noun

homophone

HOM-uh-fohn

Homophone (noun) means a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning, and often a different spelling. Example: “Flour and flower are homophones.”

noun

A word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning, and often a different spelling.

"Flour and flower are homophones."

"Spellcheckers rarely catch a homophone used in the wrong place."

How to Use Homophone

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTwo words that sound the same but mean different things.

When to use it

Neutral; standard vocabulary in teaching, linguistics and editing.

Memory tip

Phone means sound, graph means writing. Homophone equals same sound; homograph equals same writing.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

homonym homograph homophobe →

Common pairings

common homophones homophone error a pair of homophones

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Test yourself on “homophone” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Flour and flower are _____.

Etymology

From Greek homos meaning 'same' and phone meaning 'sound'.

Origin: Greek

Synonyms

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sound-alike

Rhymes for homophone

one bone done gone none tone lone hone cone zone stone phone

See all rhymes for homophone →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a homophone and a homonym?

A homophone sounds the same but usually differs in spelling and meaning, like pair and pear. A homonym sounds the same and is also spelt the same, like bat the animal and bat you hit a ball with.

What is the difference between a homophone and a homograph?

Homophones match in sound, homographs match in spelling. Lead the metal and lead the leash are homographs, because they look identical but are said differently.

What are the most common homophones in English?

There, their and they're; your and you're; to, too and two; its and it's. These four sets cause the bulk of everyday spelling errors.