Society for Pure English, Tract 2, on English Homophones

arc, ark.

arm (limb), arm (weapon).

alms, arms.

aunt, ant, arn't.

arch (s.), arch (adj.).

eye, ay, I.

idol, idle, idyll.

aisle, isle, I'll.

eyelet, islet.

our, hour.

bark (dog), bark (tree), bark (boat).

balm, barm.

bite, bight.

buy, by, bye.

bough, bow, bow (of ship).

bound (leap), bound (limit), bound (fr. bind).

bank (ground), bank (money).

barren, baron.

barrow (hill), barrow (wheel-b.).

bat (club), bat (vespertilio).

batter (s.), batter (v.).

buck (various roots and senses).

bustle (hurry), bustle (dress).

but, butt (tub), butt (v.).

bale (ill), bale (pack), bail (bis).

base, bass.

bate, bait.

beck (and nod), beck (a brook).

bell, belle.

bury, berry.

bear (s.), bare (adj.), bear, bare (v.).

berth, birth.

bee, be.

beat, beet.

beetle (insect), beetle (hammer).

beach, beech.

bier, beer.

blow (a stroke), blow (of wind).

bow, beau.

bogy, bogie.

bole, bowl.

bolt (a weapon), bolt (sift), bolt (run).

bore (perforate), bore (tidal), bore (fr. bear), boar.

board, bawd, bored.

ball, bawl.

born, borne.

boy, buoy.

boil (s.), boil (v.).

box (tree), box (receptacle), box (v.).

bridal, bridle.

bray (of donkey), bray (to pound), brae.

break, brake (fern), brake (of carriages, bis).

braze (to solder), braze (to brazen), braise (to stew), braes.

breach, breech.

breeze (the wind), breeze (a fly), breeze (cinders).

broach, brooch.

hue, hew.

die (v.), dye, die (cast).

down (dune), down (fluff), down (adv.).

doubt, dout.

dam (mother), dam (obstruct), damn.

duck (bird), duck (dear), duck (stuff), duck (v.).

dun (colour), dun (importune), done.

date (fruit), date (datum).

dean, dene.

deer, dear.

desert, dessert.

due, dew.

doe, dough.

dock (plant), dock (basin), dock (shear).

drill (sow), drill (bore), drill (training).

drupe, droop.

jar (vase), jar (discord).

jamb, jam.

jet (mineral), jet (squirt).

gin (drink), gin (snare), jinn.

there, their.

the, thee.

eh! aye (ever).

ale, ail.

eight, ait or eyot, ate (fr. eat).

egg, egg (to incite).

elder (tree), elder (senior).

air, heir, ere, e'er.

airship, heirship.

aery, airy.

earn, urn, erne (eagle).

alight (adj.), alight (v.).

ascent, assent.

foul, fowl.

fallow (untilled), fallow (colour).

fane, feign, fain.

faint, feint.

fast (eccl.), fast (adj. various).

fate, fête.

fell (fierce), fell (skin), fell (hill), fell (fr. fall).

fellow, felloe.

ferule, ferrule.

fair, fare [doublet], phare.

fir, fur.

feet, feat (s.), feat (adj. obs.).

filter, philtre.

fit (befit), fit (conflict), fytte [obs.].

flag (v.), flag (ensign), flag (plant), flag (-stone).

flee, flea.

flow, floe.

flock (herd), flock (of wool).

flue (chimney), flue (velu), flew (fr. fly).

fluke (fish), fluke (of anchor), fluke (slang word).

fold (wrap), fold (of sheep), foaled.

four, fore, for.

forego, forgo, and other compounds.

fourth, forth.

foil (s.), foil (v.), foil (fencer's).

fray (ravel), fray (combat).

fret (eat away), fret (adorn), fret (on lute).

freeze, frieze (archt.), frieze (cloth), frees (fr. free).

gamble, gambol,

gum (resin), gum (teeth).

gage, gauge,

gate, gait.

gird (encircle), gird (revile).

guild, gild.

guilt, gilt.

glare, glair (white of egg), + glary, glairy.

gore (pierce), gore (triangle), gore (blood).

groin, groyne (breakwater).

great, grate (s.), grate (v.).

heart, hart.

high, hie.

hide (v.), hide (skin), hied.

hack (hew), hack (hackney).

hamper (impede), hamper (hanaper).

hail! hail (snow), hale (adj.), hale (haul).

helm (of ship), helm (helmet).

hair, hare.

heel, heal, he'll.

here, hear.

hymn, him.

hole, whole, + holy, wholly, holey.

home, holm.

hoar, whore, haw.

hoard, horde,

hawk (bird), hawk (v. of hawker), hawk (hoquet).

hall, haul.

halt (v.), halt (adj.).

horse, hoarse.

hock (of horse), hock (wine).

hop (jump), hop (plant).

hue, hew.

humorous, humerus.

even (s.), even (adj.).

ear, ear (plough), ear (of corn).

yoke, yolk.

yew, ewe, you.

ure, ewer, your.

card (s.), card (v.).

cask, casque.

cast, caste.

cart, carte, quart (cards and fencing).

count (s.), count (v.).

counter (opp.), counter (of shop), counter (in games), &c.

couch (coucher), couch (grass).

caddy (lad), caddy (box).

can (s.), can (v.).

cannon, canon bis.

currant, current.

curry (food), curry (comb).

colonel, kernel.

cape (dress), cape (headland).

caper (skip), caper (plant).

case (event), case (receptacle).

cashier (s.), cashier (v.).

key, quay.

keen (adj.), keen (v.).

cue, queue.

climb, clime.

cleek, clique.

coal, cole.

cope (v.), cope (s.).

coat, cote.

core, corps, caw.

cork, caulk.

call, caul.

corn (grain), corn (horny growth).

course, coarse, corse.

cobble (to patch), cobble (boat), cobble (-stones).

cock (s. and v.), cock (of hay).

cockle (v.), cockle (s. var.).

creak, creek.

cricket (insect), cricket (game).

cruel, crewel.

cruise, cruse, crews.

coombe (valley), coom (dry measure).

choir, quire (of paper).

quiver (v.), quiver (s.).

queen, quean [obs.].

last (adj., verb), last (s.)

lye (s.), lie (v.), lie (s. and n.).

lyre, liar.

lichen, liken.

light (s.), light (not heavy), and hence lighten, lighten.

lack, lac, lakh.

lap (lick up), lap (fold), lap (knees).

lay (s., bis), lay (v.).

lake (pond), lake (colour).

let (allow), let (lease, v.), let (hinder, obs.).

lee, lea.

leaf, lief.

league (s.), league (v. and s.)

leak, leek.

lean (v.), lean (adj.).

leech (sucker and doctor), leech (of sail).

leave (quit), leave (permit).

limp (adj.), limp (v.).

link (chain), link (torch), also golf-links,

list (listen), list (heel over), list (of flannel).

liver (organ), liver (who lives).

lo! low (adj.), low (of cow's voice).

load, lode, lowed,

lone, loan.

lock (of door), lock (of hair), loch.

long (adj.), long (v.).

lorn, lawn,

lute, loot.

mast (of ship), mast (beech-m.).

march (step), march (boundary), March (month).

mine (s.), mine (poss. pron.).

mite, might (s.), might (v.), [and adj. -y].

mitre (headdress), mitre (carpentry, &c.).

mass (quantity), mass (office).

match (equal), match (mèche).

muff (dress), muff (a stupid).

may (month), may (maid, obs.), may (v.).

male, mail (coat of), mail (post).

mane, main.

mace (staff), mace (spice).

maze, maize, Mays (pl. of month).

mare, mayor.

meed, mead (meadow), mead (drink).

mean (intend), mean (intermediate), mean (poor), mien (countenance).

meet, meat, mete (adj. and v.).

mere (pool), mere (adj.).

mint (herb), mint (coining).

miss (fail), Miss.

mew (cage), mew (bird), mew (of cat).

mute (adj.), mute (of birds).

muse (think), Muse, mews (stable), mews (fr. mew).

mote, moat.

mow (various senses), mot (French).

mole (animal), mole (of skin), mole (breakwater).

mould (to model), mould (earth), mould (rust).

maul (disfigure), Mall (place), mahl (-stick).

morn, mourn, and morning.

moor (country), Moor (race)

night, knight.

none, nun.

need, knead, knee'd.

neat (s.), neat (adj.).

no, know.

not, knot.

oar, ore, or, o'er, awe.

augur, auger.

all, awl, orle (heraldry).

altar, alter.

oral, aural.

ought (zero), ought (pp. of owe), ort [obs.].

par, pas (faus).

pie (pica), pie (dish).

pale (pole), pale (pallid), pail.

pile (heap), pile (stake), pile (hair).

pine (v.), pine (tree).

pound (weight), pound (enclosure), pound (to bruise).

pounce (v.), pounce (=pumice).

pallet, palette, palate.

paten, patten, pattern.

pulse (beat), pulse (pease).

punch (strike), punch (drink), Punch (and Judy).

page (of bk.), page (boy).

pane, pain.

peck (measure), peck (v.).

pelt (to throw), pelt (skin).

pen (writing), pen (inclose).

pair, pear, pare.

pearl, purl (flow), purl (knitting).

pique, peak.

peal, peel.

peep (to look), peep (chirp).

piece, peace.

peach (fruit), peach (impeach).

peer (to look), peer (s.), pier.

pill (ball), pill (to pillage).

pink (a flower), pink (a colour), pink (to pierce).

pip (a seed), pip (a disease), pip (on cards).

pitch (s.), pitch (to fall, &c.).

plight (pledge), plight or plite (to plait), and 'sad plight'.

plat (of ground), plait.

plum, plumb.

plump (adj.), plump (to fall heavily).

plane (tree), plain [both various].

plot (of ground), plot (stratagem), + verbs.

pole, poll.

poach, (eggs), poach (steal game).

pore (of skin), pore (top. over), paw.

potter (v.), potter (s.).

pall (v.), pall (cloak), pawl (mechanics).

pry (inquisitive), pry (to prise open).

prise, prize.

pray, prey.

prune (fruit), prune (s.).

rye, wry.

rime, rhyme.

right, write, wright, rite.

rabbit, rabbet (carpentry).

rack [various], wrack.

racket, racquet.

rally (assemble), rally (=raillery).

rank (s.), rank (rancid).

rap, wrap.

rash (s.), rash (adj.).

ruff, rough.

rum (queer), rum (drink), rhumb (naut.).

rung (s.), and past pp. rung, wrung.

rush (s.), rush (v.).

rape (seed), rape (ravish), rape (divn. of county, obs.).

race (family), race (root), race (that is run).

rate (proportion), rate (to chide).

rut (furrow), rut (of animals).

rake (tool), rake (a prodigal), rake (of a ship).

rail (fence), rail (bird).

rain, reign, rein.

raise, raze.

reck, wreck.

rent (paymt.), rent (s., tear), rent (fr. rend).

rest (repose), rest (remainder), wrest.

reed, read.

reef (of rocks), reef (of sails).

reek, wreak.

reel (highland-), reel (cotton-).

reach, retch.

reave, reeve (naut.), reeve (bailiff, obs.).

rifle (ransack), rifle (s.v., groove).

rear (raise), rear (arrière).

rig (of ship), rig (prank, riggish), rig (-s of barley).

rick (of corn), rick wrick (strain).

ring, wring.

repair (mend), repair (resort, v.).

row (oaring), row (s. of things in line), roe (of fish), roe (fem. deer).

roll [various], r?le.

rock (stone), rock (v.), roc.

rocket (plant), rocket (firework).

rue (plant), rue (v. of ruth).

rude (adj.), rood (s.), rued (fr. rue).

room, rheum.

root, route.

rout, route (military).

sign, sine (trigonom.).

site, sight, cite.

size (magnitude), size (glue).

sough, sow.

sound (noise), sound (to fathom), sound (adj.), sound (strait of sea), sound (fish bladder).

sack (bag), sack (to plunder), sack (wine).

swallow (a willow), sallow (pale colour).

sap (of trees), sap (mine).

sum, some.

sun, son + sunny, sonnie.

sage (plant), sage (adj.).

sale, sail.

sell, cell.

sense, cense.

censual, sensual.

surge, serge.

surf, serf.

scent, cent, sent (fr. send).

session, cession.

sea, see.

seed, cede.

seal (animal), ciel or ceil, seal (sign).

seam, seem.

sear, sere, cere, seer.

serial, cereal.

signet, cygnet.

cist (box), cyst (tumour, Gr.).

scar (of wound), scar (a rock).

skull, scull.

scale (shell), scale (of balance), scale (of stairs).

scald (burn), skald (poet, Norse).

scrub (of shrubs), scrub (v.).

sledge (vehicle), sledge (-hammer).

slight, sleight.

slay, sleigh (sledge).

slate (s.), slate (v., abuse).

sloe, slow.

slop (puddle), slop (loose garment).

slot (track), slot (bar).

sole (adj.), soul, sole (a fish).

sow, sew.

saw (tool), soar, sore, saw (maxim), saw (fr. see).

soil (ground), soil (defile), soil (v., of horses).

spar (beam), spar (mineral), spar (to box).

salter (who salts), psalter.

source, sauce.

spell (incantation), spell (letters), spell (turn of work).

spill (upset), spill (match).

spit (v.), spit (roasting), spit (of land).

spray (drizzle), spray (= sprig).

spruce (tree), spruce (adj.)

style, stile.

stud (nail), stud (of horses).

stake (post), steak, stake (deposit).

step, steppe.

stair, stare.

stern (adj.), stern (of ship).

steal, steel, stele.

steep (adj.), steep (v.).

steer (direct), steer (young ox).

still (tranquil), still (distil).

stalk (stem), stalk (v.), stork.

story, storey.

strand (shore), strand (fibre).

strain (v. and s.), strain (a breed).

strait (narrow), straight (upright).

stroke (a blow), stroke (fondle).

stoup, stoop.

shed (scatter), shed (shelter).

tart (adj.), tart (a pie).

tyre (of wheel), tire (fatigue), tire (attire), + tier (who ties).

time, thyme.

tap (to strike), tap (short pipe).

tale, tail, tail (estate in t.).

tender (adj.), tender (s., attender).

tent (pavilion), tent (plug of lint, s. and v.), tent (wine).

tare, tear (v.).

teem, team.

tear (eye), tier.

tick (bedding), tick (sheep), tick (clock), tic (spasm), tick (credit).

till (cash drawer), till (until).

tilt (v., to make aslant), tilt (tourney), tilt (of caravan).

tip (top), tip (make to slant), tip (a gift).

toe, tow (hemp), tow (draw a boat).

two, too, to.

toll (lax), toll (of bells).

taut, taught, tort.

toil (labour), toil (a snare).

top (summit), top (a toy).

truck (vehicle), truck (naut.), truck (barter).

trump (trumpet), trump (at cards).

trunk (box), trunk (of tree), trunk (of elephant).

tray, trait.

trace (track), trace (strap).

chair, chare.

chap (crack), chap (chapman), chap (cheek).

char (burn), char (fish), char (-woman).

chop (with hatchet), chop (and change).

chuck (chick), chuck (strike gently).

chase (hunt), chase (enchase), chase (printer's case), chase (groove).

vice (depravity), vice (clench), vice (deputy).

valley, valet.

van (front of army), van (fan), van (caravan).

vale, vail, veil.

vain, vein, vane.

won, one.

wake (awake), wake (watch), wake (of ship).

wain, wane.

waste, waist.

wait, weight.

wave, waive.

well (good), well (spring).

wee, we.

weak, week.

ween, wean.

war, wore.

would, wood.