Common Homonyms Homophones Homographs Heteronyms Heterographs
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- Category: Common Homonyms Homophones Homographs Heteronyms Heterographs
- Published on Saturday, 01 January 2011 00:00
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Homonyms can be defined as two or more words that share the same spelling, or the same pronunciation, or both, but have different meanings.
Homophones are two or more words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings. They may or may not be spelled on the same way.
For example: write and right, desert (to abandon) and desert (a thing deserved)
Homographs are homonyms that share the same spelling; they may or may not have the same pronunciation.
For example: present (a gift) and present (to introduce), row (argument) and row (propel with oars)
Heteronyms are homonyms that share the same spelling but have different pronunciations; they are homographs which are not homophones.
For example: desert (to abandon) and desert (arid region)
Heterographs are words that as spelled differently and have the same pronunciation.
For example: to, too, two
Tables 1 and 2 list their relationship regarding the same and different Spelling and Pronunciation of words defining Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Heteronyms and Heterographs
TABLE 1 |
Same Pronunciation |
Different Pronunciation |
Same Spelling |
Homonym, Homophone, Homograph |
Homonym, Homograph, Heteronym |
Different Spelling |
Homonym, Homophone, Heterograph |
|
TABLE 2 |
Same Spelling |
Different Spelling |
Same Pronunciation |
Different Pronunciation |
|
Homonym |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Homophone |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Homograph |
X |
|
X |
X |
|
Heteronym |
X |
|
|
X |
|
Heterograph |
|
X | X |
|
A
|
ad |
ADD |
|
|
|
ade |
aid |
aide |
|
| AERIE | AIRY |
|
|
|
ail |
ale |
|
|
|
air |
ear |
ere |
heir |
|
AISLE |
ISLE |
I’ll |
|
|
ALL |
AWL |
|
|
|
aloud |
allowed |
|
|
|
altar |
alter |
|
|
|
ant |
aunt |
|
|
|
ante |
aunty |
|
|
| ARK | ARC |
|
|
|
ask |
axe, AX |
acts |
|
| ASSENT | ASCENT |
|
|
| ASSISTANTS | ASSISTANCE |
|
|
|
ate |
eight |
|
|
| ATTENDANTS | ATTENDANCE |
|
|
| AUGER | AUGUR |
|
|
| AURAL | ORAL |
|
|
| AURICLE | ORACLE |
|
|
| AWAY | AWEIGH |
|
|
| AWED | ODD |
|
|
| AXES | AXIS |
|
|
| AYE | EYE |
i |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
B
|
born |
borne |
|
|
| BAIL |
bale |
|
|
|
bait |
BATE |
|
|
|
baited |
bated |
|
|
|
bald |
bawled |
|
|
|
balm |
bomb |
|
|
|
band |
banned |
|
|
|
bard |
barred |
|
|
|
bare |
bear |
beer |
bier |
|
barren |
baron |
|
|
|
base |
bass |
|
|
|
based |
baste |
|
|
| BASES |
basis |
|
|
| BAWL |
ball |
|
|
|
bazaar |
bizarre |
|
|
|
be |
bee |
|
|
|
beach |
beech |
|
|
|
bean |
been |
bin |
|
|
beat |
beet |
|
|
|
bell |
belle |
|
|
|
berry |
bury |
|
|
|
better |
bettor |
|
|
|
billed |
build |
|
|
|
birth |
berth |
|
|
|
bite |
byte |
bight |
|
|
blew |
blue |
|
|
|
bloc |
block |
|
|
|
boar |
bore |
BOOR |
|
|
board |
bored |
|
|
|
boarder |
border |
|
|
|
bold |
bowled |
|
|
|
bold |
bowled |
|
|
|
bolder` |
boulder |
|
|
|
boos |
booze |
|
|
|
borough |
burrow |
burro |
|
|
borrow |
burrow |
|
|
|
boulder |
bolder |
|
|
| BOW |
beau |
BOUGH |
|
|
bowed |
bode |
|
|
|
bowl |
boll |
bole |
|
|
brake |
break |
|
|
|
brayed |
baid |
|
|
|
breach |
breech |
|
|
|
bread |
bred |
|
|
|
brewed |
brood |
|
|
|
bridal |
bridle |
|
|
|
broach |
brooch |
|
|
|
brood |
brewed |
|
|
|
brows |
browse |
|
|
|
bruise |
brews |
|
|
|
build |
billed |
|
|
|
burger |
burgher |
|
|
|
bus |
buss |
|
|
|
but |
butt |
|
|
|
buy |
by |
bye |
|
|
buyer |
byre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C
| CALENDAR |
ColLANDER |
|
|
| CALLER |
COLLAR |
|
|
| CANNON | CANON |
|
|
| CANT |
CAN’T |
|
|
| CANTER |
CANTOR |
|
|
| CANVAS |
CANVASS |
|
|
| CAPITAL |
CAPITOL |
|
|
|
cash |
cache |
|
|
| CAST |
CASTE |
|
|
| CAUSE |
CAWS |
|
|
| CAY |
KEY |
QUAY |
|
| CEDAR |
SEEDER |
|
|
|
cede |
seed |
|
|
|
CEILING |
SEALING |
|
|
|
cell |
sell |
|
|
|
CELLAR |
SELLER |
|
|
|
CENSOR |
SENSOR |
CENSER |
|
|
cent |
scent |
SENT |
|
|
CENTS |
SENSE |
SCENTS |
|
|
CERE |
SEAR |
SEER |
SERE |
|
CEREAL |
SERIAL |
|
|
|
CHALK |
CHOCK |
|
|
|
CHARRED |
CHARD |
|
|
|
CHASED |
CHASTE |
|
|
|
chews |
choose |
|
|
|
CHILLY |
CHILI |
|
|
|
cite |
site |
sight |
|
|
CLACK |
CLAQUE |
|
|
|
CLICK |
CLIQUE |
|
|
|
CLIMB |
CLIME |
|
|
|
CLOSE |
CLOTHES |
|
|
|
CLUE |
CLEW |
|
|
|
COAT |
COTE |
|
|
|
COLONEL |
KERNEL |
|
|
|
COMPLACENCE |
COMPLAISANCE |
|
|
|
COMPLEMENT |
COMPLIMENT |
|
|
|
CONK |
CONCH |
|
|
|
Coop |
coupe |
|
|
|
CORAL |
CHORAL |
|
|
|
cord |
chord |
cored |
|
|
CORE |
CORPS |
|
|
|
Correspondents |
correspondence |
|
|
|
COSINE |
COSIGN |
|
|
|
COUNSEL |
COUNCIL |
|
|
|
COURSE |
COARSE |
|
|
|
CREAK |
CREEK |
|
|
|
cruise |
crews |
|
|
|
CUE |
QUEUE |
|
|
|
CURRENT |
CURRANT |
|
|
|
CURSER |
CURSOR |
|
|
|
CYGNET |
SIGNET |
|
|
|
CYMBAL |
SYMBOL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D
|
DAYS |
DAIS |
|
|
|
dear |
deer |
dare |
there |
|
death |
debt |
|
|
|
desert |
dessert |
|
|
|
DEW |
DUE |
|
|
|
DIE |
DYE |
|
|
|
DINE |
DYNE |
|
|
|
discrete |
discreet |
|
|
|
DISCRETE |
DISCREET |
|
|
|
DISK |
DISC |
|
|
|
DONE |
DUN |
|
|
|
doze |
DOES | DOUGHS |
|
|
DRAFT |
DRAUGHT |
|
|
|
DUAL |
DUEL |
|
|
E
|
ewe |
you |
YEW |
|
|
ear |
ere |
Air |
heir |
|
EARN |
URN |
|
|
|
eight |
ate |
|
|
|
ELICIT |
ILLICIT |
|
|
|
ELUDE |
ILLUDE |
|
|
|
eye |
i |
AYE |
|
|
EYELET |
ISLET |
|
|
|
ewes |
use |
yews |
|
F
| FACTS | FAX |
|
|
| FAIN | FEIGN |
|
|
| FAINT | FEINT |
|
|
| FAIRY | FERRY |
|
|
| FAZE | PHASE |
|
|
|
FEAR |
FARE |
fair |
|
|
feat |
feet |
fete |
|
|
few |
phew |
|
|
| FILE | PHIAL |
|
|
| FIND | FINED |
|
|
|
fir |
fur |
|
|
|
flair |
flare |
|
|
|
flea |
flee |
|
|
|
flew |
flu |
flue |
|
| FLEX | FLECKS |
|
|
| FLOCKS | PHLOX |
|
|
| FLOW | FLOE |
|
|
| FLOWER | FLOUR |
|
|
|
FOR |
FOUR |
FORE |
|
|
forward |
foreword |
|
|
| FOUL | FOWL | FOAL |
|
| FAULTS | FALSE |
|
|
| FOURTH | FORTH |
|
|
| FREEZE | FREES |
FRIEZE |
|
| FRYER | FRIAR |
|
|
|
|
|
G
| GAGE |
GAUGE |
|
|
| GATE |
GAIT |
|
|
| GAYS |
GAZE |
|
|
| GILT |
GUILT |
|
|
| GNAWED |
NOD |
|
|
|
gnu |
new |
KNEW |
|
|
gored |
gourd |
|
|
| GORILLA |
GUERILA |
|
|
| GRADE |
GRAYED |
GREYED |
|
|
grate |
great |
|
|
| GRAZE |
GRAYS |
|
|
| GREAT |
GRATE |
|
|
|
grey |
gray |
|
|
| GRILL |
GRILLE |
|
|
|
guess |
guest |
|
|
| GUYS |
GUISE |
|
|
| GRIZZLY |
grisly |
|
|
H
|
hail |
hale |
|
|
|
HALL |
HAUL |
|
|
|
HANGER |
HANGAR |
|
|
|
HAVE |
HALVE |
|
|
|
HAY |
HEY |
|
|
|
HAZE |
HAYS |
|
|
|
heal |
heel |
|
|
|
HEAR |
HERE |
hair |
HARE |
|
heard |
herd |
|
|
|
HEART |
HART |
|
|
|
HEED |
HE’D |
|
|
|
HEROINE |
HEROIN |
|
|
|
HIGH |
HI |
HIE |
HEIGH |
|
higher |
hire |
|
|
|
HILL |
HE’LL |
|
|
|
him |
hymn |
|
|
|
HOAR |
WHORE |
|
|
|
HOLD |
HOLED |
|
|
|
hole |
whole |
|
|
|
HOLY |
WHOLLY |
HOLEY |
|
|
horse |
hoarse |
|
|
|
HOSE |
HOES |
|
|
|
hour |
our |
|
|
|
HOUR |
OUR |
|
|
|
HUE |
HEW |
|
|
|
HUMOROUS |
HUMERUS |
|
|
I
|
IDLE |
IDOL |
IDYL |
|
|
IN |
INN |
|
|
|
INNOCENTS |
INNOCENCE |
|
|
|
INSIGHT |
INCITE |
|
|
|
ITS |
IT’S |
|
|
J
|
JAM |
JAMB |
|
|
|
JEWEL |
JOULE |
|
|
|
JUGULAR |
JUGGLER |
|
|
|
just |
joist |
|
|
K
|
knead |
need |
|
|
|
knew |
new |
|
|
|
knight |
night |
|
|
| KNIT |
NIT |
|
|
|
knot |
not |
NAUGHT |
|
|
know |
no |
|
|
|
knows |
nose |
|
|
|
|
|
|
L
| LACKS |
LAX |
|
|
| LAM |
LAMB |
|
|
| LAY |
LEI |
|
|
| LEACH |
LEECH |
|
|
|
lean |
lien |
|
|
| LEASED |
LEAST |
|
|
| LED |
LEAD |
|
|
| LEE |
LEA |
LI |
|
|
lent |
length |
|
|
| LESSON |
LESSEN |
|
|
| LIGHTNING |
LIGHTENING |
|
|
| LIKEN |
LICHEN |
|
|
| LINKS |
LYNX |
|
|
| LO |
low |
|
|
| LONE |
LOAN |
|
|
| LOOP |
LOUPE |
|
|
| LOOT |
LUTE |
|
|
| LOX |
LOCKS |
LOCHS |
|
| LUMBER |
LUMBAR |
|
|
| LYRE |
LIAR |
|
|
M
|
made |
maid |
|
|
|
|
male |
|
|
|
mane |
main |
|
|
|
mean |
mien |
|
|
|
meat |
meet |
METE |
|
|
medal |
meddle |
|
|
| METAL |
METTLE |
|
|
|
MIGHT |
MITE |
|
|
| MIND |
MINED |
|
|
| MINOR |
MINER |
|
|
| MINTS |
MINCE |
|
|
| MISSILE |
MISSAL |
|
|
| MIST |
MISSED |
|
|
| MOAN |
MOWN |
|
|
| MODE |
MOWED |
|
|
| MOOD |
MOOED |
|
|
|
moor |
more |
|
|
| MOOSE |
MOUSSE |
|
|
| MORN |
MOURN |
|
|
|
muse |
mews |
|
|
| MUSSEL |
MUSCLE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N
|
nun |
none |
|
|
| NAVAL |
NAVEL |
|
|
| NAY |
NEIGH |
|
|
|
|
|
|
O
|
oar |
ore |
or |
|
|
one |
won |
|
|
| ORDNANCE |
ORDINANCE |
|
|
| OVERDUE |
OVERDO |
|
|
| OWE |
OH |
|
|
| OWED |
ode |
|
|
P
|
pale |
pail |
|
|
| PALL | PAWL |
|
|
| PALLET | PALATE |
|
|
|
Pane |
PAIN |
|
|
|
pare |
pear |
peer |
pier |
| PATIENCE | PATIENTS |
|
|
| PAWS | PAUSE |
|
|
| PEA | PEE |
|
|
|
peace |
piece |
|
|
|
peak |
peek |
pique |
|
| PEARL | PURL |
|
|
| PEEL | PEAL |
|
|
| PER | PURR |
|
|
|
phew |
few |
|
|
| PIE | PI |
|
|
| PINCHER | PINSCHER |
|
|
| PISTIL | PISTOL |
|
|
|
plane |
plain |
|
|
| PLATE | PLAIT |
|
|
|
pleas |
please |
|
|
| PLUM | PLUMB |
|
|
| POLE | POLL |
|
|
| PONY | PONE |
|
|
|
poor |
pore |
|
|
| PRAY | PREY |
|
|
| PRAYS | PREYS |
PRAISE |
|
| PRESENCE | PRESENTS |
|
|
| PRIDE | PRIED |
|
|
|
principle |
principal |
|
|
| PRIZE | PRIES |
|
|
| PROFIT | PROPHET |
|
|
| PSI | SIGH |
|
|
Q
| QUARTZ |
QUARTS |
|
|
|
QUINTS |
QUINCE |
|
|
|
quite |
quiet |
|
|
R
|
RAIN |
REIGN |
rein |
|
|
rare |
rear |
|
|
|
red |
read |
|
|
|
reed |
read |
|
|
|
right |
write |
RITE | WRIGHT |
|
road |
rode |
rowed |
|
| ROES |
rows |
rose |
|
|
rye |
wry |
|
|
|
rack |
WRACK |
|
|
| RACKET |
racquet |
|
|
| RAISE |
raze |
rays |
|
| RAP |
wrap |
|
|
| RAY |
re |
|
|
| REEL |
real |
|
|
| RAPT |
rapped |
wrapped |
|
| RESEED |
recede |
|
|
| REEK |
wreak |
|
|
| REST |
wrest |
|
|
| REVUE |
review |
|
|
| RESISTORS |
resisters |
|
|
| ROE |
rho |
row |
|
| RIME |
rhyme |
|
|
| RING |
wring |
|
|
| ROAD |
rode |
|
|
| ROLL |
role |
|
|
| RUDE |
rood |
|
|
| ROOT |
route |
|
|
| RUMOR |
roomer |
|
|
| ROT |
wrought |
|
|
| ROTE |
wrote |
|
|
| ROUGH |
ruff |
|
|
| RACES |
racist |
|
|
S
|
sale |
sail |
|
|
|
scene |
seinE |
SEEN |
|
|
sea |
see |
|
|
|
seal |
zeal |
|
|
|
seam |
seem |
|
|
|
sear |
seer |
|
|
|
sew |
so |
SOW |
|
|
shear |
sheer |
share |
|
|
sight |
site |
|
|
|
slew |
slough |
slue |
|
|
sloe |
slow |
|
|
|
some |
sum |
|
|
|
son |
sun |
|
|
|
sonny |
sunny |
|
|
|
soot |
suit |
|
|
|
soul |
sole |
|
|
|
spade |
spayed |
|
|
|
spare |
spear |
|
|
|
stair |
steer |
STARE |
|
|
stake |
steak |
|
|
|
stayed |
staid |
|
|
|
steal |
steel |
|
|
|
sweet |
suite |
|
|
|
SASHAY |
SACHET |
|
|
|
SAC |
SACKS |
|
|
|
SAVOR |
SAVER |
|
|
|
SOD |
SAWED |
|
|
|
SKULL |
SCULL |
|
|
|
SEMEN |
SEAMEN |
|
|
|
SEES |
SEAS |
SEIZE |
|
|
SEER |
SEAR |
|
|
|
SEX |
SECTS |
|
|
|
SURGE |
SERGE |
|
|
|
SURF |
SERF |
|
|
|
SHAKE |
SHEIK |
|
|
|
SHOE |
SHOO |
|
|
|
SICK |
SIC |
SIX |
|
|
SIGHED |
SIDE |
|
|
|
SINE |
SIGN |
|
|
|
SIZE |
SIGHS |
|
|
|
SINK |
SYNCH |
|
|
|
SLAY |
SLEIGH |
|
|
|
SLOW |
SLOE |
|
|
|
SORE |
SOAR |
|
|
|
sounds |
ZOUNDS |
|
|
|
SWORD |
SOARED |
|
|
|
SORTED |
SORDID |
|
|
|
SPAYED |
SPACE |
|
|
|
SPOOR |
SPORE |
|
|
|
SUIT |
SOOT |
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STATIONARY |
STATIONERY |
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STEP |
STEPPE |
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STYLE |
STILE |
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STRAIT |
Straight |
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SUEDE |
SWAYED |
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SUNDAY |
SUNDAE |
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shore |
SURE |
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T
|
tail |
tale |
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teaS |
teeS |
TEASE |
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team |
teem |
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tear |
tare |
tier |
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thanks |
tanks |
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their |
they’re |
there |
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|
threw |
through |
true |
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throw |
throe |
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tie |
thigh |
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toe |
tow |
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|
too |
two |
to |
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tred |
thread |
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| TURN |
tern |
torn |
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| TAX |
TACKS |
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| TAUT |
TAUGHT |
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| TENSE |
TENTS |
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| THROWN | THRONE |
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| TIC | TICK |
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| TIME | THYME |
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| TIDE | TIED |
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| TIMBRE | TIMBER |
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| TOAD | TOED |
TOWED |
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| TROOP | TROUPE |
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| TRUST | TRUSSED |
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U
|
undo |
undue |
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urban |
urbane |
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unit |
unite |
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use |
yEWS |
ewes |
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V
| VALE |
VEIL |
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vary |
very |
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|
vein |
vane |
VAIN |
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| VERSES |
VERSUS |
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| VIRGIN |
VERGING |
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| VISE |
VICE |
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W
|
wail |
whale |
WALE |
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WAIT |
WEIGHT |
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wary |
weary |
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waste |
waist |
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way |
weigh |
whey |
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|
wear |
where |
ware |
we’re |
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WEATHER |
WHETHER |
WHITHER |
wither |
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whine |
wine |
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wood |
would |
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| WAX |
WHACKS |
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| WADE |
WEIGHED |
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| WANE |
WAIN |
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| WAVE |
WAIVE |
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| WARY |
WHERRY |
WEARY |
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| WEED |
WE’D |
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| WEAVE |
WE’VE |
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| WEEK |
WEAK |
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| WIELD |
WHEELED |
WEALD |
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| WELD |
WELLED |
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| WHICH |
WITCH |
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| WIG |
WHIG |
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| WILE |
WHILE |
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| WINED |
WIND |
WHINED |
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| WORD |
WHIRRED |
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| WHIT |
WIT |
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| WHOSE |
WHO’S |
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| WOE |
WHOA |
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| WONT |
WON’T |
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X
Y
|
YAK |
YACK |
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yoke |
yolk |
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YOU’LL |
YULE |
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YOUR |
YOU’RE |
YORE |
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you |
ewe |
yew |
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|
yews |
ewes |
use |
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Z
|
zeal |
seal |
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zounds |
sounds |
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