The /z/ sound is spelled with <z>, <zz>, <s> or <se>. The /ʤ/ sound is spelled with <j>, <g> or <ge>. A good many pairs arise from contrasting a word ending in -ge with a plural or 3rd-person inflection, which acounts for the relatively high semantic loading.
This is a contrast between a sibilant and an affricate, both voiced and in the same region of the mouth. Some learners may have problems especially when the /ʤ/ sound is final.
The mean density value is 1.2%. The list makes 85 semantic distinctions, a loading of 81%.
arraigns arrange A's age assemblies assemblage baas barge backstays backstage bandies bandage baronies baronage bills bilge bins binge buzz budge buzzed budged buzzes budges buzzing budging cabbies cabbage carries carriage chains change chars charge collies college curries courage dhotis dotage does doge doses dosage doze doge dozes doges errs urge flans flange fours forge frizz fridge frizzes fridges fuzz fudge gauze gorge gays gage gaze gage gazed gaged gazes gages gazing gaging grains grange hews huge ill-uses ill-usage intermarries intermarriage jaws George K's cage leas liege lees liege Les ledge mains mange marries marriage Mars Marge maser major masers majors messes message miscarries miscarriage Ms midge overzealous overjealous pays page peonies peonage peris peerage potties pottage presses presage purrs purge rains range raise rage raised raged raises rages raising raging rays rage reason region reasons regions recces wreckage remarries remarriage res Reg says sedge screws Scrooge seas siege sees siege seize siege seizes sieges sirs serge sirs surge spinneys spinach stays stage storeys storage stories storage strains strange Tsar jar Tsars jars tunnies tonnage twins twinge uses usage ways wage weighs wage zany Janie zealous jealous zealously jealously zee G zees G's Zen gen zest jest zip gyp zipped gypped zipping gypping zips gyps Zoe Joey zone Joan zoo Jew zoos Jews
Credit: John Higgins