HomophoneCentral's FAQs

 1. What is a homophone?

A homophone is simply a word that has the same sound as another word (from Greek – homo: same, like and phone: sound). They are not alternate spellings. Some include words that are spelled the same but have very different meanings and sometimes roots (we do not – just too massive a list), others insist that a homophone set must contain words with different spellings only.

Some include multi-word expressions. Except for contractions, we do not. (see discussion below)

 2. How many homophones are there in modern English?

Since English is a living, dynamic language, in a constant state of flux, a definite number cannot be given. This is true for every living language. Some sets are stable such as “to/too/two” while others come into fashion for a season and then drop out of usage.

3. Do homophones always sound the same?

No. Like many English words, some homophones have a number of pronunciations. We have looked for an intersection of these different ways of saying the word. For example, we accept “ant/aunt” as a legitimate homophone set. Many do not. Some authors/compilers such as James B. Hobbs choose one dictionary as the final arbitrator. He chose Merriam-Websters dictionary – an excellent choice. He did use other dictionaries as well. My favourite is the comprehensive Oxford English Online dictionary in conjunction with Websters. Oxford lists over a dozen types of English. All dictionaries have baises. They’re composed by people afterall. I get excited when I find homophones not listed in the OED. One such term “gazar” a type of fabric, which pairs nicely with “gazer” which is in the OED. And then there are those who give long lists of sets with no phonetics…who basically say, “Just trust me.” We recommend checking a reputable dictionary.

4. Are homonyms and homophones interchangeable terms?

Some consider homophones and homographs to be subsections of homonyms (words with the same name) depending on whether they’re discussing the written word or the aural word.

5. What’s the difference between a homophone and a homograph?

Homophones are words with the same sound but different meanings, whereas homographs have the same spelling (writing) but often with different sounds and meanings.

Here are a few examples of homographs: bass, bow, sow, lead, object, sewer, wind, tear, wound, row…you’ve got the idea.

6. When did people start using homophones in English?

English is a relatively young language birthed from several different peoples who migrated to the British Isles for several reasons. Some good. Some not. Add to this the seafaring nature of many and one shouldn’t be surprised by the diversity of words added to the growing language. Lots of roots. Lots of sounds. Lots of meanings. Lots of blending.

Homophones played an active role in late middle English as evidenced by puns and other literary devices used by authors such as Geoffrey Chaucer in the 1300s. Travelling singers and poets also loved to play with these words. Did the anonymous author of the epic poem, Beowulf, use homophones. I suspect so, but cannot personally verify it. Ancient literature recounts that people paid attention to phonetics millenia ago. I expect they knew how to work with their homophones. Maybe it is just a human “thing”.

7. What is the most confusing homophone?

The one you don’t know and repeatedly confuses you. Seriously, this is very personal.

For some it is “their/there/they’re”. For others, it is “for/four”. Or maybe “complement/compliment”. We have over 7000 homophones in our database and every one of them can trip people up.

8. Can homophones rhyme?

Many do. Think about “fair/fare” and “hair/hare/herr”. Poets have loved these malleable words for centuries.  They make for intriguing word plays and literary devices. If you want to see some very modern ones, check out Poetrysoup.com

9. What are some of the benefits of studying homophones?

           a.      Improves your attention to detail

           b.      Improves your listening comprehension

          c.      Improves your spelling

          d.      Improves critical thinking

          e.      Broadens your vocabulary and grammar ability

          f.        Deepens your appreciation of what you read

          g.       Makes you a better writer and poet

10.  Since homophones sound alike, why bother learning the differences?

This may hold some merit if we only spoke, never wrote and lacked curiosity. However, our use of words and their diverse meanings indicates the depth of our thinking and our ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively. Good communication skills enable us to better understand what another person says and needs. It helps us build stronger relationships, communities and organizations…and better countries.

11.  Are homophones used in any type of therapy?

Homophones are widely used in different levels of speech therapy, language learning and development…as well as with individuals on the autism spectrum.

12.  If phrases are not included in homophone collections, why do so many include contractions?

A phrase consists of at least two distinct words. In contrast, a contraction is written and spoken as a single word with an apostrophe indicating where elements have been dropped. A contraction is no longer two words but one. The second reason: grammar! Sets such as “their/there/they’re” show how common words that most grade one students would know, can be easily confused when written down. This annoys and breaks the flow for the reader. Sadly, many adults misuse these contractions and their homophones in their emails and other correspondence.

13.  Are homophones used in tongue twisters?

Sometimes. Tongue twisters are excellent exercises to strengthen correct pronunciation especially as the speech rate increases. Many are based on literary devices such as alliteration. The use of homophones helps to deepen the layers of meaning and the richness of imagery.

14.  Are there languages without homophones?

Technically, yes. All languages that lack a writing system, also lack homophones, by definition. This does not mean that they are less complex or that they do not have words with multiple meanings for the same sound combinations. Since there is no written component, there are no differences in spelling. Some might argue that these are simply homographs that are also homophones. But without a writing system, homographs do not exist.

15. What are multinyms?

This simply means “many names” and refers to homophone sets with at least three different terms. At the low end, are sets such as “bole/boll/bowl” and at the upper end sets such as “raise/rase/rays/raze/rehs/reis/res”. This unusual term warns of the extra challenge presented by sets with more members. The more words a set contains, the more opportunity for error. Beware!

*used Florida State University site as a reference: www.people.sc.fsu.edu  2025