Hi there Jane, It depends on the order of the actions. 'I will finish my homework while you help me with the dishes.' This implies that you will be doing your homework at the same time as the person doing the dishes. 'I will finish my homework when you help me with the dishes.' This implies that you will only do your homework when the other person does the dishes. Hope this helps!

They have very different meanings. 'I will finish my homework while you help me with the dishes.' - While means at the same time as. So, it means "I will finish my homework and you will help me with the dishes at the same time." This sounds impossible to me, because you can't do homework and wash dishes at the same time! "I will finish my homework when you help me with the dishes." - 'When' in this context means if, but it carries a sense of unlikeliness. For example, you might say this if your sibling is telling you to finish your homework but they were supposed to help you with the dishes and have not done it yet. --> "I will finish my homework ON CONDITION THAT you help me with the dishes" The most natural way to say this sentence is "I will finish my homework if you help me with the dishes" OR "I will finish my homework after you help me with the dishes."

While = at the moment I read while you listen to music. When = Then I was reading when you called me.

Does homework here refers to the study related work that school gives you to finish at home? If yes then both these sentences don't make sense to me. How could you be doing 2 things at one time: finishing your homework and doing dishes?