Why do the words comb tomb and bomb sound different?

The words "comb," "tomb," and "bomb" sound different because of the vowel sounds in them. Here's a breakdown:

* Comb: The vowel sound in "comb" is a short "o" sound, similar to the vowel sound in "hot" or "lot."

* Tomb: The vowel sound in "tomb" is a long "oo" sound, similar to the vowel sound in "moon" or "food."

* Bomb: The vowel sound in "bomb" is a short "o" sound, similar to the vowel sound in "cot" or "box."

The difference in vowel sounds is the primary reason why these words sound distinct. Additionally, the "b" sound in "bomb" is often pronounced with a bit more emphasis, further differentiating it from the "b" sound in "comb" and "tomb."