Widebody Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors
At cruise Center cleared us direct to 'DRAKE' is what she said. Since DRAKE was not on our flight plan I input the fix DRAKE. The next controller asked where we were going and I replied DRAKE. He said we were cleared to the DRK VOR not the fix. We entered in DRK and continued. I guess we should had clarified with the first controller but she said 'DRAKE' not DRK. Both sides should have clarified the clearance since there is a fix and VOR of the same name and somewhat in line with each other flying east bound. Clarify the clearance.
ATC gave us a direct to routing; verbalizing it 'Aircraft X; you're cleared to 'Drake;' then IRW; then flight plan route. Neither the intersection or VOR (DRAKE or DRK) was on our flight plan. Pilot Flying entered DRAKE and read back 'Drake.' After about 10 minutes; ATC queried whether we were on a vector or direct 'Drake.' After a few back and forths all parties realized the mistake. Original clearance was meant to be 'direct DRK VOR'; and no correction was made when reading back 'Drake.' Both the intersection and VOR were in the same direction; over 400  miles away; and were only separated vertically by 100 miles; so it was roughly same direction. Enough separation from expected routing and track; that ATC inquired about our navigation. Poor job on pilots and ATC in being clear where the aircraft was cleared to. And 'swiss cheese' effect of both waypoints being relatively close to each other and not on the flight plan. Clarify instructions; especially when the point is not on the flight plan.
Air carrier flight crew reported they flew off course when cleared direct DRAKE which is the name and same pronounciation of a VOR in Arizona and an airspace fix in Colorado.