Homophones and near-homophones: Years 3/4
Year group: 3/4
Source: DfE, English Appendix 1: Spelling, National Curriculum for England (2013) — Years 3–4, Homophones and near-homophones
Curriculum requirement: Statutory
Purpose: Years 3–4 homophones and near-homophones from the DfE statutory list — definitions, sentences, and practice distinguishing sound-alike words.
What is a homophone?
A homophone is a word that sounds identical (or nearly identical) to another word but has a different spelling and a different meaning.
hear and here — both pronounced /hɪə/ — but different meanings
affect and effect — near-homophones; slightly different sounds but easily confused
The key to spelling homophones correctly is meaning, not sound. Children must know which word they want to write before they can choose the right spelling.
The statutory Y3/4 homophone pairs
(DfE Appendix 1 specifies these pairs as statutory content for Years 3–4)
accept / except
- accept (verb) — to receive willingly → She will accept the prize.
- except (preposition/conjunction) — not including; apart from → Everyone came except Tom.
Memory hook: Accept with both hands. Except = excluding.
affect / effect
- affect (verb) — to have an impact on → The rain will affect the match.
- effect (noun) — the result or outcome → The effect of the rain was a muddy pitch.
Memory hook: Affect is the Action. Effect is the End result.
RAVEN: Remember Affect Verb Effect Noun.
(Note: effect can be a verb meaning "to bring about" as in "effect change" — this is rare and does not need to be taught at Y3/4)
ball / bawl
- ball (noun) — a round object; a formal dance → Kick the ball.
- bawl (verb) — to cry loudly; to shout → The baby began to bawl.
berry / bury
- berry (noun) — a small fruit → a berry on the bush
- bury (verb) — to put underground; to hide → Dogs bury bones.
brake / break
- brake (noun/verb) — a device for slowing; to slow down → Press the brake. The car braked sharply.
- break (verb/noun) — to smash; a pause → Don't break it. Let's take a break.
Memory hook: Br-ake → you ake (ache) when you stop suddenly. Br-eak → things that break create a gap.
fair / fare
- fair (adjective/noun) — just; a funfair → That's not fair. We went to the fair.
- fare (noun) — the price of a journey; food → The bus fare was £2.
grate / great
- grate (noun/verb) — a frame of bars; to shred → Cheese grater. Grate the carrot.
- great (adjective) — large; excellent; important → A great achievement.
groan / grown
- groan (verb/noun) — to make a low sound of pain → She let out a groan.
- grown (past participle of grow) — developed; become larger → The plant has grown tall.
here / hear
- here (adverb) — in this place → Come over here.
- hear (verb) — to perceive sound → Can you hear me?
Memory hook: You hear with your ear. (h + ear = hear)
heel / heal / he'll
- heel (noun) — the back of the foot or shoe → A blister on her heel.
- heal (verb) — to get better; to cure → The wound will heal in time.
- he'll (contraction) — he will → He'll be here soon.
knot / not
- knot (noun) — a tying of rope; a unit of speed → Tie a knot. The ship sailed at 20 knots.
- not (adverb) — negation → She is not coming.
mail / male
- mail (noun/verb) — letters and parcels; to send → The mail arrived. Mail this letter.
- male (noun/adjective) — the masculine gender → A male lion.
main / mane
- main (adjective) — most important → the main road
- mane (noun) — the long hair on a horse's or lion's neck → the lion's mane
meat / meet
- meat (noun) — animal flesh used as food → roast meat
- meet (verb) — to come together → Let's meet at noon.
Memory hook: You eat meat. (m + eat = meat)
medal / meddle
- medal (noun) — a decoration awarded for achievement → a gold medal
- meddle (verb) — to interfere in other people's affairs → Don't meddle in my business.
missed / mist
- missed (past tense of miss) — failed to hit/catch; felt the absence of → She missed the bus.
- mist (noun) — light fog → morning mist
peace / piece
- peace (noun) — freedom from war or conflict; calm → peace and quiet
- piece (noun) — a part of something → a piece of cake
Memory hook: A piece of pie. (piece contains pie)
plain / plane
- plain (adjective/noun) — simple; a flat area of land → a plain answer; the grassy plain
- plane (noun) — an aircraft; a flat surface; a woodworking tool → board a plane
rain / rein / reign
- rain (noun/verb) — water falling from clouds → It will rain today.
- rein (noun) — a strap for controlling a horse → She pulled on the rein.
- reign (noun/verb) — the period a monarch rules; to rule → during the king's reign
scene / seen
- scene (noun) — a view; a section of a play or film → a beautiful scene
- seen (past participle of see) → Have you seen this film?
weather / whether
- weather (noun) — atmospheric conditions → What's the weather like?
- whether (conjunction) — expressing a choice or doubt → Whether we go or stay depends on you.
whose / who's
- whose (pronoun) — belonging to whom → Whose bag is this?
- who's (contraction) — who is; who has → Who's coming? Who's been eating my porridge?
Strategies for teaching homophones
1. Meaning first, always. The child must know what they want to say before choosing the spelling. Ask: "What does that word mean in your sentence?"
2. Etymology and morphology hooks. Many homophones can be unlocked by their spelling. hear contains ear; peace contains a different vowel pattern from piece of pie. Teach the logic, not just the pair.
3. Sentence frames. "I ___ with my ear" (hear). "A ___ of pie" (piece). Provide a sentence that makes the meaning unambiguous.
4. Minimal pairs in context. Present both words in sentences side by side so children must choose. Never present them on their own without context.
5. Do NOT teach them as a pair to memorise. Teach each word individually in context first. Confusion comes from presenting them as a pair before each one is secure.
Word sort activity
Place each word in the correct sentence.
affect / effect
- The weather will ____ the school sports day.
- The ____ of too much sugar is a loss of concentration.
peace / piece
- After the argument, they made ____.
- Would you like a ____ of cake?
whether / weather
- She wasn't sure ____ to bring an umbrella.
- The ____ in March is unpredictable.
Source: DfE English Appendix 1: Spelling (2013). Statutory homophone pairs verified against the published document. Memory hooks are pedagogical devices, not statutory content.