close pronunciations, different meanings

What do you call two terms that have close pronunciations but totally different meanings?

I call them "have-close-pronunciation-but-totally-different-meaning" words.

Do you mean words that sound exactly the same but are spelled differently, like "to", "too", and "two"?

Or, are you referring to words that are spelled and pronounced same, like "saw" (noun) and "saw" (past tense of "see")?

Or, are you referring to words like "bit" and "bid", that are almost the same?

They're called homonyms. examples:

rain - reign
air - heir
aisle - isle

"Or, are you referring to words like "bit" and "bid", that are almost the same? "
ya

<<"Or, are you referring to words like "bit" and "bid", that are almost the same? "
ya >>

I think these are sometimes referred to as "minimal pairs"

buzz bus
leaf leave

There are lots of these

Thanks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimal_pair