英语中，有很多看起来相近的单词，但是，千万别大意，意思可是完全不一样的，有的甚至是相反，理解错了，会闹笑话的！

aboard/abroad

aboard prep. & adv. 在（船/车/飞机等）上；上（船/车/飞 机等）

He was already aboard the plane.

他已经登机了。

The plane crashed, killing all 200 people aboard.

飞机失事，机上200人全部遇难。

abroad adv. 在国外；到国外

He was famous, both at home and abroad.

他享誉国内外。

accept/concept/except

accept v. 接受

I don't think they would accept that view.

我认为他们不会相信那个观点。

concept n. 概念；观念

He can't grasp the basic concepts of mathematics.

他无法掌握数学的基本概念。

except conj. & prep. 除外

We work every day except Sunday.

我们除星期天外都工作。

access/assess

access n. 通路；机会

The only access to the farmhouse is across the fields.

去那农舍的唯一通路是穿过田野。

assess v. 评价

Many of the adults were assessed as having learning difficulties.

许多成年人被认定有学习困难。

accident/incident

accident n. 事故；意外遭遇

Sam had an accident at work and had to go to hospital.

山姆在工作时发生意外事故，不得不去医院。

incident n. 事件

There was a shooting incident near here last night.

昨夜这附近发生了枪击事件。

adapt/adopt

adapt v. （使）适应；改编；改写

The children are finding it hard to adapt to the new school.

孩子们发觉很难适应新学校。

Three of her novels have been adapted for television.

她的长篇小说中有三部已改编成电视节冃。

adopt v. 收养；釆用

She was forced to have her baby adopted.

她被迫把婴儿给人收养。

All three teams adopted different approaches to the problem.

三个队处理这个问题的方法各不相同。

event/eventually/invent/prevent

event n. 重大事件；（发生的）事情

It is easy to be wise after the event.

事后诸葛亮人人都会做。

eventually adv. 最终；终于

You will succeed eventually.

你终会成功的。

invent v. 发明；创造

In 1930, German scientists invented the tape we use today.

1930年，德国科学家发明了我们如今使用的磁带。

prevent v. 阻止；防止

In this way we prevented the spread of this disease.

我们用这种方式防止了这种疾病的蔓延。

admit/permit

admit v. 容许进入；承认

Only ticket-holders will be admitted to/into the stadium.

持票者方可进入体育场。

I had to admit （to） being nervous about the test.

我不得不承认对这次考试感到紧张。

permit v. 许可 准许

Mobile phone conversations are not permitted anywhere in the library.

在图书馆里的任何地方都不允许打电话。

affect/affection/effect/effort

affect v. 影响

You opinion will not affect my decision.

你的意见不会影响我的决定。

affection n. 喜爱；钟爱

She was held in deep affection by all her students.

她的学生都十分爱戴她。

effect n. 影响；作用

We don't know the long-term effects of pollution.

我们不了解污染的长远影响。

effort n. 努力；力气

It's a long climb to the top, but well worth the effort.

爬到顶上路程很长，虽然费力却很值得。

angel/angle

angel n. 天使

Thank you a thousand times, you're an angel.

千恩万谢了，你是个天使。

angle n. 角度

Thanks to the angle at which he stood, he could just see the sunset.

多亏他站的角度，他刚好能看到曰落。

appoint/disappoint

appoint v. 任命；约定

Sam has been appointed manager of the engineering department to take the place of George.

山姆被任命为工程部经理，接替乔治。

We appointed a day in June for celebration.

我们把庆祝会定在六月的一天。

disappoint v. 使失望

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I can't come after all.

真抱歉让你失望，可我实在不能来。

approve/approval/improve/prove

approve v. 批准；认可；赞成；同意

Do you approve of my idea?

你同意我的想法吗？

approval n. 赞成；同意

I was always trying to win my father's approval.

我总是想方设法赢得父亲的赞许。

improve v. 改善；提高

I thought the best way to improve my French was to live in France.

我认为提高我的法语水准的最好办法是到法国生活。

prove v. 证明；证实

Just give me a chance and I'll prove it to you.

只要给我个机会，我会证明给你看。

aspect/expect/inspect/suspect

aspect n. 方面

Dealing with people is the most important aspect of my work.

与人打交道是我工.作中最重要的一方面。

expect v. 预料；预计

I expect to be back within a week.

我预计一周之内回来。

inspect v. 仔细检査

Make sure you inspect the goods before signing for them.

要确保在签收货物之前仔细检査。

suspect v. 怀疑

I suspected that there was something wrong with the engine.

我怀疑发动机出了什么故障。

awake/aware

awake adj. 醒着的

How do you stay awake during boring lectures?

听乏味的讲座时你如何让自己不睡着？

aware adj. 知道的；意识到的

Everyone should be made aware of the risks involved.

应该让人人都知道所涉及的风险。

breath/breathe

breath n. 呼吸；气息

We had to stop for breath before we got to the top.

我们不得不喘曰气，然后再豎山顶。

breathe v. 呼吸

The air was so cold we could hardly breathe.

空气非常寒冷,我们难以呼吸。

board/broad

board n. 公告牌；布告牌

Can I put this notice on the board?

我可以把这张通告贴在布告牌上吗？

broad adj. 宽的；阔的

He gave her a broad smile.

他给她一个灿烂的微笑。

compete/complete

compete v. 竞争

Young children will usually compete for their mother's attention.

小孩子通常都会在母亲面前争宠。

complete ① v. 完成；结束；② adj. 完全的；彻底的:

① She completed her degree in two years.

她在两年内修完了学位。

② The news came as a complete surprise.

这消息让人十分意外。

complex/flexible/reflect

complex adj. 复杂的

It is a complex system, but it certainly makes a change.

这是个复杂系统，但肯定有所改进。

flexible adj. 可变通的；灵活的

Our plans need to be flexible enough to cater for the needs of every one.

我们的计划必须足够变通，以满足每个人的需要。

reflect v. 反映；反思

The drop in consumer spending reflects concern about the economy.

消费支出的卜降反映出人们对经济的担忧。

We should all give ourselves time to reflect.

我们都应该给自己时间来深思。

conclude/include

conclude v. 断定；推断出

He concluded from their remarks that they were not in favor of the plan.

他从他们的话语中推断出他们不赞同此项计划。

include v. 包括；包含

Your duties include typing letters and answering the phone.

你的职责包括打信件和接电话。

confuse/refuse

confuse v. 使糊涂；使迷惑

His directions really confused me.

他指的路线真把我弄糊涂了。

refuse v. 拒绝；回绝

She refused to accept that there was a problem.

她拒不承认有问题存在。

complain/explain

complain v. 抱怨

She complained that no one had been at the airport to meet her.

她抱怨说没人到机场接她。

explain v. 解释;说明

Not every judge, however, has the ability to explain the law in simple words.

然而，并非每个法官都能用浅易的话来解释法律。

consist/insist/resist

consist v. 由构成

Life consists of not only sunshine but also hard times.

生活不仅有阳光，还有艰难困苦。

insist v. 坚持；坚决要求；坚持认为

He insisted on walking me to the station to see me off.

他坚持要陪我走到车站为我送行。

He insisted on his innocence.

他坚持说自己是无辜的。

resist v. 抵制；抵抗

We found the apple pie too good to resist.

我们觉得这块苹果馅饼令人无法抗拒。

contain/maintain/obtain

contain v. 包含 含有

The drink doesn't contain any alcohol.

这种饮料不含任何酒精。

maintain v. 维持；保持

The two countries have always maintained close relations.

这两个国家一直保持着密切关系。

obtain v. 获得；得到

In the second experiment they obtained a very clear result.

第二次试验他们获得了明确的结果。

contract/contrast

contract n. 合同；契约

Under the terms of the contract the job should have been finished yesterday.

根据合同的条款，这项工作木应该于咋天完成。

contrast n. 差异；对比；对照

By contrast, Mrs. Young was much more outspoken.

相比之下，杨夫人更加直言不讳。

desert/dessert

desert ① n. 沙漠 ② v. 抛弃；离弃

① Somalia is mostly desert.

索马里大部分地区都是荒漠。

② People have deserted the villages and moved to the cities.

人们离开村子，搬到城里去了。

dessert n. 甜食；甜点

a rich chocolate dessert

腻人的巧克力甜点

exist/exit

exist v. 存在

The world exists, whether you like it or not.

不管你喜欢与否，这个世界照样存在。

exit n. 出口

The emergency exit is at the back of the bus.

紧急出口在公共汽车的尾部。

explode/explore

explode v. 爆炸；爆裂

Bombs were exploding all around the city.

城里到处都响起炸弹的爆炸声。

explore v. 探索；考察

The city is best explored on foot.

最好是徒步探索这个城山。

expand/extend/extent

expand v. 扩大；增加

A child's vocabulary expands through reading.

孩子的词汇量通过阅读得到扩大。

extend v. 延长；延伸

This road extends to the river.

这条路延伸到河边。

extent n. 程度；限度

To a certain extent, it was my fault.

某种程度上，这是我的错。

expose/oppose

expose v. 使暴露；使显露

Being exposed to sunlight for too much time will do harm to one's skin.

在阳光下暴露太久对皮肤有伤害。

oppose v. 反对；抵制

All the members present opposed the plan bitterly.

所有与会的成员都坚决反对这个计划。

express/impress/pressure

express v. 表达； 表示

On behalf of our school, I would like to express our warm welcome to you.

我代表我校，向您表示热烈的欢迎。

impress v. 给留下极深的印象

Li Kang is very impressed with the teachers and the technology in his new school.

新学校的老师和教学设施给李康留下了很深的印象。

pressure n. 压力

I know studying is very important, but my parents put too much pressure on me.

我知道学习很重要，但父母给我施加了太多的压力。

ensure/insure/unsure

ensure v. 保证；确保

The book ensured his success.

这本书使他笃定会成功。

insure v. 投保；给保险

The painting is insured for $ 1 million.

这幅油画投了 100万美元的保险。

unsure adj. 不确定的；无把握的

I was unsure how to reply to this question.

我拿不准该如何回答这个问题。

fight/flight/frighten

fight v. 打斗；战斗

Some parents believe a boy must learn to stand up and fight like a man.

一些家长认为一个男孩必须学会像男子汉一样奋起战斗。

flight n. 飞行；航班

The flight will take four hours.

此次飞行将需要4个小肘。

frighten v. 使惊吓；使惊恐

She was frightened by his threats.

他的威胁让她感到害怕。

familiar/similar

familiar adj. 熟悉的

They are already familiar faces on our TV screens.

他们已经是我们电视屏幕上熟悉的面孔了。

similar adj. 相似的

We have very similar interests.

我们兴趣相仿。

flame/blame

flame n. 火焰

The building was in flames.

大楼失火了。

blame v. 把归咎于；责怪

A dropped cigarette is being blamed for the fire.

一根乱扔的烟被认为是这场火灾的肇因。

fluent/frequently

fluent adj. 流利的；流畅的

He can speak fluent Japanese.

他可以说流利的日语。

frequently adv. 频繁地；经常

Buses run frequently between the city and the airport.

公共汽车频繁地来往于市区与机场之间。

gradual/graduate

gradual adj. 逐渐的

Recovery from the disease is very gradual.

这种疾病的康复过程非常缓慢。

graduate v. 获得学位；毕业

Connie did well at school and graduated with honors.

康妮在学校表现很好，以优等成绩毕业。

form/from

form n. 形式；表格

The novel is written in the form of a series of letters.

这部小说以一系列书信的形式写成。

from prep. 起； 来自

I got the idea from Colin.

这个主意是科林帮我出的。

income/outcome

income n. 收入；收益

Tourism is a major source of income for the area.

旅游业是这个地区的主要收入来源。

outcome n. 结果；效果

We are confident of a successful outcome.

我们相信会冇圆满的结果。

inform/informal

inform v. 通知；通告

Please inform us of any changes of address.

地址若有变动请通知我们。

informal adj. 非正式的

an informal arrangement/meeting/visit

非正式的安排/会议/访问

later/latter

later adv. 以后；后来

I met her again three years later.

三年后我又遇见她了。

latter n. 后者

He presented two solutions. The latter seems much better.

他提出了两个解决方案，后一个看起来要好得多。

loyal/royal

loyal adj. 忠诚的；忠实的:

a loyal friend/supporter

忠实的朋友/支持者

royal adj. 皇家的；王室的

the royal family 王室

march/match

march v. 齐步走；行进

They marched 20 miles to reach the capital.

他们行进了20英里才到达首都。

match v. （和）相配

The carpet matches the curtains.

地毯和窗帘很匹配。

metal/medal/mental

metal n. 金属

It's made of metal.

它是用金属制成的。

medal n. 奖牌；奖章

She won a gold medal at the Olympics.

她在奥运会上赢得一枚金牌。

mental adj. 精神的；心理的

It's important to maintain good mental health.

保持心理健康很重要。

object/project/reject

object ① n. 物体；② v. 反对

① Look! There,s a strange object in the sky!

看！天上有个奇怪的东西！

② Would anyone object if we started the meeting now?

如果我们现在开始开会，有人反对吗？

project n. 项目；工程；计划

The project aims to provide an analysis of children's emotions.

该计划旨在对儿童情绪提供分析。

reject v. 拒绝

Sarah rejected her brother's offer of help.

萨拉拒绝她弟弟的帮助。

personal/personnel

personal adj. 个人的；私人的

The novel is written from personal experience.

这部小说是根据个人亲身经历写成的。

personnel n. 全体人员；人事部

She works in personnel.

她在人事部工作。

precious/previous

precious adj. 宝贵的

We cannot afford to waste precious time.

我们浪费不起宝贵的时间。

previous adj. 以前的；先前的

He has no previous experience of this kind of work.

他以前没有做这类工作的经验。

promote/remote

promote v. 促进

You don't have to sacrifice environmental protection to promote economic growth.

你们没有必要牺牲环保来促进经济增长。

remote adj. 遥远的；偏远的

a remote border town

一个偏远的边境小镇

principle/principal

principle n. 道德原则；行为准则

I refuse to lie about it; it's against my principles.

我绝不为此事撒谎；那违背我的原则。

principal adj. 最重要的；首要的

The principal reason for my change of mind is this.

我改变主意的最重要原因就是这个。

protect/protest

protect v. 保护 防护

I feel that not enough is being done to protect the local animal life.

我觉得在保护当地动物方面做得还不够。

protest v. 抗议；反对

Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.

学生们走上街头，抗议这项决定。

quite/quiet

quite adv. 相当；某种程度上

He plays quite well.

他表现得相当好。

quiet adj. 安静的

Could you keep the kids quiet while I'm on the phone?

我在打电话，你让孩子安静点好吗？

quality/quantity

quality n. 质量；品质；品德

This model is of good quality, but it is too expensive.

这个型号是高质量的，但是太贵了。

What qualities does a great person have?

伟人具有什么样的品德？

quantity n. 数量

Prices vary according to the quantity ordered.

价格根据所订数量而变化。

remain/remind

remain v. 剩余 留存

Very little of the house remained after the fire.

火灾过后，这座房子所剩无几。

remind v. 提醒；使想起

We put up a board to remind people to protect the trees.

我们竖起一块牌子提醒人们保护树木。

refer/infer

refer v. 提到;谈及

I promised not to refer to the matter again.

我答应过再也不提这事了。

infer v. 推断

I interred from his letter that he was still angry with me.

根据他的来信我推断他还在生我的气。

serve/deserve/observe/reserve

serve v. 接待；服务

There was only one girl serving customers.

只有一个女孩接待顾客。

deserve v. 应得；应受到

I'm sorry for the kids. They deserve to be treated in a better way.

我为这些孩子感到难过，他们应该受到更好的待遇。

observe v. 观察；观测

One student performs the experiment, while his partner observes.

一名学生做实验，他的搭档则进行观察。

reserve v. 预订；保留

I'd like to reserve a table for two.

我想预订一张两人的餐桌。

A separate room is reserved for smokers.

有一间独立房间是留给吸烟者用的。

share/sharp

share v. 共享；合用

I shared a room with her when I was at college.

我上大学时和她共住一个房间。

sharp adj. 锋利的 尖的

a sharp knife

一把锋利的刀

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sign/sigh

sign n. 标记；符号；迹象

The sign on the wall said “Now wash your hands”.

墙上的牌子上写着“现在请洗手”。

sigh v. 叹气；叹息

He sighed deeply at the thought.

一想到这个想法，他就深深地叹了口气。

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stare/starve

stare v. 盯着看；凝视

I screamed and everyone stared.

我尖叫一声，众人都盯着我看。

starve v. 挨饿；饿死

The animals were left to starve to death.

那些动物只能等着饿死。

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state/statue/status

state n. 状态；州

The house was in a terrible state.

房子状况很糟糕。

statue n. 雕像；塑像

The statue was carved out of a single piece of stone.

这座雕像是用整块石料雕成的。

status n. 地位；身份

Women are only asking to be given equal status with men.

妇女只是要求得到和男人平等的地位。

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steal/steel

steal v. 偷

I had my wallet stolen.

我的钱包被人偷了。

steel n. 钢

iron and steel

钢铁

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strike/stick

strike v. 打；撞击

He fell, striking his head on the edge of the table.

他摔倒了，头碰在桌子边上。

stick v. （被）刺入；（被）戳进

I found a nail sticking in the tire.

我发现轮胎上扎了一根钉子。

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source/resource

source n. 来源；出处

Your local library will be a useful source of information.

你们当地的图书馆将是很好的资料来源。

resource n. 资源；财力

Some families don't have the resources to feed themselves adequately.

有些家庭没有足够的资源来养活自己。

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suppose/support

suppose v. 认为； 猜想

I suppose (that) price will go up.

我认为价格会上涨。

support v. 支持；拥护:

If you raise it at the meeting, I'll support you.

如果你在会上提出这个问题，我将支持你。

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sweet/sweat

sweet adj. 含糖的；甜的

This wine is too sweet for me.

这种葡萄酒对我来说太甜了。

sweat n. 汗水

She wiped the sweat from her face.

她擦去脸上的汗水。

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tend/attend/intend/pretend

tend v.

tend to/toward(s) sth 倾向于…；有 …的趋势

The sort of music I listen to varies, but it tends toward light music.

我所听的音乐形形色色，不过一般都是轻音乐。

attend v. 出席；参加

Please let us know if you are unable to attend.

如果不能出席请通知我们。

intend v. 打算；想要

He intends studying/to study abroad next year.

他打算明年去国外留学。

pretend v. 假装；装作

When his mother came in, he pretended to be doing his homework.

妈妈进来时，他假装在做作业。

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though/through/thorough

though conj. 虽然

Though she gave no sign, I was sure she had seen me.

尽管她没有示意，我还是确信她看见了我。

through prep. 穿过

The doctor pushed his way through the crowd.

医生挤过人群。

thorough adj. 完全的；彻底的

The windows will have to be given a thorough cleaning.

窗户必须得做彻底的清洁。

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wander/wonder

wander v. 闲逛；漫步

She wandered aimlessly around the streets.

她在大街上漫无目的地到处游荡。

wonder v. 对感到惊讶；想知道

Sometimes I wonder about his behavior.

有时我对他的行为感到惊讶。

I wonder where she lives these days.

我想知道她现在住在哪里。

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weather/whether

weather n. 天气

The weather is very changeable at the moment.

此时天气变化无常。

whether conj. 是否

It remains to be seen whether or not this idea can be put into practice.

这一想法能否付诸实践还有待观察。