sheer, shear

Sheer or sheer means somewhat transparent, as fabric--
I am looking for some sheer curtains for the front window.
That dress is sheer--you need a slip!
Sheer or sheer is also used to mean utter, or unmixed with anything--
This is sheer nonsense!
Sheer folly!
Sheer may also mean steep, as in nearly vertical--
When they got to the top of the ridge, they saw a sheer drop below them.

Shear or shear ( rhymes with sheer ) means to cut off with a sharp instrument, as sheep's wool--
When it gets warm we will shear the sheep.
The pilot was afraid that the crash would shear the wing off of the plane.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"He watched them shear the sheep through the sheer window shade."

Note--"shears" means scissors, always with an "s" at the end, as a plural--
The shears are on the table.
Who has been using my shears?
"Shears" may also be the third person singular ( he, she, it ) form of "shear", the verb ( action word )--
He shears the sheep every spring.
Not to be confused with "sheers", which may refer to more than one sheer curtain--
I need some sheers for the front window.