a water-borne disease.
Also, Read Examples of Homophones and Homonyms
16. Bathe (fast): He is bathing in the river. Bath: Have a bath in the bathroom.
17. Beside: I was sitting beside her. Besides: He knows two other languages besides Bengali.
18. Cast: Please cast your vote in favour of me. Caste: The caste system in India should be eradicated.
19. Carve: The sculptor carved the image out of stone. Curve: I saw the car at the curve of the road.
20. Casual (occasional): (i) Don’t be casual in your studies. (ii) Casual labour has been engaged to finish the work. Causal: There is no causal connection between the two incidents.
21. Cede: In 1871 France ceded Alsace Lorraine to Germany. Seed: Sow the seeds in moist compost.
22. Cease (to stop): They have ceased trading in that part of the world. Seize: All the goods/contraband have been seized. Seige (act): The city was under siege for 30 days.
21. Cent: A cent is a small American coin. Sent: They sent a letter to the editor of the newspaper. Scent: The scent of the perfume is very pleasing
22. Censor: The film was censored in India. Censure (reprove): He was censured for neglecting his duties.
23. Cell: (i) Plant cells produce by dividing. (ii) The convict has been kept in a cell. Sell (dispose of): I shall not sell my car.
24. Ceremonious: He gave us a ceremonious welcome. Ceremonial: Christmas is a ceremonial occasion.
25. Defer (postpone): The matter has been deferred until the next meeting. Differ (ope you): I differ from you on this point.
26. Deference (respect): You should treat your teachers with deference. Difference: There is a difference of views on this matter.
27. Dependant: Take care of your dependants. Dependent: He is dependent on his father. Defendant: The lawyer argued for the defendant.
28. Defy: Don’t defy my authority. Deify: They almost deified their mentor.
29. Desert: (i) Sahara is the largest desert in the world. ii) He deserted his own party and formed a new party. Dessert: The party was served with apples and sweets as dessert.
30. Depositary: He is the depositary of my legal documents. Depository: Bihar is a rich depository of coal.
Also, Read Correlative Conjunctions Examples
31. Dairy: Anand is the largest cooperative dairy in India. Diary: He recorded all the day’s events in his diary.
32. Earthy: (1) He has an earthy sense of humour. (ii) The ore is very earthy. Earthly: I do not care for earthly possessions.
33. Emigrant: He is an emigrant from India to the U.S.A. Immigrant: The U.S. government has granted citizenship to many immigrants.
34. Eminent: He was an eminent doctor. Imminent: A general election is now imminent.
35. Emerge: The sun emerged from behind the clouds. Immerse: Immerse the cloth in the dye.
36. Eruption: Volcanic eruption ruined the city. Irruption: Give a short account of the Mughal irruption during the Pathan rule.
37. Ensure (to make certain): We need to change the law to ensure fair treatment for all people. Insure: My house is insured against fire.
38. Elicit: The police elicited the truth after prolonged questioning. Illicit: He was involved in illicit trade in liquor.
39. Egoist: He is by nature an egoist and does not have any feelings for others. Egotist: I don’t like egotist people.
40. Extant: Some specimens of ancient Buddhist scriptures are still extant. Extent: I was surprised at the extent of his knowledge. Extinct: Several species of animals are extinct today.
41. Exceptional: The boy has exceptional qualities. Exceptionable: He apologised for his exceptionable conduct.
42. Elementary: He has not even an elementary knowledge of the subject. Elemental: The science cannot control the elemental fury.
43. Economic: The country’s economic policy is now determined by the ups and downs in the global market. Economical: A small car is more economical than a large one.
44. Expand: Iron expands when it is heated. Expend: You should not expend beyond your limit.
45. Fair: (i) She has a fair complexion. (ii) I bought this at the industrial trade fair. Fare: (i) What is the bus fare to Durgapur from Kolkata? (ii) He has fared well in the examination.
Also, Read Helping Verbs Examples
46. Farther: Durgapur is farther from Kolkata than Burdwan. Further: Police made further enquiries into the crime.
47. Flour: Bread is made of flour. Floor: He threw the book onto the floor.
48. Firm: He is firm (way) in his decision. Farm: They have a poultry farm of their own.
49. Fir: Firs are common in the lower Himalayas. Fur: A lamb’s body is covered with soft fur.
50. Familiar: Your face seems familiar to me. Familial: I do not like to meddle in your familial affairs.
51. Feel: We should feel for the handicapped. Fill: Fill the bucket with water.
52. Feast: We had a feast yesterday. Fist: She shook her fist angrily.
53. Moral: There is a moral in this story. Morale: The morale of the army was broken
54. Oar: The boat has two oars. Ore: Jharkhand abounds in iron ore.
55. Ordinance: The Governor issued a new ordinance. Ordnance: He works in the ordnance factory.
56. Observance: Observance of rules is necessary for discipline. Observation: He is under medical observation.
57. Knight: In medieval England, the Knights were very powerful. Night: Nights are longer in winter.
58. No: There is no reason for you to worry. Know: Do you know where she lives?
59. Need: He is in need of some help. Knead: He was kneading the flour into a dough.
60. Naughty: The boys are very naughty. Knotty: We are facing a knotty problem
Also, Read Modal Auxiliary Verbs Examples
61. Parson: The Parish has a kind, Parson. Person: He is an honest person
62. Patrol: The police are patrolling the streets. Petrol: I have no petrol for my car.
63. Persecute: The Jews were persecuted by the Nazis. Prosecute: He was prosecuted for stealing.
64. Pray: I will pray to God for your safety. Prey: The eagle is a bird of prey.
65. Promise: On the eve of the election many promises are given by the candidates. Premise: The law is based on e premise that people are innocent until they are proven to be guilty.
66. Peace: The old man died in peace. Piece: (i) The glass broke into pieces. (1) Give me a piece of paper.
67. Roll: Your name will be struck off the rolls. Role: He played an important role in organising the cricket tournament.
68. Riot: The army was called in to put down a riot. Ryot: The ryots of Bengal are poor.
69. Rout: The invading army was soon routed. Route: I went by bus route.
70. Register: The car is registered in my name. Registrar: He has applied for the post of registrar.
71. Reverend: The Reverend James Long translated ‘Nil Dorpan’ into English. Reverent: Be reverent in your attitude towards your elders.
72. Sanatory: Sanatory rules should be strictly observed in the hospital. Sanitary: Sanitary inspectors will be visiting all local restaurants.
73. Seize: The thief was seized by the police. Siege: They laid siege to the city.
74. Septic: Take care of this wound, otherwise it may turn septic. Sceptic: I am rather a sceptic of his claim that he is a graduate.
75. Sanguine: We are not very sanguine about our chances of success. Sanguinary: It was a sanguinary battle.
Also, Read Examples of Compound Prepositions
76. Site: This is the site for a new business centre. Cite: The minister supported his argument by citing the latest crime figures. Sight: She always faints at the sight of blood.
77. Soldier: He is a brave soldier. Shoulder: Put my jacket around your shoulders.
78. Sole: (i) The sole survivor of the crash was a baby. (ii) Get the sole of the shoes changed. Soul: Let his soul rest in peace.
79. Sore: He got a throat sore. Soar: (i) The temperature soared to 35°C. (ii) The eagle soars high in the sky. Shore: We were walking along the shore.
80. Some: There must be some reason for it. Sum: I have spent a large sum of money on repairing the house.
81. Sail: (i) A flock of birds sailed across the sky. (ii) He has sailed for Port Blair. Sale: This house is for sale. Sell: He sold his new car and bought an old one.
82. Steal: He used to steal money from his father’s drawer. Steel: There is a steel plant in Bokaro. Still: (i) Do you still live in Delhi? (ii) Mosquitoes breed in still water.
83. Sculptor: He is a famous sculptor. Sculpture: There are some interesting sculptures in the museum.
84. Stair: I have difficulty climbing the stairs. Stare: She stared at him in horror.
85. Urban: In India rural population exceeds the urban population. Urbane: His urbane manners pleased us all.
86. Vain: (i) We tried in vain to make him change his mind. (ii) She poses to be vain in dealing with others. Vein: (i) He spoke many things in a lighter vein. (ii) Veins return blood from the lungs to the heart. Vane: (i) The vanes of the propeller got entangled in the weeds. (ii) He reached the vane of the temple.
87. Venal: Venal politicians often bring shame to our political system. Venial: You need not mind his venial slips of the tongue.
88. Voluntary: He does voluntary work with old people. Volunteer: (i) This work costs us nothing, it is all done by volunteers. (ii) He volunteered to help me more.
89. Variance: Your deeds are at variance with your words. Variation: There are great variations in house prices in different parts of the country.
90. Ways: Just are the ways of God. Wage: The workers are paid their wages. Weighs: The packet weighs 5 kilos.
Also, Read Examples of Complex Sentences
91. Waste: Do not waste precious time. Waist: It is a nice skirt, but too big around the waist. West: The sun sets in the west.
92. Wail: She wailed with grief. Well: There is no water in the well.
93. Wave: The waves of the sea rolled on the shore. Waive: Some taxes were waived in favour of the company.
94. Warm: They gave us a warm welcome. Worm: The worm has eaten two books.
95. Word: Try to keep your word. Ward (Rost): The maternity ward of the hospital is very dirty.
96. Weak: He is too weak to walk. Week: There are seven days in a week. Wick: Please trim the wick of the lamp.
97. Wait: I waited for them at the station for two hours. Weight: He has put on a lot of weight recently.
98. Whole: I spent the whole day in bed. Hole: They have dug a hole in the road.
99. Weather: The weather is fine. Whether: He asked me whether I enjoyed my work or not.
100. Wheat: Wheat is one of the major cereals of India. Whet: (i) This knife needs whetting. (ii) The experience had whetted my appetite for adventure.
101. Wonder: I wonder at his rudeness. Wander: Tourists wandered idly through the city.
102. Yoke : (i) A yoke joins two things together. (ii) India was freed from the yoke of foreign rule in 1947. Yolk: The yellow part of an egg is its yolk.
103. Yawn: A yawn comes before sleep. Yon: The yon house belongs to a rich man.
You Asked, We Listened – List of All Grammar Chapters Updated 😍😍
Also, Read
Figures of Speech
Degrees of Comparison
Gerund
