Sound Alike Words

Sound-alikes, sometimes called homophones, are words with different meanings and different spellings that sound the same.

View Common Core State Standards Related to Sound-Alike WordsClose

Common Core State Standards Related to Sound-Alike Words

CCSS.ELA­Literacy.L.1.4.a
Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELA­Literacy.L.2.4.a
Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELA­Literacy.L.3.4.a
Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELA­Literacy.L.4.1.g
Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).
CCSS.ELA­Literacy.L.4.4.a
Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELA­Literacy.L.5.4.a
Use context (e.g., cause/effect relationships and comparisons in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

VocabularySpellingCity.com provides word lists, printables, and interactive games and activities that give students the opportunity to practice using sound-alike words.

Try MatchIt Sentences with the Grade 4 Sound-Alike Words list.

Recognizing homophones, or “sound-alikes,” is essential to correct spelling because even spell check programs will not recognize them as spelling errors. Students learn to identify and use context clues to determine the correct meaning of a sound-alike word, then use a dictionary or rely on their memory to spell the word correctly.