CHECKING YOUR SPELLING / 59 Looking at homophones Some words that are pronounced in the same way are spelt differently and have different meanings. They are called homophones . Here are some examples: air aisle gaseous substance passage between seats heir isle successor land surrounded by water audible aloud permitted allowed altar bare bark table at end of church naked sound dog makes covering of tree trunk alter change an animal sailing ship bear barque bow bread by to bend head food made from flour at side of something bough bred branch of tree past tense of breed purchase buy bye a run in cricket awarded by umpire caught past tense of ‘catch’ court space enclosed by buildings past tense of ‘send’ sent monetary unit cent check sudden stop to inspect scent cheque perfume written order to bank to pay money to give advice counsel currant dried fruit council an administrative body current water or air moving in a particular direction ewe female sheep yew you a tree second person pronoun animal deer loved; expensive dear faint become unconscious feint to make a diversionary move past tense of ‘hear’ heard hear whole to be aware of sound something complete a group of cattle in this place a cavity herd here hole