Homonyms, homophones, and homographs are words that are easily confused because they look alike or sound alike (or both) but have different meanings. These charts--which list some of the most common homonyms, homophones, and homographs--should help you to recognize the differences between many commonly confused words.
- accept/except to cell/sell (page one)
- capital/capitol to eminent/imminent (below)
- fair/fare to lie/lye (page three)
- meat/meet/mete to role/roll (page four)
- scene/seen to whine/wine (page five)
Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs (C - E)
| capital - punishable by death | capital - chief city | capitol - building where legislature meets |
| ceiling - top of a room | sealing - setting, fastening | |
| cell - small unit | sell - to give up for money | |
| cent - a penny | scent - an odor | sent - past tense of send |
| chews - gnaws with teeth | choose - to select | |
| cite - mention, quote | sight - vision | site - place |
| coarse - rough | course - path, procedure | |
| complement - make complete | compliment - praise | |
| conduct - behavior | conduct - to lead | |
| council - assembly | counsel - advice, to advise | |
| days - plural of day | daze - stun | |
| dear - loved one, valued | deer - the animal | |
| desert - to abandon | desert - dry land | dessert - after-dinner treat |
| die - expire | dye - color | |
| discreet - tactful | discrete - distinct | |
| dual - double | duel - fight | |
| elicit - draw out | illicit - illegal | |
| eminent - distinguished | imminent - soon |
