Омофоны - это слова, которые звучат одинаково, но имеют разное значение и написание, такие как, например, sun «сын» и son «солнце». Двусмысленность возникает, когда речь лишена контекста. В сборнике приводится обширный список, иллюстрирующий поистине бесконечное количество омофонов в английском языке.
Порядок слов в этом разделе соответствует фонетическому алфавиту.
I. ОСНОВНОЙ СПИСОК ОМОФОНОВ.
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.
[pg 8]
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, fete.
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.
[pg 9]
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).