In English language, there are words that sound the same when being spoken but differ in their spellings, meanings and even the origins of words. These groups of words are known as homophones and due to the same sounds they have, they are often mistaken for one another. Here is a list of 10 commonly mistaken homophones, their meanings and how they are used in a sentence.
1) Week/Weak
- Week – A period of 7 days make a week.
Sentence: She went out of Dhaka for a week.
- Weak – Having little or no physical strength or energy; feeble.
Sentence: Rohan was too weak to get up from the bed after his fever.
- Tail/Tale
- Tail – the hindmost part of an animal, especially when prolonged beyond the rest of the body, such as the flexible extension of the backbone in a vertebrate, the feathers at the hind end of a bird, or a terminal appendage in an insect.
Sentence: The neighbor’s dog came wagging his tail to our door for some treat.
- Tale – a fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted.
Sentence: The tale Rima told the class for her assignment was wonderful.
- Whose/Who’s
- Whose– belonging to or associated with which person.
Sentence: Whose turn is it to present to the class?
- Who’s– Short form of “who is”.
Sentence: Who’s that going into the room?
- Alter/Altar
- Alter– To change.
Sentence: The tailor had altered the hem of the dress nicely.
- Altar-Platform for worship.
Sentence: The movie we watched yesterday had a beautifully decorated altar.
- Past/Passed
- Past – Gone by in time and no longer existing.
Sentence: We should all take account of our past mistakes and learn from them.
- Passed – leave behind or on one side in the proceeding.
Sentence: She passed the theatre on the way to school.
- Advice/Advise
- Advice [n.]– Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent action.
Sentence: My advice is to do study harder and do better in school.
- Advise [v.]– Offer suggestions about the best course of action to someone.
Sentence: I advised him to study harder and do better in school.
- Assent/Ascent
- Assent – Approval.
Sentence: The Principal gave his assent to us organizing a food fair.
- Ascent – The act of going up.
Sentence: Edmond Hillary made his ascent on Mount Everest first.
- Bare/Bear
- Bare – Empty
Sentence: She ascended the stairs barefooted.
- Bear– To carry
Sentence: You have to bear the consequences of the mistake all your life.
- Cell/Sell
- Cell – Small room in a prison.
Sentence: The prisoner spent all his life in a dark prison cell.
- Sell – Exchanging things for money.
Sentence: They sell fruits at the local market for a very high price.
- Cue/Queue
- Cue – a signal or prompt for action.
Sentence: The director made a cue to the actor to start.
- Queue – A line of people.
Sentence: Sarah stood in the queue for a long time to get her lunch.