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Vowels 8 and 20, /ʊ/ versus /ʊə/    3 pairs      

The /ʊ/ vowel is spelled <oo> or <u>. The /ʊə/ diphthong is spelled <oor> or <our>.

This is a contrast between a short vowel and a diphthong, with the same starting positions. There is potential for confusion but so few pairs that it does not constitute a problem.

The density figure is 0.28%. The set makes 2 semantic contrasts giving a loading of 67%, though that is insignificant in such a short list.

good gourd
  goods gourds
pulley poorly 

Credit: John Higgins