Words that look like they rhyme but do not

1. 1
   though/ðoʊ/

   adverb

   Used at the end of a sentence to add something that goes against what was just said.
2. 2
   through/θruː/

   adverb

   From start to finish.
3. 3
   tough/tʌf/

   adjective

   Very hard to deal with.
4. 4
   cough/kɑːf/iAlso said kɔːf.

   verb

   To push air out of your lungs with a sharp noise.
5. 5
   comb/koʊm/

   noun

   A flat tool with teeth for tidying hair.
6. 6
   tomb/tuːm/

   noun

   A place where a dead person is buried.
7. 7
   sword/sɔːrd/

   noun

   A weapon with a long metal blade.
8. 8
   lose/luːz/

   verb

   To put something where you can't find it.
9. 9
   great/ɡreɪt/

   adjective

   Very good or enjoyable.
10. 10
    blood/blʌd/

    noun

    The red liquid your heart pumps around your body.

The sentences

1. The trip was long. I really enjoyed it, though.

2. She read the whole letter through before she spoke.

3. It was a tough winter for the whole village.

4. He tried not to cough during the quiet part.

5. She pulled a comb through her wet hair.

6. They found the old tomb under the church.

7. The knight pulled his sword and stepped forward.

8. Don't lose the map, or we'll never get home.

9. It was a great night, and nobody wanted to leave.

10. There was a little blood on his sleeve.

Pronunciation

• though/ðoʊ/

  The gh is silent; it rhymes with 'go'.

• through/θruː/

  Rhymes with true, and the gh makes no sound.

• tough/tʌf/

  The gh sounds like f, so it rhymes with stuff.

• cough/kɑːf/

  Rhymes with off, not with tough.

• comb/koʊm/

  The b is silent, so it rhymes with home.

• tomb/tuːm/

  Rhymes with room, not with comb.

• sword/sɔːrd/

  The w is silent, so it sounds like sored.

• lose/luːz/

  Rhymes with news, not with hose.

• great/ɡreɪt/

  Sounds like grate, and the r comes straight after the g with no vowel between.

• blood/blʌd/

  Rhymes with mud, not with food.