listbeeTricky words
Homophones
Homophones sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. The only way to choose the right spelling is to know which meaning the sentence needs.
- Sound
- Same sound, different spelling
- Usually taught
- 2nd–4th grade
- Words on this page
- 32 in 3 lists
Homophones: word lists
Practice a list online (each word is read aloud), or open it in the worksheet maker to print a test, word search, or look-cover-write-check sheet.
The big three sets
10 words- to toward (go to school)
- too also, or more than enough
- two the number 2
- there a place (over there)
- their belongs to them
- they're they are
- your belongs to you
- you're you are
- here this place
- hear listen with your ear
Common pairs
10 words- see look with your eyes
- sea a big body of salt water
- right correct, or the opposite of left
- write put words on paper
- know have learned something
- no the opposite of yes
- for for you, for fun
- four the number 4
- one the number 1
- won came first in a game
More pairs
12 words- by next to, or made by
- buy pay for something
- blue a color
- blew past of blow
- ate past of eat
- eight the number 8
- meet get together with someone
- meat food from an animal
- flower a plant that blooms
- flour used to bake bread
- bear a large animal
- bare not covered
How the pattern works
Spelling a homophone correctly depends on meaning, so practice works best with a sentence: “I have two cats.”
In Listbee practice, a grown-up can add a short sentence for each word so the listening practice reads the word, the sentence, then the word again.
Memory hooks help: hear has an ear in it; here, there and where are all about places; eight and weigh share the eigh spelling.
Common mistakes
- Using one spelling for every meaning, usually to, there and your.
- Writing they’re or you’re without the apostrophe.
- Getting the word right in a list but wrong in writing. Sentence practice helps transfer.
Practice ideas
- Add a sentence for each word when you create the list, then use the readiness check.
- Make a poster with a picture clue for each spelling: two with two dots, hear with an ear.
Practicing a list from school?
Paste your child’s exact words to make listening practice and printables in seconds.