I am a bit of a word freak.  Not to the point of being an avid Scrabble player or anything, but I do find the English language fascinating.  So I subscribe to the dictionary.com word of the day email.  It is always a good diversion for a minute or so.

Well today's word was paean as in

paean \PEE-uhn\, noun:
1. A joyous song of praise, triumph, or thanksgiving.
2. An expression of praise or joy.

Having never actually used this word I was started that it is very close to a homophone for peon as in

pe·on1 \pee-uhn, pee-on\, noun:
1. (in Spanish America) a farm worker or unskilled laborer; day laborer.
2. (formerly, esp. in Mexico) a person held in servitude to work off debts or other obligations.
3. any person of low social status, esp. one who does work regarded as menial or unskilled; drudge.

The emphasis is the only difference.  Make sure you get it right!