11+ Homophones: Complete List & Guide
Homophones (GL Type G) are a key component of 11+ Verbal Reasoning papers. This guide includes the most common 11+ homophone pairs, how they're tested, and tips for helping children learn them effectively.
What Are Homophones?
Homophones are words that sound identical when spoken but have different spellings and meanings. The word comes from Greek: homo (same) + phone (sound).
Example (GL Type G format):
Which word sounds the same as WAIT?
"Weight" sounds the same as "wait" — they are homophones. "Weight" is a noun (heaviness); "wait" is a verb (to remain until).
Key 11+ Homophone Pairs
"there" = place. "their" = belonging to them. "they're" = they are.
"to" = direction. "too" = also/excessively. "two" = the number 2.
"hear" = with your ears. "here" = in this place.
"wear" = clothes. "where" = location. "ware" = goods.
"passed" = went by (verb). "past" = time gone by (noun/adjective).
"affect" = to influence (verb). "effect" = the result (noun).
"principal" = head teacher / main. "principle" = rule or belief.
"stationary" = not moving. "stationery" = writing materials (e stands for envelope).
"discreet" = careful, secretive. "discrete" = separate, distinct.
"compliment" = praise. "complement" = goes well with.
"practice" = noun (the practice). "practise" = verb (to practise).
"licence" = noun (a driving licence). "license" = verb (to license someone).
Practise Homophones with Homophone Hunter
11PlusQuest's Homophone Hunter game presents homophones in sentence contexts — exactly like the 11+ GL paper. 80+ homophone questions across four difficulty levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are homophones?
Homophones are words that sound exactly the same when spoken but have different spellings and different meanings. For example, "their", "there" and "they're" all sound identical but mean completely different things.
How are homophones tested in 11+ exams?
In GL Assessment papers, homophones appear as Type G questions. Children must identify which spelling is correct in context, or choose the word that sounds the same as a given word. CEM papers test homophones within cloze (fill-in-the-gap) passages.
Are homophones the same as homographs?
No. Homophones sound the same but are spelled differently (hear/here). Homographs are spelled the same but mean different things (lead the metal / lead the way). Homonyms can refer to either category.
What's the best way to learn homophones for 11+?
Learning homophones in context is most effective. For each pair, understand the meaning and use each in a sentence. 11PlusQuest's Homophone Hunter game shows homophones in sentence contexts, making the distinction stick.
Are there homophones specific to British English?
Yes. British English has some homophones that differ from American English. For example, "draft" and "draught" are near-homophones in British English. 11+ exams in England use British English exclusively.