Confusing Words from Hew to Hoe

Would a lumberjack hew down a tree or hue down a tree? If you want to conceal an item from sight, would you hide it or hied it? Do you sing a him or a hymn at church? Does a farmer break up the ground with a hoe or a ho?

hew, hue
Hew means to strike with cutting blows or to cut. It also means to uphold, follow closely, or conform (usually followed by to).
The farmer planned to hew down the tree that was blocking the path.
A hue is a color. Hue is also an outcry or shout such as pursuers would give.
The many hues of the rainbow beautifully decorated the sky after the fierce storm.

hi, hie, high
Hi is used as an exclamation of greeting. It is another way to say hello.
“Hi!” Megyn yelled in excitement when she spotted her father coming down the steps of the airplane.
Hie means to hurry, hasten, or speed.
Hie yourself on down to the bakery’s opening festivities.
High means lofty or tall. It also means elevated. High is a word with so many different meanings that if I were to list them all, it would make an article.
The upper shelf in the cupboard was too high for her to reach unless she stood on a stool.

hide, hied
As a verb, one of the meanings of hide is to conceal from sight, to prevent from being seen or discovered. As a noun, a hide is the skin or pelt of an animal.
Hide in the maze of bushes and no one will ever find you.
The deer hide was made into a very warm blanket.
Hied means hastened or hurried.
The neighborhood shoppers hied to the grand opening sale at the mall.

higher, hire
Higher has many meanings. One of them is farther up. Another is more expensive.
The price of tea is much higher at the gourmet store, but the fantastic taste makes it worth every penny.
When you hire someone, you engage their services for pay.
The carpenter was looking to hire a group of men to work with him on a project.

him, hymn
Him is the third person singular pronoun in the objective case.
I have an appointment with him tomorrow.
A hymn is a religious song in praise of God or some other deity.
The congregation stood to sing a hymn as the musicians began to play.

ho, hoe
Ho is an interjection used as a call to attract attention, sometimes specially used after a word denoting a destination.
The sailors cried out in unison, “Land ho!”
A hoe is a long-handled implement having a thin, flat blade usually set transversely, used to break up the surface of the ground, destroy weeds, etc.
Each time she worked in her garden, she took the hoe with her just in case it was needed.

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