kernel, colonel

Kernel or kernel means the large edible seed of some grains or the edible center of a seed--
She put dries kernels of corn outside for the birds.
The kernels of wheat are ground to make flour.
Kernel may be used figuratively, meaning the center or core of something--
There is a kernel of truth in what he's saying.

Colonel or colonel ( rhymes with kernel ) is a military rank, above a major and below a general--
He hoped to become a colonel before he retired.
The colonel and the general are having a meeting.
When colonel is used as a title or honorific ( Mr., Miss, Mrs., Ms., Dr., etc.), it is capitalized--
Colonel Smith isn't here yet.
Mrs. Jones, this is Colonel Smith.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The colonel had the habit of eating each corn kernel that didn't pop."

Note--not to be confused with "colonial" , which describes a settlement of people in a foreign land, or the takeover of the foreign land by their government--
Colonial America means America before 1776, when the settlers here were still subjects of the British crown.