We are all familiar with words that are spelled different but sound the same. Not and knot, to , too and two, etc.

I can only think of one set of four words that sound the same but spelled differently.

Anyone have more than one set of four?

 

Are you going to count contractions like they're, their, & there?

 

No.

 

wright, right, rite, write
sow, so, sew, sol

How about five?

are, air, heir, ere, err (are is an hundredth of a hectare)

 

That'd be fine if "err" were properly pronounced to rhyme with "hair".

Alas, the proper pronunciation rhymes with "her".

 

common usage has "err" pronounced to rhyme with hair, and modern dictionaries reflect that, so while there was a day when it was pronounced different, that day has passed.

 

not to hijack the thread, but i was given a business card yesterday that read:

"Principle/C.F.O"

shouldn't it be Principal?

 

I know. But, as no_really said, so many people pronounce it otherwise today, I figured I could slip it in.

I should have known you'd pop up. Now I'll be forever branded a cheater (or, at the least, a shady dealer). A pox upon thee!

 

I trust that you're not in the clique that would similarly accept "Feb-you-air-ee" and "cumf-ter-bull" as proper.