100 examples of homonyms with sentences and meaning
Table of Contents
Homonyms List
1.ax – acts
2.axel – axle
3.axes – axis
4.beer – bier
5.beet – beat
6.bell – belle
7.berry – bury
8.berth – birth
9.better – bettor
10.bib – bibb
11.bight – bite
12.bury – berry
13.bussed – bust
14.but – butt
15.buy – by – bye
16.byte – bight
17.cache – cash
18.caddie – caddy
19.cain – cane
20.cheap – cheep
21.check – Czech
22.clique – click
23.colonel – kernel
24.coolie – coulee
25.coop – coupe
26.council – counsel
27.coup – coo
28.course – coarse
29.cousin – cozen
30.coward – cowered
31.coy – koi
32.cozen – cousin
33.craft – kraft
34.crape – crepe
35.crawl – kraal
36.creak – creek
37.crepe – crape
38.dyeing – dying
39.fare – fair
40.fate – fete
41.faun – fawn
42.fax – facts
43.faze – phase
44.feat – feet
45.feint – faint
46.fends – fens
47.flour – flower
48.flow – floe
49.flower – flour
50.flu – flue – flew
51.graft – graphed
52.graham – gram
53.graphed – graft
54.heroin – heroine
55.hertz – hurts
56.hew – hue
57.hey – hay
58.hi – high
59.higher – hire
60.him – hymn
61.hire – higher
62.ho – hoe
63.hoard – horde
64.hoarse – horse
65.hoe – ho
66.hoes – hose
67.hold – holed
68.hole – whole
69.holed – hold
70.hue – hew
71.humerus
72.leased – least
73.led – lead
74.lee – lea
75.leech – leach
76.mite – might
77.moan – mown
78.moat – mote
79.mousse – moose
80.mowed – mode
81.mown – moan
82.Mrs – misses
83.mucous – mucus
84.navel – naval
85.nay – neigh
86.need – knead
87.neigh – nay
88.new – gnu – knew
89.nice – gneiss
90.Nice – niece
91.nickers – knickers
92.niece – Nice
93.night – knight
94.ode – owed
95.oh – owe
96.one – won
97.overseas – oversees
98.owe – oh
99.padded – patted
100.paean – paeon
Meaning and Example Sentences
able
Meaning; having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something.
Example Sentence; he was able to read Greek at the age of eight
accede
Meaning; agree to a demand, request, or treaty.
Example Sentence; the authorities did not accede to the strikers’ demands
exceed
Meaning; be greater in number or size than (a quantity, number, or other measurable thing).
Example Sentence; production costs have exceeded £60,000
accept
Meaning; consent to receive or undertake (something offered).
Example Sentence; he accepted a pen as a present
except
Meaning; not including; other than.
Example Sentence; they work every day except Sunday
addition
Meaning; the action or process of adding something to something else.
Example Sentence; the hotel has been extended with the addition of more rooms
edition
Meaning; a particular form or version of a published text.
Example Sentence; a paperback edition
add
Meaning; join (something) to something else so as to increase the size, number, or amount.
Example Sentence; I’ve started a petition so if you would like to add your name, email me
adze
Meaning; a tool similar to an axe, with an arched blade at right angles to the handle, used for cutting or shaping large pieces of wood.
Example Sentence;
affect
Meaning; have an effect on; make a difference to.
Example Sentence; the dampness began to affect my health
bier
Meaning; a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which they are carried to the grave.
Example Sentence;
beet
Meaning; a herbaceous plant widely cultivated as a source of food for humans and livestock, and for processing into sugar. Some varieties are grown for their leaves and some for their large nutritious root.
Example Sentence;
beat
Meaning; strike (a person or an animal) repeatedly and violently so as to hurt or injure them, typically with an implement such as a club or whip.
Example Sentence; if we were caught we were beaten
bell
Meaning; a hollow metal object, typically in the shape of a deep inverted cup widening at the lip, that sounds a clear musical note when struck, especially by means of a clapper inside.
Example Sentence; the church bells tolled
belle
Meaning; a beautiful girl or woman, especially the most beautiful at a particular event.
Example Sentence; the belle of the ball
berry
Meaning; a small roundish juicy fruit without a stone.
Example Sentence; juniper berries
bury
Meaning; put or hide underground.
Example Sentence; he buried the box in the back garden
berth
Meaning; a ship’s allotted place at a wharf or dock.
Example Sentence; the vessel had left its berth
birth
Meaning; the emergence of a baby or other young from the body of its mother; the start of life as a physically separate being.
Example Sentence; he was blind from birth
better
Meaning; more desirable, satisfactory, or effective.
Example Sentence; we’re hoping for better weather tomorrow
bettor
Meaning; a person who bets, especially on a regular basis.
Example Sentence; she described herself as a moderate bettor
bib
Meaning; a piece of cloth or plastic fastened round a child’s neck to keep its clothes clean while eating.
Example Sentence;
bibb lettuce
Meaning; a butterhead lettuce of a variety that has crisp dark green leaves.
Example Sentence;
bight
Meaning; a curve or recess in a coastline, river, or other geographical feature.
Example Sentence;
bite
Meaning; (of a person or animal) use the teeth to cut into or through something.
Example Sentence; he bit off a piece of cheese
bus
Meaning; transport in a communal road vehicle.
Example Sentence; staff were bussed in and out of the factory
bust
Meaning; a woman’s chest as measured around her breasts.
Example Sentence; a 36-inch bust
but
Meaning; used to introduce a phrase or clause contrasting with what has already been mentioned.
Example Sentence; he stumbled but didn’t fall
butt
Meaning; (of a person or animal) hit (someone or something) with the head or horns.
Example Sentence; she butted him in the chest
buy
Meaning; obtain in exchange for payment.
Example Sentence; she bought six first-class stamps
by
Meaning; identifying the agent performing an action.
Example Sentence;
bye
Meaning; the transfer of a competitor directly to the next round of a competition in the absence of an assigned opponent.
Example Sentence; he has a bye into the second round
byte
Meaning; a group of binary digits or bits (usually eight) operated on as a unit.
Example Sentence;
cache
Meaning; a collection of items of the same type stored in a hidden or inaccessible place.
Example Sentence; an arms cache
cash
Meaning; money in coins or notes, as distinct from cheques, money orders, or credit.
Example Sentence; the staff were paid in cash
caddie
Meaning; a person who carries a golfer’s clubs and provides other assistance during a match.
Example Sentence;
caddy
Meaning; a small storage container, typically one with divisions.
Example Sentence; a tool caddy
cane
Meaning; the hollow jointed stem of a tall grass, especially bamboo or sugar cane, or the stem of a slender palm such as rattan.
Example Sentence;
cheap
Meaning; low in price, especially in relation to similar items or services.
Example Sentence; local buses were reliable and cheap
cheep
Meaning; a short, high squeaky cry made by a young bird.
Example Sentence;
check
Meaning; examine (something) in order to determine its accuracy, quality, or condition, or to detect the presence of something.
Example Sentence; customs officers have the right to check all luggage
Czech
Meaning; a native or inhabitant of the Czech Republic or (formerly) Czechoslovakia, or a person of Czech descent.
Example Sentence;
clique
Meaning; a small close-knit group of people who do not readily allow others to join them.
Example Sentence; his flat became a haven for a clique of young men of similar tastes
click
Meaning; a short, sharp sound as of a switch being operated or of two hard objects coming smartly into contact.
Example Sentence; she heard the click of the door
colonel
Meaning; a rank of officer in the army and in the US air force, above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier or brigadier general.
Example Sentence;
kernel
Meaning; a softer, usually edible part of a nut, seed, or fruit stone contained within its shell.
Example Sentence; the kernel of a walnut
coolie
Meaning; an unskilled native labourer in India, China, and some other Asian countries.
Example Sentence;
coulee
Meaning; a short flow of viscous lava.
Example Sentence;
coop
Meaning; a cage or pen in which poultry are kept.
Example Sentence;
coupe
Meaning; a car with a fixed roof, two doors, and a sloping rear.
Example Sentence;
cop
Meaning; a police officer.
Example Sentence; a cop in a patrol car gave chase
copse
Meaning; a small group of trees.
Example Sentence;
coral
Meaning; a hard stony substance secreted by certain marine coelenterates as an external skeleton, typically forming large reefs in warm seas.
Example Sentence; a coral reef
choral
Meaning; composed for or sung by a choir or chorus.
Example Sentence; a choral work
cord
Meaning; thin, flexible string or rope made from several twisted strands.
Example Sentence; hang the picture from a rail on a length of cord
core
Meaning; remove the tough central part and seeds from (a fruit).
Example Sentence; peel and core the pears
core
Meaning; the tough central part of various fruits, containing the seeds.
Example Sentence; a pineapple core
corps
Meaning; a main subdivision of an army in the field, consisting of two or more divisions.
Example Sentence; the 5th Army Corps
chord
Meaning; a group of (typically three or more) notes sounded together, as a basis of harmony.
Example Sentence; the triumphal opening chords
coffer
Meaning; a strongbox or small chest for holding valuables.
Example Sentence; a battered leather coffer sealed with a waxen crest
council
Meaning; an advisory, deliberative, or administrative body of people formally constituted and meeting regularly.
Example Sentence; an official human rights council
counsel
Meaning; advice, especially that given formally.
Example Sentence; with wise counsel a couple can buy a home that will be appreciating in value
coup
Meaning; a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government.
Example Sentence; he was overthrown in an army coup
coo
Meaning; (of a pigeon or dove) make a soft murmuring sound.
Example Sentence; ringdoves cooed among the branches
course
Meaning; the route or direction followed by a ship, aircraft, road, or river.
Example Sentence; the road adopts a tortuous course along the coast
coarse
Meaning; rough or harsh in texture.
Example Sentence; a coarse woollen cloth
cousin
Meaning; a child of one’s uncle or aunt.
Example Sentence;
cozen
Meaning; trick or deceive.
Example Sentence; do not think to cozen your contemporaries
coward
Meaning; a person who is contemptibly lacking in the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things.
Example Sentence; they had run away—the cowards!
cower
Meaning; crouch down in fear.
Example Sentence; children cowered in terror as the shoot-out erupted
coy
Meaning; (especially with reference to a woman) making a pretence of shyness or modesty which is intended to be alluring.
Example Sentence; she treated him to a coy smile of invitation
koi
Meaning; a common carp of a large ornamental variety, originally bred in Japan.
Example Sentence;
craft
Meaning; an activity involving skill in making things by hand.
Example Sentence; the craft of cobbling
kraft
Meaning; a kind of strong, smooth brown wrapping paper.
Example Sentence;
crape
Meaning; variant spelling of crêpe.
Example Sentence;
crêpe
Meaning; a light, thin fabric with a wrinkled surface.
Example Sentence; a crêpe bandage
crawl
Meaning; move forward on the hands and knees or by dragging the body close to the ground.
Example Sentence; they crawled from under the table
kraal
Meaning; a traditional African village of huts, typically enclosed by a fence.
Example Sentence;
creak
Meaning; (of an object or structure, typically a wooden one) make a harsh, high-pitched sound when being moved or when pressure or weight is applied.
Example Sentence; the stairs creaked as she went up them
creek
Meaning; a narrow, sheltered waterway, especially an inlet in a shoreline or channel in a marsh.
Example Sentence; a sandy beach in a sheltered creek
dye
Meaning; add a colour to or change the colour of (something) by soaking it in a solution impregnated with a dye.
Example Sentence; I dyed my hair blonde
dying
Meaning; on the point of death.
Example Sentence; he visited his dying mother
fare
Meaning; the money paid for a journey on public transport.
Example Sentence; we should go to Seville, but we cannot afford the air fare
fair
Meaning; treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination.
Example Sentence; the group has achieved fair and equal representation for all its members
fate
Meaning; the development of events outside a person’s control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.
Example Sentence; fate decided his course for him
fete
Meaning; a public function, typically held outdoors and organized to raise funds for a charity, including entertainment and the sale of goods and refreshments.
Example Sentence; a church fete
faun
Meaning; one of a class of lustful rural gods, represented as a man with a goat’s horns, ears, legs, and tail.
Example Sentence;
fawn
Meaning; a young deer in its first year.
Example Sentence; a six-month-old roe fawn
fax
Meaning; an exact copy of a document made by electronic scanning and transmitted as data by telecommunications links.
Example Sentence; we got a three-page fax from her assistant
fact
Meaning; a thing that is known or proved to be true.
Example Sentence; he ignores some historical and economic facts
faze
Meaning; disturb or disconcert (someone).
Example Sentence; she was not fazed by his show of anger
phase
Meaning; a distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development.
Example Sentence; the final phases of the war
feat
Meaning; an achievement that requires great courage, skill, or strength.
Example Sentence; the new printing presses were considerable feats of engineering
foot
Meaning; the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks.
Example Sentence;
feint
Meaning; a deceptive or pretended blow, thrust, or other movement, especially in boxing or fencing.
Example Sentence; a brief feint at the opponent’s face
faint
Meaning; (of a sight, smell, or sound) barely perceptible.
Example Sentence; the faint murmur of voices
fend
Meaning; look after and provide for oneself, without any help from others.
Example Sentence; she left her 14-year-old daughter to fend for herself
fen
Meaning; a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land.
Example Sentence; a native species of fens and damp meadows
flour
Meaning; a powder obtained by grinding grain, typically wheat, and used to make bread, cakes, and pastry.
Example Sentence;
flower
Meaning; the seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs (stamens and carpels) that are typically surrounded by a brightly coloured corolla (petals) and a green calyx (sepals).
Example Sentence;
flow
Meaning; (of a liquid, gas, or electricity) move steadily and continuously in a current or stream.
Example Sentence; from here the river flows north
floe
Meaning; a sheet of floating ice.
Example Sentence;
