Homophones: Words that sound the same, but mean different things and have different spellings! We look the same, Chip! That’s true, Dale! But we’re actually DIFFERENT! Just like homophones!

ARE vs. OUR Are – verb – a form of the verb “TO BE,” indicating a state of being – You are such wonderful students! – They are teachers for Shaler Area. Our – possessive pronoun – belonging to us – Hey! Don’t throw that away, it’s our project for school!

ARE you going to join in OUR dance? ARE vs. OUR

HEAR vs. HERE Hear – verb – to perceive a sound with the ear – Do you even hear what I’m saying? I feel that you’re not listening to me! Here – adverb - in this place; in this spot or locality – Put the book here on the shelf, please.

Come over here so I can hear what you are saying better! HEAR vs. HERE

HOLE vs. WHOLE Hole – noun – a small opening in something, a gap – There is a hole in this container and all my soup is leaking out! Whole – adjective – undivided, in one piece, complete – Don’t leave out any details! Tell me the whole story!

HOLE vs. WHOLE That whole car fit through a little hole in my baseboard! I knew I had mice!

PATIENCE vs. PATIENTS Patience – noun – the quality of being patient – I have a lot of patience when it comes to loud 7 th graders! Patients – plural noun – one who is under the care of a doctor – The doctor saw four patients today who all had the flu.

PATIENCE vs. PATIENTS I know a handsome gentleman who’s a doctor, and he has a lot of patience for the complaints of his patients.

PEACE vs. PIECE Peace – noun – a state of harmony between people or groups – We’re hoping for peace in the world so that nations stop fighting. Piece – noun – a small, separate portion of something – I can’t eat a whole cake! Just give me a little piece, please.

PEACE vs. PIECE All I wanted was some peace and quiet, but what I got instead was this piece of cheese!

PLAIN vs. PLANE Plain – adjective – simple, without decoration or adornment; obvious and apparent – Her room is decorated in a very plain manner without a lot of pictures or posters. – It’s plain to see that you simply haven’t done your homework. Plane – noun – an airplane; a flat surface – I flew in a plane for the first time today! – Put this piece of wood on an even plane so I can cut it correctly.

PLAIN vs. PLANE What are all these knobs and levers? I thought this plane was going to be a plain, simple craft!

THEIRS vs. THERE’S Theirs – possessive pronoun – belonging to them – This car is definitely theirs; you can tell by the personalized license plate. There’s – contraction – a contraction, short for “THERE IS” – Hey, look! There’s Timmy, he’s back at school after a long illness!

THEIRS vs. THERE’S There’s Chip and Dale with that strange friend of theirs!

THERE vs. THEIR vs. THEY’RE There – adv – in or at a place; indicating a location – I am going to put this book over there on the table. Their – possessive pronoun – belonging to them – I got a personal tour of their new home. They’re – contraction – a contraction, short for “THEY ARE” – They’re really nice people once you get to know them!

THERE vs. THEIR vs. THEY’RE As our heroes face impending doom, they hang there over a gaggle of hungry cats, knowing that they’re in a tricky position and must use their knowledge and education to save them!

TO vs. TOO vs. TWO To – preposition - used for expressing motion or direction toward a point, person, place, time, or thing approached and reached. – We went to the mall last weekend. – To this day, I still don’t understand homophones! – He gave the present to me. Too – adverb – also, in addition, to an excessive extent – I love English, too! – This class is too much fun! Two – noun – the cardinal number, the sum of 1+1 – I have two dogs.

TO vs. TOO vs. TWO The two chipmunks went to the mansion to find the treasure and discovered some interesting clues along the way, too!

WAIT vs. WEIGHT Wait – verb – to be available or in readiness – She waits for the bus at the end of her street every morning. Weight – noun – the amount of heaviness something has – The weight of that book is about two pounds.

WAIT vs. WEIGHT Let’s wait until we’re outside the Earth’s orbit when we won’t have any weight…then we can float around the spaceship!

WEATHER vs. WHETHER Weather – noun – the state of the atmosphere as it applies to wind, temperature, cloudiness, moisture, pressure, etc – I hope the weather is beautiful for our picnic! I want it to be sunny and warm! Whether – conjunction - used to introduce a question presenting alternatives, usually with the word “or” – I can’t decide whether or not I want to wear a skirt to school today.

WEATHER vs. WHETHER Let’s check to see whether the weather is nice enough to go outside.

WHOSE vs. WHO’S Whose – pronoun – belonging to what person? – Whose coat was left in my classroom? Who’s – contraction – a contraction, short for “WHO IS” – Who’s that new kid?

WHOSE vs. WHO’S Who’s going to tell me whose plunger this is?!

YOUR vs. YOU’RE Your – possessive pronoun – belonging to you – I can’t tell if this is your book or mine! You’re – contraction – a contraction, short for “YOU ARE” – Mom bought you a car? I can’t believe it! You’re so lucky!

YOUR vs. YOU’RE I bet you’re glad you remembered your running shoes today!