What is the difference between rain, rein, and reign?

Rain is water falling from the sky. A rein is a leather strap used to control a horse. Reign is the period when a king or queen rules.

Is it free rein or free reign?

Free rein is the standard spelling. It comes from horse riding: you loosen the rein and let the horse choose its own way. Free reign is a very common mistake.

How do I remember rain, rein, and reign?

R eign and sovere ign both end in -eign — both are about kings and queens. A rein is for a horse. Everything falling from the sky is rain .

Level: B2

Rain vs Rein vs Reign

Rain (water from the sky), rein (a strap for a horse), and reign (the rule of a king or queen) all sound the same. Remember: reign and sovereign share the same ending. Practice with the sentences below.

🔍 Confused words · pair 38 of 54 ⏱ about 5 minutes 🔊 every sentence has audio

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🔊 Listen: click the speaker icon to hear the whole line read aloud.
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For Matching Game quizzes, choose sentences that include more than one of the words below. If you pick sentences with only one word, the quiz will automatically add a sentence using another word.

Rain – water falling from the sky.
It will ______ tomorrow afternoon. – rain
The ______ started during the game. – rain
We stayed inside because of the ______. – rain
Heavy ______ closed the mountain road. – rain
I love the sound of ______ on the roof. – rain
The ______ stopped before noon. – rain
Take an umbrella; it might ______. – rain
Farmers need more ______ this spring. – rain
The ______ turned the field into mud. – rain
It began to ______ during our walk. – rain
The forecast promises ______ all weekend. – rain
Cold ______ fell all night. – rain
The garden badly needs ______. – rain
We ran home in the ______. – rain
The ______ washed the dust off the car. – rain
Does it ______ often in your city? – rain
A light ______ fell on the roof. – rain
The ______ soaked my shoes. – rain
Rein – a leather strap used to control a horse.
Hold the left ______ to turn the horse. – rein
The right ______ broke during the ride. – rein
A leather ______ hung from the saddle. – rein
She kept one ______ in each hand. – rein
My boss gave me free ______ to design the poster. – rein
The old ______ needs to be replaced. – rein
He pulled gently on the ______. – rein
A loose ______ can slip out of your hand. – rein
The teacher gave the class free ______ for the project. – rein
Check that each ______ is strong before you ride. – rein
Reign – the period when a king or queen rules.
The queen’s ______ lasted fifty years. – reign
The king began to ______ at the age of twelve. – reign
Her ______ brought peace to the country. – reign
The long ______ of that emperor ended in 1908. – reign
No king can ______ forever. – reign
The country grew rich during his ______. – reign
Many castles were built during her ______. – reign
His ______ was very short. – reign
The young prince will ______ after his father. – reign
Historians still study the ______ of that queen. – reign
Peace returned at the end of his ______. – reign
She was born during the ______ of Queen Victoria. – reign
The ______ of the last emperor ended quietly. – reign
A new king cannot ______ without support. – reign

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between rain, rein, and reign?: Rain is water falling from the sky. A rein is a leather strap used to control a horse. Reign is the period when a king or queen rules.
Is it free rein or free reign?: Free rein is the standard spelling. It comes from horse riding: you loosen the rein and let the horse choose its own way. Free reign is a very common mistake.
How do I remember rain, rein, and reign?: Reign and sovereign both end in -eign — both are about kings and queens. A rein is for a horse. Everything falling from the sky is rain.