calix, calyx

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

The answer is simple: calix, calyx are homophones of the English language.

calix
  1. :: noun

    Ecclesiastical A chalice.

calyx
  1. :: noun

    The sepals of a flower considered as a group.

  2. :: noun

    A cuplike structure or organ, such as one of the cuplike divisions of the pelvis or of the kidney.

  3. :: noun

    A collecting structure in the kidney.

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").