Any tips for telling similar words apart?

Hi everyone! I have been studying for a few months now, and I keep hitting a wall. Some words sound so much like others that I mix them up constantly. It is especially hard when they have similar meanings, like different ways to say "house" or "to pass by" something. Does anyone have a trick for this? I try flashcards, but sometimes the definitions just blur together. I would love to hear how you keep things organize