Common Homophones: 120+ Most Important Homophones in English

Homophones, a linguistic phenomenon that continues to confound and amuse, have long been a source of both amusement and confusion for language enthusiasts. This article presents a comprehensive list of common homophones, carefully curated to enhance the reader’s understanding of this phonetic curiosity.

Learn more about List of Homonyms in English

120+ Common Homophones in English

Table of Contents

Common Homophones List

Here is the list of more than 120 common homophones in English:

accede — exceed
accept — except
addition — edition
adds — adz — ads
affect — effect
ale — ail
all ready — already
ayes — eyes
baa — bah
bail — bale
bass — base
baste — based
bate — bait
bated — baited
dense — dents
descent — dissent
dun — done
dye — die
dyeing — dying
fare — fair
fate — fete
faun — fawn
fax — facts
flour — flower
flow — floe
flower — flour
flu — flue — flew
flyer — flier
foaled — fold
fort — forte
graft — graphed
graham — gram
graphed — graft
greece — grease
grill — grille
grisly — grizzly
groan — grown
guerilla — gorilla
guessed — guest
guild — gild
guilder — gilder
guilt — gilt
gym — Jim
hail — hale
hair — hare
hall — haul
halve — have
handmade — handmaid
handsome — hansom
hangar — hanger
hay — hey
hays — haze
he’d — heed
he’ll — heal — heel
hear — here
heard — herd
heart — hart
heroin — heroine
hertz — hurts
hew — hue
hey — hay
hi — high
higher — hire
him — hymn
hire — higher
ho — hoe
hoard — horde
hoarse — horse
hoe — ho
hoes — hose
hole — whole
holed — hold
hour — our
hue — hugh — hew
humerus — humorous
hurts — hertz
hymn — him
I — eye
I’ll — aisle — isle
idle — idol — idyll
illicit — elicit
illusion — allusion
illusive — allusive — elusive
incite — insight
innocence — innocents
jam — jamb
jean — gene
jell — gel
jibe — gibe
carat — carrot
kernel — colonel
knap — nap
knave — nave
kneed — need
lacks — lax
ladder — latter
lade — laid
lain — lane
lays — laze — leis
lea — lee
leach — leech
lead — led
leak — leek
lean — lien
leased — least
one — won
owe — oh
padded — patted
reed — read
reek — wreak
reel — real
soled — sold
some — sum
son — sun
tied — tide
tier — tear
veil — vale
vice — vise
vile — vial
wader — waiter

Homophones List with Meanings

Accede – To agree to a request or demand.
Exceed – To go beyond a limit or standard.

Accept – To receive or take something.
Except – To exclude or leave out.

Addition – An increase in quantity or number.
Edition – A particular version of a book or publication.

Adds – To increase in quantity or number.
Adz – A cutting tool used for shaping wood or other materials.
Ads – Short for advertisements.

Affect – To influence or cause a change.
Effect – A result or consequence of an action or influence.

Ale – A type of beer.
Ail – To be ill or in poor health.

All ready – Ready.
Already – Previously or before now.

Ayes – A formal expression of assent or agreement.
Eyes – The organs of sight in a person or animal.

Baa – The sound a sheep makes.
Bah – An expression of contempt or disapproval.

Bail – To provide security for the release of someone from jail.
Bale – A large bundle of goods tightly bound with cords or wire.

Bass – A type of fish or a low-frequency sound.
Base – The lowest part or foundation of something.

Baste – To moisten food while cooking to prevent drying.
Based – To have a foundation or basis in something.

Bate – To moderate or lessen the force or intensity of something.
Bait – Something used to entice or attract, often for fishing or trapping.

Lean – To incline or tilt to one side.
Lien – A legal claim or right to hold another’s property as security for payment of a debt.

Leased – To have a property or asset rented out to another person or business.
Least – The smallest in amount, size, or degree.

One – The number 1.
Won – Past tense of the verb “win”.

Owe – To be indebted or obligated to pay someone else.
Oh – An exclamation used to express surprise, realization, or entreaty.

Padded – Filled or cushioned for protection or comfort.
Patted – Lightly tapped or touched with the hand.

Reed – A type of tall, narrow-leaved grass.
Read – Past tense of the verb “read”.

Reek – To give off an unpleasant or strong odor.
Wreak – To cause or bring about something, often destruction or havoc.

Reel – A device used for winding and storing cord or film.
Real – Actual or existing in fact.

Soled – To have a sole (bottom) added to a shoe or piece of clothing.
Sold – To have transferred ownership of a good or property in exchange for payment.

Some – An indefinite quantity or number.
Sum – An aggregate amount or total.

Son – A male offspring.
Sun – The star at the center of the solar system.

Tied – To have fastened or secured with a cord or rope.
Tide – The alternate rising and falling of the sea caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun.