soak, soke

The words soak, soke sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do soak, soke sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: soak, soke are homophones of the English language.

soak
  1. :: verb-transitive

    To make thoroughly wet or saturated by or as if by placing in liquid.

  2. :: verb-transitive

    To immerse in liquid for a period of time.

  3. :: verb-transitive

    To absorb (liquid, for example) through or as if through pores or interstices.

  4. :: verb-transitive

    To remove (a stain, for example) by continued immersion: soaked out the grease spots.

soke
  1. :: noun

    In early English law, the right of local jurisdiction, generally one of the feudal rights of lordship.

  2. :: noun

    The district over which soke jurisdiction was exercised.

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").