Yoke and yolk aren’t exactly homophones, but they are sometimes confused due to their closeness in sound. Yolk (which can be a count noun or a mass noun) is the yellow portion of an egg. A yoke is the crossbar that encircles the necks of a pair of oxen or other draft animals. It’s usually metaphorical, often as part of the phrases throw off the yoke and under the yoke.
Examples
Eager to throw off the yoke of government ownership, the U.K.’s two partially state-owned banks have been quietly moving to stir investor interest in U.K government holdings of their stocks. [Wall Street Journal]
In another large bowl, combine the egg yolks and salt. [AP]
It sits on the plate, looking like a perfectly cooked, sunny side-up egg — except the yolk tastes like spiced carrots and the white is made from coconut milk. [San Jose Mercury News]
Others pointed to the importance of upholding press freedom in a country that has been under the yoke of Soviet rule for decades. [The Independent]