# cleans vs cleave

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### cleans
*noun · IPA /kliːnz/ · frequency rank #21,161*
plural of clean

### cleave
*verb · IPA /kliːv/ · frequency rank #34,831*
To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cleans-vs-cleave