The words plain, plane sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do plain, plane sound the same even though they are completely different words?
The answer is simple: plain, plane are homophones of the English language.
Free from obstructions; open; clear: in plain view.
Obvious to the mind; evident: make one's intention plain. See Synonyms at apparent.
Not elaborate or complicated; simple: plain food.
Straightforward; frank or candid: plain talk.
Mathematics A surface containing all the straight lines that connect any two points on it.
A flat or level surface.
A level of development, existence, or achievement: scholarship on a high plane.
An airplane or hydroplane.
Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.
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").