Commonly Confused Words: Homophones and Look-alikes

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.The students left ___ books in the classroom.

   • A.there
   • B.they're
   • C.their✓ Correct Answer
   • D.them

   Explanation: "Their" shows possession; "there" shows place; "they're" means "they are".

2. Q2.The dog wagged ___ tail happily.

   • A.it's
   • B.there
   • C.our
   • D.its✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: "Its" is the possessive; "it's" means "it is" or "it has".

3. Q3.It is ___ hot to play outside.

   • A.to
   • B.two
   • C.too✓ Correct Answer
   • D.tow

   Explanation: "Too" means "excessively"; "to" is a preposition; "two" is a number.

4. Q4.I cannot decide ___ to go or not.

   • A.whether✓ Correct Answer
   • B.weather
   • C.whither
   • D.whom

   Explanation: "Whether" expresses a choice; "weather" refers to the climate.

5. Q5.Please give me some ___ on this matter.

   • A.advise
   • B.device
   • C.advice✓ Correct Answer
   • D.advices

   Explanation: "Advice" is the noun; "advise" is the verb.

6. Q6.He is a very ___ person and rarely speaks.

   • A.quite
   • B.quiet✓ Correct Answer
   • C.quit
   • D.quest

   Explanation: "Quiet" means silent; "quite" means fairly or completely.

7. Q7.The ___ of the school addressed the students.

   • A.principal✓ Correct Answer
   • B.principle
   • C.prince
   • D.principals'

   Explanation: "Principal" is the head of a school; "principle" is a rule or belief.

8. Q8.Smoking has a bad ___ on health.

   • A.affect
   • B.affects
   • C.affected
   • D.effect✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: Here a noun is needed: "effect" is the noun, "affect" is usually the verb.

9. Q9.Everyone ___ Ravi attended the meeting.

   • A.accept
   • B.expect
   • C.access
   • D.except✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: "Except" means "other than"; "accept" means "to receive".

10. Q10.I bought paper, pens and other ___ from the shop.

    • A.stationery✓ Correct Answer
    • B.stationary
    • C.stationers
    • D.station

    Explanation: "Stationery" means writing materials; "stationary" means not moving.

11. Q11.She did not ___ the gift offered by the stranger.

    • A.accept✓ Correct Answer
    • B.except
    • C.expect
    • D.access

    Explanation: "Accept" means to receive willingly.

12. Q12.He paid me a ___ on my new dress.

    • A.complement
    • B.complaint
    • C.compliment✓ Correct Answer
    • D.comply

    Explanation: "Compliment" is praise; "complement" means something that completes.

13. Q13.The camel is a famous animal of the ___.

    • A.dessert
    • B.desert✓ Correct Answer
    • C.deserts
    • D.desired

    Explanation: "Desert" is a dry region; "dessert" is a sweet dish.

14. Q14.Do not ___ your temper in front of the guests.

    • A.lose✓ Correct Answer
    • B.loose
    • C.lost
    • D.loss

    Explanation: "Lose" is a verb meaning to fail to keep; "loose" means not tight.

15. Q15.Of the two options, I prefer the ___.

    • A.later
    • B.latter✓ Correct Answer
    • C.last
    • D.latest

    Explanation: "Latter" refers to the second of two things; "later" refers to time.

16. Q16.The new rule will ___ all employees of the company.

    • A.effect
    • B.affects
    • C.affected
    • D.affect✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: After "will", the base verb "affect" (to influence) is needed.

17. Q17.Dark clouds show that an ___ storm is approaching.

    • A.eminent
    • B.imminent✓ Correct Answer
    • C.immanent
    • D.emanent

    Explanation: "Imminent" means about to happen; "eminent" means famous or distinguished.

18. Q18.The ___ department of the company handles recruitment and salaries.

    • A.personal
    • B.personnel✓ Correct Answer
    • C.personable
    • D.personnels

    Explanation: "Personnel" means the staff of an organisation; "personal" means private.

19. Q19.The lawyer tried to ___ the truth from the nervous witness.

    • A.illicit
    • B.elect
    • C.elude
    • D.elicit✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: "Elicit" means to draw out; "illicit" means illegal.

20. Q20.The minister will ___ to the next topic after the break.

    • A.precede
    • B.procede
    • C.proceed✓ Correct Answer
    • D.proceeds

    Explanation: "Proceed" means to go forward; "precede" means to come before.