tuft, toughed

Tuft or tuft means a small clump or cluster of grass, hair, or something else that is attached at the base and loose at the top--
The cat came home with a tuft of feathers in his mouth.
There's nothing left of the lawn but an occasional tuft of grass.

Toughed or toughed ( rhymes with tuft ) is a familar or slang term, most commonly used with "out", meaning lasted, or endured through difficulty--
He wanted to quit, but he toughed it out until the end of the year.
He lost his job, and toughed out a period of unemployment.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He toughed it out for 6 months, living in the woods, unitl a tuft of hair grew on his chin."

Note--"toughened" is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "toughen", meaning to make stronger or more durable; more resistant to discomfort--
His camping expeience toughened him; he could sleep on the ground comfortably.
Note # 2--"tufted" is the past tense ( yesterday, or some time ago ) of "tuft", meaning to arrange in a clump or cluster, as when making pillows or upholstering furniture--
She wants red velvet tufted pillows for the sofa.
Note # 3--"tough end" ( two words ) would mean the side or part ( end ) that is more difficult or stronger ( tough )--
The test had an easy beginning but a tough end.
Make sure to put the nail through the tough end of theboard.

stable, stabile

Stable or stable means firm or steady, literally or figuratively--
Use bolts at all four corners if you want it to be stable.
With a stable government the economy is sure to improve.

Stable or stable also means a building where livestock are kept--
The horses are in the stable.

Stabile or stabile ( rhymes or nearly rhymes with stable ) is a medical term, meaning resistant chemical change, most commonly used to mean when exposed to moderate heat--
These proteins are stabile at 110 degrees.

Stabile also means a type of abstract sculpture that is fixed to a support--
He posted a photo of Calder's famous stabile.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We'll need to add some lead weights to make the base of the stabile stable."

attract, a tract

Attract or attract ( one word ) means to draw toward itself, as by gravity or magnetic force--
Gravitational pull from a large planet can attract a smaller planet or moon.
The magnet will attract the iron, but the plastic will stay where you put it.

Attract may also be used figuratively, meaning to allure or invite--
She used every feminine wile to attract his attention, but to no avail.
This will attract her attention.

A tract or a tract ( two words ) means one ( a ) pamphlet or leaflet ( tract ) --
Someone knocked, and left a tract in the door.
This essay was first published as a tract; it was very controversial at the time.

A tract also means one ( a ) parcel of land ( tract ) --
We bought a tract of land near the lake, and plan to build a cottage on it.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He published the satire as a tract, hoping to attract the attention of the media."

attack, a tack

Attack or attack ( one word ) means to set upon violently, literally or figuratively--
Colonel, we will attack the enemy at dawn.
Do not use this site as a forum to attack other posters.

Attack may also mean an assault, physical or verbal--
He was injured in the attack, and is still in the hospital.
An attack on a man's character isn't a political argument.

A tack or a tack ( two words ) means one ( a ) small nail ( tack )--
Do you have a tack? I want to hang this on the bulletin board.
He put a tack in each corner, so it wouldn't fall down.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Your son left a tack on the principal's chair, an attack on his person and his office."

eke, eek

Eke or eke is most commonly used in the phrase "eke out", meaning to acquire through struggle--
They managed to eke out a living through long hours of work, even on weekends.
The old man hoped to eke out a living selling hats and umbrellas to the tourists.

Eek or eek ( rhymes with eke ) means a cry of fright or alarm--
Eek! A mouse!
Eek! What was that?

Now that you know that, you can say--
"Eek! How will they eke out a living until his leg gets better?"

Note--"eke" is also an archaic ( no longer used ) word meaning "also"--
"The bird, the beast, the fish eke of the sea..."

append, upend

Append or append means to add or attach; as a supplement or signature--
Make sure to leave a space to append the signatures.
We can append a list of suggestions for further study, at the back of the book.

Upend or upend means to set on end, as a crate or piece of furniture; literally or figuratively--
The furniture may fit in the truck if we upend the dresser.
To conform with the new regulations, we'll need to upend our entire security system.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"We don't need to upend our accounting system; just tell everyone to append their receipts."

sad, sadly

Sad or sad describes an unhappy or sorrowful person, thing, state or condition--
Do you feel sad?
This is a sad song.
Sad may also mean deplorably bad; pitiful--
This is a sad state of affairs.

Sadly or sadly describes an unhappy or sorrowful action--
"It's raining", she said sadly.
The mourners moved sadly and slowly, in single file.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"I didn't realize how sad this poem was, unitl I heard him recite it so sadly."