List of Homophones: Fun Examples with Meanings & Sentences for Kids
Ever written “I ate eight cookies” but mixed up “ate” and “eight”? Or pointed to the “sea” and said, “Look at the ‘see’”? These tricky words that sound the same but mean different things, and sometimes have different spellings! They are called homophones. For kids learning English, homophones can feel like a fun puzzle—or a confusing mistake waiting to happen! But mastering them is key: they help you write clearly, speak correctly, and even understand jokes (like “Why did the bee go to the doctor? Because it had hives!”). This guide has a handy list of homophones, simple meanings, and everyday sentences to make learning easy. Let’s dive in and turn those “oops!” moments into “I got it!” wins with WuKong Education!
What Are Homophones? Definition & Types
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings—and often different spellings too! Think of them as “sound-alike cousins” in the English language. There are two main types kids need to know.
- Homophones with different spellings: These are the most common! For example, “bee” (the insect) and “be” (a verb like “to be happy”). They sound identical but look and mean nothing alike.
- Homophones with the same spelling (homonyms): These are trickier—same sound and same spelling, but different meanings. Like “bank”: it can mean a place to keep money, or the edge of a river!
Why does this matter? Mixing up homophones can make your writing confusing. Imagine saying “I left my book over their” instead of “there”—readers might scratch their heads! But with practice, they’ll become second nature.
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Common List of Homophones (A-Z) with Meanings & Sentences
Below is a kid-friendly list of homophones, organized by letter. Each entry includes what the word means, a simple sentence, and a pronunciation hint to help you say it right!
Homophones Starting with A-C
Homophone Pair | Meaning 1 | Example Sentence 1 | Meaning 2 | Example Sentence 2 | Pronunciation Hint |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ate / Eight | Past tense of “eat” | I ate a banana for breakfast. | The number after seven | There are eight crayons in the box. | Both sound like “eyt” |
Bee / Be | A yellow-and-black insect that makes honey | The bee landed on the flower. | A verb to describe state | I want to be a teacher. | Both sound like “bee” |
Sea / See | The big body of salt water | We played in the sea last summer. | To use your eyes to look | I can see a bird in the tree. | Both sound like “see” |
Cent / Scent | A coin worth 1 cent | My mom gave me a cent for the toy. | A smell | The cake has a sweet scent. | Both sound like “sent” |
Homophones Starting with D-F
Homophone Pair | Meaning 1 | Example Sentence 1 | Meaning 2 | Example Sentence 2 | Pronunciation Hint |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Deer / Dear | A wild animal with antlers | We saw a deer in the forest. | A word to show affection | Hi dear, how was school? | Both sound like “deer” |
Flower / Flour | A colorful part of a plant | She gave me a red flower. | A powder used for baking | Mom used flour to make bread. | Both sound like “flour” |
Four / For | The number after three | I have four toy cars. | A preposition (to show purpose) | This gift is for you. | Both sound like “for” |
Homophones Starting with T-W (Most Confusing!)
Homophone Pair | Meaning 1 | Example Sentence 1 | Meaning 2 | Example Sentence 2 | Pronunciation Hint | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
To / Two / Too | A preposition | I’m going to the park. | The number after one | I have two dogs. | Also | I want ice cream too! |
Wear / Where | To put on clothes | I will wear my blue shirt. | A question word for place | Where is my pencil? | Both sound like “wair” |
Fun Tips to Learn Homophones (No Boring Drills!)
Learning homophones doesn’t have to feel like homework! Try these easy, kid-approved tricks:
- Association Trick: Link each word to a picture or story. For example, “flour” is used in baking—think of a “flower” on top of a cake!
- Make Homophone Flashcards: Draw a picture for each word (like a bee on one card, and a stick figure saying “be happy” on the other) and quiz your family.
- Sentence “Detective” Game: Read a story and circle homophones. Ask: “Does this mean the place, or belonging to them?” (for “there/their”).
- Avoid Common Mistakes: Remember:
- “Your” = belongs to you; “You’re” = you are
- “Its” = belongs to it; “It’s” = it is
Let’s Practice! Homophone Fill-in-the-Blanks
Test what you’ve learned with these fun sentences. Pick the right homophone from the options!
- My little sister is ____ years old. (ate / eight)
- Can you ____ the bird in the sky? (sea / see)
- ____ going to the store after school. (There / Their / They’re)
- Dad bought a new jacket to ____. (wear / where)
Conclusion
Homophones might seem tricky at first, but with this list of homophones, simple examples, and fun practice, you’ll master them in no time! Remember: the best way to learn is to use them—try writing a story with 3 homophones, or quiz your friends at school. Want more help with English words? Check out WuKong ELA Kids’ Vocabulary Adventure Course—we have games, songs, and interactive lessons to make learning words fun!
FAQs About Homophones
Homophones sound the same but have different meanings and often spellings. Homonyms are a bigger group—they include homophones and words that sound the same, are spelled the same, but have different meanings (like “bank”).
English takes words from many other languages like Latin and German! So sometimes words from different places end up sounding the same but meaning different things. It’s part of what makes English fun!
“There/their/they’re,” “to/two/too,” “your/you’re,” and “its/it’s” are the top ones. But with practice, you’ll get them right!

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Elaina Zetts, a teacher from League City, Texas, majoring in Elementary Education, has a master’s degree in K-12 Literacy. Serves as an ELA teacher in a public school in Friendswood, Texas. Has taught ELA for 15 years and is good at teaching elementary aged students how to read, write and spell. Teh teaching profession is her heart and soul and wat brings her the most joy in life. She hopes dat her love for Literacy shines through and that children grow in their love for reading and writing while in her classes.
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