Homophones — Definition, Types, and Examples

Daniel Bal
Written by
Daniel Bal
Edited by
Courtney Adamo
Fact-checked by
Paul Mazzola

What is a homophone?

A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but is spelled differently and does not have the same meaning. They are categorized into five main types based on their spelling, definition, and pronunciation.

  • There are five main types of homophones – heterograph, heteronym, homograph, oronym, and synophone.

  • Homophones are considered a subcategory of homonyms, which are words with different meanings that either sound the same or are spelled the same.

Types of homophones
Types of homophones

Types of homophones

Homophones are categorized into heterographs, heteronyms, homographs, oronyms, and synophones:

Types of homophones
Type Meaning Example
Heterograph • Different spelling
• Different meanings
• May or may not be pronounced the same
• Pause
• Paws
Heteronym • Same spelling
• Different meanings
• Different pronunciation
• Wind – movement of air
• Wind – twist and turn
Homograph • Same spelling
• Different meanings
• May or may not be pronounced the same
• Present (gift) vs. present (introduce)
• Bear (animal) vs. bear (carry)
Oronym • Different spelling
• Different meanings
• Similar sound
• Ice cream
• I scream
Synophone • Different spelling
• Different meaning
• Almost sound the same
• Ensure
• Insure

Homographs example
Homographs example
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Homophone examples

The following list identifies some of the most common homophones:

Common homophones
Homophones Definitions
Aisle and isle Space between rows; small island or peninsula
Eye and I Body part used for seeing; singular first-person pronoun
Bare and bear Not covered; carry or support/large mammal
Be and bee To exist; flying insect
Brake and break Device used for slowing down; separate into pieces
Buy and by To make a purchase; how something is done/moving past someone or something
Cell and sell Small room/smallest structure of organisms; to cause the purchase of something
Cent and scent Unit of money; a typically pleasant smell
Dear and deer Regarded with affection; a hoofed, grazing animal
Flour and flower Product made from wheat; brightly colored part of a plant
For and four Who/what something relates to; one more than three/one less than five
Hear and here To perceive sound; in, at, or to a certain point
Hole and whole Hollow place in a solid body; something in its entirety
Know and no To understand; a negative response
Meat and meet Flesh of an animal; to join together
One and won Lowest whole number; to achieve through effort
Peace and piece State of security/order; a portion of something
Right and write Correct; form letters, words, or sentences on a surface
Sea and see Portion of the ocean that is partly surrounded by land; perceive with the eyes
Son and sun Boy/man in relation to his parents; the star around which the Earth orbits
There, their, and they’re In, at, or to a place or position; belonging to multiple people; they are
To, too, and two Used in the infinitive form of a verb (to jump); also; greater than one/less than three
Weak and week Not strong; period of seven days
Your and you’re Belonging to the person being addressed; you are

Homophonic sentences

The following sentences incorporate each of the major types of homophones:

Heterograph

  • My son wanted to stay out until the sun went down.

  • The wind blew away his blue hat.

  • He rode his bike down the newly paved road.

Heteronym

  • After fishing for bass, he went to the music store to pick up his bass.

  • She wanted to record the record-setting race.

  • If you tear that band-aid off, a tear will run down his face.

Heteronym example
Heteronym example

Homograph

  • He tried to bat the bat down with the bat.

  • Can you kick this can farther than your brother?

  • She left the town after taking a left-hand turn off Main St.

Oronym

  • For example, let’s look at the egg sample.

  • I need to find four candles and fix the fork handles.

  • Don’t put your two lips on the tulips.

Oronym example
Oronym example

Synophone

  • We hope the final effect of our study does not affect our results.

  • The city ensured that all employees were insured.

  • They wanted to take the chair and ladder, but the latter wouldn’t fit in the truck.