employ vs sign

employ and sign both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
employ	Yes	No	Yes	No
sign	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

As verbs, sign is a hyponym of employ; that is, sign is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than employ:

Other hyponyms of employ include featherbed, fill, engage, ship, contract, sign on, sign up, rat, farm out, job, subcontract.

employ (noun)	sign (noun)
the state of being employed or having a job	structure displaying a board on which advertisements can be posted
	a public display of a message
	a gesture that is part of a sign language
	any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
	a character indicating a relation between quantities
	a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
	a fundamental linguistic unit linking a signifier to that which is signified
	an event that is experienced as indicating important things to come
	(astrology) one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided
	having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges)
	(medicine) any objective evidence of the presence of a disorder or disease

employ (adjective)	sign (adjective)
	used of the language of the deaf

employ (verb)	sign (verb)
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose	be engaged by a written agreement
engage or hire for work	communicate silently and non-verbally by signals or signs
	mark with one's signature; write one's name (on)
	make the sign of the cross over someone in order to call on God for protection; consecrate
	communicate in sign language
	place signs, as along a road
	approve and express assent, responsibility, or obligation
	engage by written agreement