steals / steels / steles are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇
steals: (noun) a stolen base; an instance in which a base runner advances safely during the delivery of a pitch (without the help of a hit or walk or passed ball or wild pitch). (verb) take without the owner's consent. (verb) move stealthily. (verb) steal a base.
steels: (noun) an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range. (noun) knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod. (verb) get ready for something difficult or unpleasant. (verb) cover, plate, or edge with steel.
steles: (noun) the usually cylindrical central vascular portion of the axis of a vascular plant. (noun) an ancient upright stone slab bearing markings.
steals: s·t·IY·l·z
steels: s·t·IY·l·z
steles: NA
(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)