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HOMOPHONES

Updated: Jul 8, 2022

Have you ever wondered about the difference between the following words?

  • Brake x break

  • Deer x dear

  • Prize x price

These words are called homophones, which means that these words have different spelling but the same pronunciation.

Let's have a look at some commonest pairs which can be a nightmare for English students.


/breɪk/ The break was not working so I couldn't stop. X When is your lunch break?

Brake = the equipment in a car used for slowing down

Break = time for rest, a pause in a programme


/dɪə(r)/ I saw a deer in the field. X How are you, my dear?

Deer = a large brown animal with long thin legs

Dear = used for talking to someone you love or are friendly with


/praɪz/ She is a Nobel Prize winner. X What's the price of a new car?

Prize = a reward

Price = the amount of money you have to pay for something you want to buy


/teɪl/ Don't step on the cat's tail! X Do you want me to tell you a fairy tale?

Tail = a part at the back of an animal’s body that can move

Tale = a story about imaginary events or people


/həʊl/ Did you eat the whole cake? X We have a lot of holes in the garden.

Whole = a complete thing, all of something

Hole = space in surface


/hɪə(r)/ Did you hear the news? X No one was here.

Hear = notice sound, receive information

Here = an adverb meaning in or to this place


/miːt/ Do you eat meat? X Did you meet your friends at the weekend?

Meat = the flesh of an animal or bird eaten as food

Meet = come together with somebody


/hɜː(r)d/ Have you heard the news? X I have got a herd of cattle.

Heard = past participle of the verb hear

Herd = a large group of animals of the same type living and moving together


/daɪ/ When did you dye your hair? X When did your grandpa die?

Dye = to change the colour of something

Die = stop being alive


/weə(r)/ Where do you come from? X Were you at school?

Where = a conjunction, relative or question adverb referring to a place

Were = the past form of be in plural


/red/ Have you read this news? X I want to paint my walls red.

Read = the past participle of read

Red = the same colour as blood


/tɪə(r)/ We sat in the upper tier at the stadium. X Her eyes filled with tears.