In most blog entries I discuss pairs of homonyms, but oddly enough pair itself is part of a homonym trio.

As a noun, pair signifies two of something, whether separated or not.  Thus a pair of glasses and a pair of jeans, as well as a pair of gloves and a pair of cards. 

As a verb, pair is to join or connect two things: The teacher paired students with similar interests to write the report together. 

A pear is something you eat: My favourite fruit is a fresh summer pear.

Pare is a verb meaning to cut away at something, usually in small stages.  The gardener carefully pared dead branches from the pair of pear trees that flanked the end of the driveway.