You use the word eke as a verb when you want to describe someone managing to support themselves with difficulty, usually by making their resources stretch further. It's often paired with 'out' to form the phrase 'eke out.' This term is particularly useful when discussing situations of scarcity or the need for frugality.

The word eek is used as an interjection to express alarm, shock, or surprise. It's a spontaneous utterance you might hear someone say when they are startled or scared by something unexpected, like a mouse running across the floor. It's a simplistic, almost comic, expression that's widely recognized.

While eke and eek are homophones, they serve distinct functions in language. Eke is a versatile verb often associated with the concept of stretching limited resources. In contrast, eek is a reflexive interjection that conveys a startle or scare. Remember, eke relates to endurance or frugality, and eek to the instinctual voice of surprise. Misuse of one for the other in written or spoken language can lead to humorous misunderstandings.