Words Confused Owing To Similar Sound

Some words are confused because they are pronounced alike. In this lesson we will learn about those words which cause confusion because they produce similar sound.

Allowed (Verb): let somebody do something
Aloud (adverb): audibly

• He allowed me to go.
• She cried aloud for mercy.

Alter (verb): change, make or become different
Altar (noun): holy table in a church

• You must alter the order of the words.
• The priest bowed before the altar.

Bare (Adjective): not covered
Bear (Verb): tolerate
Bear (noun): an omnivorous four legged animal that has thick fur

• As he had no shirt the sun burnt his bare skin.
• I can’t bear this pain.
• A bear has thick fur.

Birth (noun): event of being born
Berth (noun): bed on ship or train

• What is your date of birth?
• Can I reserve a berth in the train?

Bore (noun) something that bores
Bore (verb): make somebody uninterested
Boar (noun): a wild animal

• He bored me with his silly jokes.
• The boar is a brave wild animal.

Brake (noun): device that slows or stops a machine

Break (verb): separate something into pieces

• See if you can break this stick?
• You stop a car by applying the brake.

Counsel (noun): counsel means advice.
Council (noun): an assembly of people meeting regularly to advise or organize something.

• People who give advice are called counsellors.
• A council is a group of people met together on some business.

Current (noun): flow of water or air
Current (adjective): existing now
Currant (noun): small dried grapes

• This river has strong current.
• You must be aware of current events.

Fair (noun): gathering of stalls and amusements for public entertainment. An exhibition to promote particular products.

Fair (adjective): light complexion
Fare (noun): the money a passenger on public transport has to pay

• Her skin is fair, not dark.
• How much is the railway fare?

Herd (noun): a large group of animals that live or are kept together.
Heard (verb): perceive with the ear

• A herd of cattle
• I heard him talking.

Hole (noun): cavity, aperture
Whole (adjective): entire, complete

• There is a hole in my socks.
• Rabbits live in holes.
• She spent the whole night reading.
• You have eaten a whole loaf.

Piece (noun): a portion separated from the whole
Peace (noun): freedom from war

• Please give me a piece of paper.
• Do you want war or peace?

Plane (noun): aircraft

Plain (noun): flat expanse of land
Plain (adjective): simple and ordinary

• She had a plain face.
• The Gangetic plain is very fertile.

Practice (noun): the doing of something repeatedly to improve one’s skills
Practise (verb): do something repeatedly so as to become skilful

• Practice makes man perfect.
• You need to practise cricket regularly.

Prey (noun): animals hunted by other animals
Pray (verb): speak to God

• What a tiger kills is its prey.
• I pray that no tiger will ever catch me.

Principal (noun): the head of a school or college
Principal (adjective): the most important
Principle (noun): rules or beliefs governing one’s personal behaviour

• He is the principal of the college.
• He is the principal player in the team.
• To gamble is against my principle.

Sight (noun): faculty of seeing
Site (noun): place where something stands

• A blind man has no sight.
• I will build my house on this site.

Whether (conjunction): expresses a doubt or choice between alternatives
Weather (noun): the state of the atmosphere at a place and time

• You are going to take this medicine whether you like it or not.
• We had to cancel the trip because of bad weather.
• In May the weather is hot.