1. anxious × curious :

Anxious – experiencing worry or unease. 

Curious – eager to know or learn something. 

• I was anxious to know about my mother’s health.
• My friend was curious to know my marks.

2. praise × flattery :

Praise – sincere appreciative words about someone;

Flattery – excessive or false praise;

• My mother praised me for studying by myself and securing good marks in the examination. 
• The Principal, worried about the accounts of the college, tried to please the Inspector vb flattering him repeatedly.

3. lonely × alone:

Lonely – the feeling of being isolated; the feeling can arise even when surrounded by many people;

Alone – the state of being physically all by oneself;

• Even when I am alone. I do not feel lonely if I have a good book to read

4. change × alter :

Change – move from one system or situation to another; 

Altar – make or become different;

• My opinions about wealth will not alter no matter how my situation changes in life.

5. vendor × hawker :

Vendor – sells one or two goods, most often in an establishment;

Hawker – sells different types of goods and has no establishment;

• The vendors are not troubled much by policemen, whereas the hawkers are harassed daily by the policemen since they occupy and block the footpaths.

6. probable × possible :

Probable – likely to happen or be the ease; 

Possible – capable of existing, happening or being done;

• They may probably come tomorrow. However, it will not be possible because they have not reserved their train tickets at all.

7. look × see :

Look – direct one’s gaze in a particular direction;

usage is – look at (someone/something);

See – become aware of with the eyes;

• usage is – see (someone/something);
• On hearing a melodious sound, I looked up and saw a beautiful bird singing on the tree.

8. hear × listen : 

Hear – become aware of (something) with the ear;

Listen – given one’s attention to a sound; 

• Hearing is done with the ear, whereas listening is done with the mind.

9. loud × aloud :

Loud – producing much noise, is used as an adjective;

Aloud – audibly, so as to be heard, is used as an adverb.

• Read this aloud, but not in a loud voice.
• Papa is sleeping. 

10. hanged × hung :

Hanged – used in the case of a living being; Hung – used in the case of non-living beings. 

• Nowadays, many criminals are being hanged. 
• The picture was hung on the wall.

11. break × brake :

Break – to cut into pieces;

Brake – a device for slowing or stopping a moving vehicle;

• Don’t worry if the child breaks that toy. Anyway, it is old.
• She had to brake hard to avoid a milk float.

12. desert (n) × desert (v) × deserts (n) ×dessert (n):

Desert (n) – a place where there is little or no vegetation but only sand;

• The Sahara desert is the largest in the world.
• Desert (v) – to leave someone without any help;
• Poor women are often deserted by their husbands.
• Deserts (n) – the reward or punishments that a person deserves;
• When the police arrested the thief, he met his just deserts.
• Dessert (n) – the sweet course eaten at the end of a meal. 
• Jamoon is usually served as the dessert these days.