ghoulish, goulash

Ghoulish or ghoulish describes someone or something resembling an evil demon, particularly one who preys on the dead or who robs graves --
His sense of humor isn't just sick, it's ghoulish.
The movie was ghoulish; we nearly left in the middle.

Goulash or goulash is the Hungarian stew, usually made with beef, paprika, and other ingredients --
A nice hot plate of goulash will warm you up.
I want to make some goulash, but we're out of paprika.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"While we the goulash was cooking, he told them a ghoulish, spine-tingling tale."

lame, lamé

Lame or lame means disabled, impaired, or weak, especially in the foot or leg --
He was left lame from an injury he suffered during the war.
The horse will be lame if his hoof isn't treated.

Lamé or lamé means a shiny fabric made with metal threads --
This piece of gold lamé is just the thing for your costume.
We could get some silver lamé, and put stars and a moon on your cape.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"In his blanket trimmed with gold lamé, no one will notice that the horse is lame."

Note--"lame" also means a thin overlapping plate that makes up a piece of armor --
This little trinket may be an old piece of lame from a suit of armor.

hopeless, hope less

Hopeless or hopeless ( one word ) describes an impossible task or situation, one without a cure or remedy --
We've tried everything; it's hopeless.
His condition is hopeless; there is no chance that he will survive.

Hope less or hope less ( two words ) means the belief or feeling that something will turn out as desired, or for the best ( hope ) in a smaller amount ( less ) --
Conditions will improve when we hope less and do more.
If we hope less and think more, we may come up with a solution.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"Political problems seem hopeless until we hope less and participate more."

octane, octan

Octane or octane means a chemical, made from petroleum, and used to make a type of gasoline that makes a car run more smoothly, without engine knocking, or without running noisily and irregularly --
The car may run better if you use a high-octane gasoline.
Check the octane rating at the gas pump.

Octan or octan describes a fever that returns every eight days --
He has an octan fever, and today he's feeling ill.
If she has an octan fever, she'll be sick again in eight days.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"The car seems to knock only sometimes, as if it had a mechanical version of an octan fever; a gasoline with a high octane level may help."

Note--"high-octane" is also a slang term meaning supercharged or powerful --
The star gave a high-octane performance, and the fans went wild.

boos, booze

Boos or boos is the he, she, it form of "boo", meaning to make a noise or shout of disapproval, as at a public speech or performance --
He boos whenever our team is losing, but he doesn't cheer when we win.
She boos at the TV when she doesn't like something; just ignore it.

Boos or boos may also be the plural ( more than one ) of "boo", meaning a shout of disapproval --
You can hear the boos outside on the street; what's going on?
He was shouted down with a chorus of boos.

Booze or booze ( rhymes with boos ) is an old-fashioned slang term for alcoholic beverages, particularly distilled beverages--
He says he can remember when booze was illegal, but I don't believe him.
Don't forget to bring a bottle of booze, in case of snakebite or some other emergency.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"When he has had too much booze he boos at nearly every play."

curate, curette

Curette or curette means a surgical instrument used for scraping --
Hand the doctor a curette when he asks for it.
We will use a curette to remove most of the tumor.

Curate or curate ( nearly rhymes with curette ) means an assistant clergyman, or a clergyman who cares for or counsels parishioners or churchgoers --
The young man is the minister's curate.
The curate is out calling on our sick parsishioners; he'll be back later.

Curate ( pronounced the same as "cure eight" ) means to manage a collection of art or objects of some kind, or property held in trust for a minor --
He plans to curate a collection of old photographs; you can see them on his blog.
We need to hire someone to curate our content.

Now that you know that, you can say --
"The curate will have to stand in for the nurse; show him a scalpel and a curette."

flurry, fleury

Flurry or flurry means a commotion; a sudden or brief agitation --
There was a flurry of excitement when the crowd heard the news.
The flurry of activity only lasted a few minutes, until everyone calmed down.

Fleury or fleury ( rhymes with flurry ), in heraldry, describes something decorated with fleurs-de-lis --
His shield had a cross fleury in the center, and nothing else.
The banner had a fess fleury running across it.

Now that you know that, you can say--
"The sight of the cross fleury generated a flurry of excitement, as the people tried to get a closer look."