Gorilla & Guerilla

My all-time favorite homophone! I remember giggling about this in junior high with my friend Abe so much that we got in trouble with a librarian. :)
I suppose, looking back, it's not that funny, really. It's also a lazy anglicization of a Spanish word, so you could make the argument that these really aren't homophones at all. If you wanted to be that way.

Tortuous & Torturous

These two are NOT homophones. But they're also NOT THE SAME WORD! That second R makes quite a difference, people. I'll admit that solving a maze might feel like torture, but the route through a maze is not Torturous, it's Tortuous – winding, circuitous, complicated.

Hour & Our

Why won't we give away 120 minutes? Because it's hours!

Disburse & Disperse

-burse – Distribute, hand out.
-perse – Scatter, run away!

Pail & Pale

Marry & Merry

Yes, I'm leaving Mary out of this.

Loot & Lute

Foreword & Forward

Totally cribbing Afterward/Afterword for this one. Not even ashamed about it.
No, I mean I'm "keeping the blog's imagery consistent"!!! No shame in that!!!

Review & Revue

-iew – examine, evaluate.

-ue – a theatrical performance.

It's not a stretch to say that you can review a revue.

Cymbal & Symbol

For more great information about drummers, don't forget to check out www.goodnightkeithmoon.com!  ;)

Throne & Thrown

Sometimes, in fact, the throne gets overthrown!

Stair & Stare

Why did the celebrity have a private elevator installed? Because they didn't like the stares.

Ensure & Insure

This one's a little tough. Ensure and Insure are so close in meaning that some definitions seem to list them as synonyms. But others, not quite. There seems to be a slight difference, at least in tone. If I had to explain it, I'd say that the significant difference seems to be:

When you use it with an E, you mean you're taking an active role in preventing harm, loss, or damage from occurring. An ounce of prevention.

When you use it with an I, you mean you're agreeing to documentation stating that should harm, loss, or damage occur, you will be compensated for it. A pound of cure.

I've been seeing them used interchangeably a lot lately, and it could be that the meanings are shifting, and one day we won't have both spellings anymore. But I don't think we're there just yet, and I guess I'm here advocating for their uniqueness. Like a sentimental schmuck.

Dear & Deer

With an A – precious, sentimental, beloved.
With two Es – Bambi, Rudolph, House Baratheon.

C, Sea, See

Humerus & Humorous

"Why did I laugh when you broke your arm? Because it was humerus!"
This is one of my all-time favorite homophones. Can't believe it took me so long to get to it.

Choral & Coral

With an H – referring to a choir.
Without an H – a type of marine invertebrate.

Lam & Lamb

Why are police on the lookout for wool?
Because it's always on the lamb!
Mm-hm.

Chance & Chants

Chased & Chaste

Why did Pac-Man make out with the ghost? 

Because he was tired of being chaste.