Topic · Homophones

Same sound, different spelling — pick by meaning

Homophones sound the same but mean different things (their / there / they're). Near-homophones sound almost the same (accept / except). In Stage 1 you choose the word that fits the sentence. The trick is never to listen — always check what the sentence means.

Set 1 their / there / they're

their = belonging to them (it has the word heir in it — ownership). there = a place (it has here in it). they're = they are (the apostrophe replaces the missing letter).

They're putting their coats over there. ✓

Test: Can you say "they are"? Use they're. Is it a place? Use there. Does someone own it? Use their.

Set 2 your / you're · its / it's

you're = you are; your = belonging to you. it's = it is / it has; its = belonging to it.

You're late because your watch stopped. · The dog wagged its tail; it's happy. ✓

Test: If "it is" or "you are" fits, use the apostrophe one. Possessives (its, your) never take an apostrophe.

Set 3 accept / except

accept = to receive or say yes (begins like a in "agree"). except = apart from / leaving out (the ex- means "out").

I accept your gift. · Everyone came except Sam. ✓

Test: "ex" = "exit/out", so except leaves something out.

Set 4 practice / practise · licence / license

In British English the noun ends in -ice (a thing) and the verb ends in -ise (an action).

I go to football practice (noun) so I can practise (verb). ✓

Test: Swap in "advice / advise" — you can hear the difference. The -c- word is the noun.

Set 5 Common tricky pairs

to / too / two: too = also/very; two = 2; to = everything else. where / wear / were: where = place; wear = clothes; were = past of "are". here / hear: you hear with your ear.

I'd like two cakes too. · Where were you? · I hear you. ✓

Set 6 More near-homophones

affect (verb, to change) / effect (noun, the result). quiet (silent) / quite (fairly). passed (went by) / past (time gone / beyond). weather (rain/sun) / whether (if).

The rain will affect the game; the effect was a delay. · Be quiet, it's quite late. ✓

The 30-second method

How to crack any homophone MCQ fast

Read the whole sentence — the meaning, not the sound, decides the answer.
Try the long form: if "they are / it is / you are" fits, choose the apostrophe word.
Spot the hidden word: there has here (place); hear has ear (listen).
Noun or verb? For practice/practise, the -ice spelling is the thing (noun).
Substitute a clear pair: swap in advice/advise to hear which form you need.

10 worked examples

Read the question, then the answer with the rule that solves it.

1. ___ going to bring ___ books over ___.

They're / their / there — they are / belonging to them / a place (Set 1).

2. ___ shoes are by the door.

Your — belonging to you. "You are shoes" makes no sense, so not "you're" (Set 2).

3. The cat licked ___ paw.

its — belonging to it. Possessive "its" has no apostrophe (Set 2).

4. Everyone is here ___ Tom.

except — apart from. "ex" = out/leaving out (Set 3).

5. Please ___ my apology.

accept — to receive/say yes (Set 3).

6. I need to ___ my piano.

practise — it's a verb (an action), so -ise in British English (Set 4).

7. Netball ___ is on Tuesday.

practice — it's a noun (a thing), so -ice (Set 4).

8. I want ___ slices ___ , please.

two / too — the number 2, and "too" meaning "as well" (Set 5).

9. Will the rain ___ our trip?

affect — a verb meaning to change. The result is the "effect" (Set 6).

10. A bus ___ the school.

passed — went by (verb, past tense). "past" is time gone or beyond (Set 6).

Mock paper — 20 questions

Progress0 / 20

Pick one answer (A–E) for each question. The timer starts when you answer your first.