Word with the same spelling but different meaning of

This word set can be confusing, even for word geeks. Let’s start with the basics. A homograph is a word that has the same spelling as another word but has a different sound and a different meaning:

lead (to go in front of)/lead (a metal)

wind (to follow a course that is not straight)/wind (a gust of air)

bass (low, deep sound)/bass (a type of fish)

A homophone is a word that has the same sound as another word but has a different meaning. Homophones may or may not have the same spelling. Here are some examples:

to/two/too

there/their/they’re

pray/prey

Not so bad, right? The ending –graph means drawn or written, so a homograph has the same spelling. The –phone ending means sound or voice, so a homophone has the same pronunciation. But here’s where it gets tricky. Depending on whom you talk to, homonym means either:

A word that is spelled like another but has a different sound and meaning (homograph); a word that sounds like another but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone)

OR

A word that is spelled and pronounced like another but has a different meaning (homograph and homophone)

So does a homonym have to be both a homograph and a homophone, or can it be just one or the other? As with most things in life, it depends on whom you ask.

In the strictest sense, a homonym must be both a homograph and a homophone. So say many dictionaries. However, other dictionaries allow that a homonym can be a homograph or a homophone.

With so many notable resources pointing to the contrary, are we losing this strict meaning? What then will we call a word that is spelled and pronounced the same as another but has a different meaning? If homonym retains all these meanings, how will readers know what is actually meant?

The careful writer would do well to follow the strict sense, ensuring his meaning is understood immediately.

This is the second blog post in a three-part series on the relationships between the pronunciation of English words and their spellings. Follow the links for part one of the series on Silent Letters and part three on the Sound System of American English.

As mentioned in the previous blog post, it often happens that the spelling of an English word doesn’t match up well with its pronunciation. There’s another category of word that can also cause confusion; these are words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings. These words are called “homophones”. If you memorize the most common homophones in English, then you will avoid a lot of potential confusion in your communications. An added bonus of memorizing common homophones is that you will be able to easily understand many jokes, puns, and plays on words that you encounter (or even spice up your conversations by creating such plays on words yourself!)

Without further ado, here is a chart of some of the most common sets of homophones in English. Remember, all of the words in the left column are pronounced the same way. That is, if you say “ate, eight” out loud, then it should sound exactly the same as if you said “ate, ate” or “eight, eight”.

Spelling:	Pronounced:
ad, add	ad
Adam, atom	AD-um
air, err, heir	air
aisle, isle, I’ll	AI-ull
aloud, allowed	uh-LOUD
altar, alter	ALL-ter
ant, aunt	ant
assent, ascent	uh-SENT
ate, eight	ate
bail, bale	bale
ball, bawl	bawl
band, banned	band
bazaar, bizarre	buh-ZAR
bare, bear	bare (rhymes with “air”)
base, bass (instrument)	base (rhymes with “ace”)
be, bee	bee
beat, beet	beet
berry, bury	berry
bin, been	bin
billed, build	bild
bite, byte	byte
blew, blue	bloo
board, bored	bord
brake, break	brake
buy, by, bye	by
carrot, karat	KARE-ut
cell, sell	sell
cent, sent, scent	sent
cereal, serial	serial
chili, chilly, Chile	chill-ee
chews, choose	chooz
cite, site, sight	site
close, clothes	kloz
core, corps	kor
course, coarse	korss
creek, creak	creek
cue, queue	kyoo
days, daze	daze
deer, dear	deer
die, dye	dye
do, due, dew	doo
fair, fare	fare
faze, phase	faze
finish, Finnish	finish
find, fined	find
feudal, futile	FYU-dul
flea, flee	flee
feat, feet	feet
flower, flour	FLOW-er (“flow” rhymes with “cow”)
for, four	for
fowl, foul	FOW-ul
great, grate	grate
groan, grown	grone
Greece, grease	grees
guest, guessed	gest (rhymes with “best”)
gym, Jim	jim
hair, hare	hair
hall, haul	hawl
heal, heel	heel
hear, here	heer
heed, he’d	heed
herd, heard	herd
him, hymn	him
hire, higher	hi-er
hole, whole	hol
horse, hoarse	horse
hostel, hostile	HAHST-ul
hurts, hertz	herts
I, eye	AI
in, inn	in
intense, intents	intense
jewels, joules	joolz
lessen, lesson	less-in
maid, made	made
mail, male	male
manner, manor	manner
meat, meet	meet
metal, medal, meddle	MED-ul
need, knead	need
new, knew	noo
no, know	no
nose, knows	noz
not, knot	not
nun, none	nun
oh, owe	oh
one, won	wun
or, oar	or
our, hour	ow-er
pail, pale	pale
pair, pare, pear	pare
past, passed	past
peace, piece	peese
peer, pier	peer
plane, plain	plane
poll, pole	poll
pour, pore	pore
prince, prints	prins
principal, principle	PRINCE-i-pul
profit, prophet	PRAH-fit
rain, rein, reign	rane
rap, wrap	rap
red, read	red
right, write, rite, wright	rite
ring, wring	ring
road, rode, rowed	rode
roll, role	roll
root, route	root
sail, sale	sale
sea, see	see
seam, seem	seem
seas, sees, seize	seez
seen, scene	seen
seller, cellar	seller
side, sighed	side
so, sow, sew	so
sole, soul, Seoul	sole
some, sum	sum
son, sun	sun
stair, stare	stare
steal, steel	steel
sweet, suite	sweet
sword, soared	sord
tail, tale	tale
taught, taut	tawt
tear (meaning: drop of water), tier	teer
tear (meaning: rip), tare	tair
tense, tents	tense
there, their, they’re	thair
threw, through	threw
thrown, throne	throne
tie, Thai	tye
to, too, two	too
tow, toe	toe
vain, vein	vain
way, weigh	way
wait, weight	wait
weather, whether	wether
week, weak	week
where, wear, ware	ware
which, witch	witch
whose, who’s	hooz
will, we’ll	will
wood, would	wood
wore, war	wore
worn, warn	worn
your, you’re	yer

Do you have further questions about American English, or are you interested in accent training? Reach out and contact me!

There are many aspects of the English language that might be described as tricky, or even vexatious. Among these are the large number of words that are spelled differently but which sound the same. Or all the words which are spelled the same but don’t sound the same at all. Or the fact that there is a single word which describes these two very different types of words. Welcome to homophones, homographs, and homonyms.

Homophones vs. Homographs vs. Homonyms

Here is the simplest explanation we can give for each of these words:

Homophones are words that sound the same but are different.

Homographs are words that are spelled the same but are different.

Homonyms can be homophones, homographs, or both.

Here is a slightly less simple explanation for each of these words:

Homophones are words pronounced alike but different in meaning or derivation or spelling. These words may be spelled differently from each other (such as to, too, and two), or they may be spelled the same way (as in quail meaning ‘to cower’ and quail meaning a type of bird).

Homographs are words that are spelled alike but are different in meaning or derivation or pronunciation. Sometimes these words sound different (as in the bow of a ship, and the bow that shoots arrows), and sometimes these words sound the same (as in quail meaning ‘to cower’ and quail meaning a type of bird).

Homonym may be used to refer to either homophones or to homographs. Some people feel that the use of homonym should be restricted to words that are spelled alike but are different in pronunciation and meaning, such as the bow of a ship and the bow that shoots arrows.

Tricks for Keeping them Apart

If you would like to distinguish between these words but have trouble remembering their differences, etymology can be of assistance. All of these words are formed with the combining form homo-, meaning “one and the same; similar; alike,” and each has an additional root that sheds light on the word’s meaning. Homophone comes from the Greek -phōnos (meaning “sounding”); homograph is from the Greek graphein (“to write”); homonym is from the Greek onyma (meaning “name”).

Homographs are words that have the same form but have different meanings. That means that they look or are spelled the same. But depending on the context in which they are used, they mean differently.

Homographs can be one of the most confusing things to encounter if you are not a native English speaker. You may be reading an article or a book, then you see a word you thought you knew the meaning of. But in what you are reading, it does not make any sense!

The best way to master homographs is to understand their different meanings so that they make sense when you come across them in different texts. Here are 14 homographs that you are likely to run into, the different meanings they can take, and examples of how they are used for each definition.

Address

As a noun, address refers to (1) the particulars of a place where someone or something is situated. It can also mean (2) a formal speech delivered to an audience, such as announcing, presenting, etc.

As a verb, address can be defined as three different things: (3) to write the name and address of an intended recipient of a letter, package, etc., (4) to speak to a person formally, or (5) to think about and deal with an issue or problem.

Examples:

1. I need the address of Uncle Tom, so I know where to send the mail.
2. The president gave his State of the Nation Address last week.
3. Mary addressed the letter to Troy, her new pen pal.
4. I always address my professors with respect; I often call them “Sir” or “Ma’am” when talking to them.
5. We found three issues on the website that we need to address.

Balance

Balance as a noun can mean (1) the even distribution of the weight of an object, (2) a condition where elements are equal in proportion (e.g., stability of one’s mental health), (3) the apparatus for weighing, or (4) a figure (number) that represents the difference between credits and debits in an account.

As a verb, balance can be defined as (5) keeping something in a steady position, so it does not fall, (6) comparing the value of things, or (7) comparing debits and credits to make sure they are equal.

Examples:

1. You have to keep your balance so that you do not fall.
2. People must keep a good balance between work and their personal lives.
3. She placed the objects on balance to see if they both weigh the same.
4. You still have a balance of $34 in your account.
5. I watched a lady on television balance an apple on her head for five minutes straight!
6. You have to balance the pros against the cons of taking this project.
7. Every year, our accountant has to balance the books to make sure all of our finances are correct.

Content

As a noun, content means (1) the substance of a website, article, etc., or (2) something that is contained (usually as “contents,” i.e., in plural). It also refers to (3) the state of being contented or satisfied as an adjective and (4) the action of appeasing one’s desires into contentment as a verb.

Examples:

1. There is a lot of free content online.
2. She threw away the contents of her bag after her hand lotion spilled all over everything.
3. Hannah is perfectly content with her life in the country.
4. The group contented themselves with a big dinner and a couple of drinks.

Date

Date can refer to (1) the time something happens, (2) an appointment to meet at a specific time (or to set such an appointment), usually in a romantic sense, or (3) to mark with a date as defined by (1).

Examples:

1. May 12, 2007, is a special date for me because it was the day my father came home from the military.
2. I have a date with the girl I met at the coffee shop the other day.
3. The package was dated September 5th, so delivery was very slow.

Even

The word even can mean (1) having a horizontal surface or (2) being equal or fair. It is also often used as an adverb to emphasize different sentences by stressing (3) an unlikely instance or (4) a comparison.

Examples:

1. I do not think the table is even because my keys keep slipping.
2. There was an even split of responsibilities within the team.
3. The task is so simple even a toddler can do it.
4. Carrie did an even better job than Perry.

Just

Just, as an adjective, means similar to (1) right or fair, especially in the moral sense. As an adverb, it is used the same way as (2) exactly, (3) very recently, (4) by a little, or (5) only.

Examples:

1. We aim to live in a just and democratic society.
2. This cake is just what I needed to be in a good mood.
3. She just left the cafe before you arrived.
4. Marcel won the competition by just five points.
5. We went out for drinks just because Angela wanted to.

Lead

To lead means to (1) cause someone or something to move by your guidance or (2) to have the top place in a competition. As a noun, it can refer to (3) the chief part in a play or movie, (4) the leash that is used to guide pets, or (5) the metal that is commonly found in pencils.

Examples:

1. The usher will lead you to your seat.
2. My team was led by five points before our star player was taken out because of an injury.
3. Tessa is playing the lead in the play: Lady Macbeth.
4. Polly bought her dog’s new leads so they could walk in the park again.
5. My parents always warned me to be careful of the lead-in pencils.

Minute

The word minute is often associated with time, referring to (1) a period of sixty seconds in an hour. But it can also refer to (2) a summarized record of the proceedings in a meeting. As an adjective, it also means (3) extremely small (in this way, it is pronounced as “my-nyut”).

1. Give me thirty minutes to get ready.
2. Bree is the secretary, so she is in charge of taking down the minutes of the meeting.
3. There is a very minute chance that Ella will move to Europe.

One

One is (1) the first number in the cardinal system. But the word can also be used as an adjective to describe something that is (2) unified.

Examples:

1. Greg has one daughter and one son, so two children in total.
2. We are one team, and we must play like it!

Play

Play is a verb that means (1) to engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation, (2) to take part in a sport, or (3) to perform a musical instrument. But it can also be a noun that refers to (4) a theatrical work for the stage.

Examples:

1. The kids are playing in the garden.
2. Pedro plays basketball every afternoon at the gym.
3. Jenna plays the harp very beautifully.
4. My wife and I will watch a play called “The Family” tonight at our local theatre.

Record

The noun record refers to (1) a thing that holds evidence of the past or (2) a thin disk that carries the music. On the other hand, as a verb, record means (3) to set everything in writing or (4) to convert sound into permanent form, particularly for later reproduction.

Examples:

1. My mom keeps a record of all my school achievements in a neat scrapbook.
2. I found a record of Michael Jackson’s album in my parents’ things.
3. The stenographer records everything that has been said in the courtroom then prints them out later on.
4. We recorded my grandfather’s voice and placed it in a music box for my grandmother.

Sign

As a noun, the word sing refers to (1) an object or event whose presence indicates the occurrence of something else or (2) a gesture used to convey information. As a verb, sign means (3) to use actions to convey a message or (5) to affix one’s signature.

Examples:

1. My boyfriend gives me gifts as a sign of his love.
2. There is a sign that says, “Do not cross..”
3. She signed to me saying that she wanted to leave.
4. Please sign at the bottom of the page to give your consent.

Top

The word top can refer to (1) the highest point of something, (2) a lid, cover, or cap, or (3) a traditional spinning toy. It can also mean (4) the highest position if used as an adjective. Top can also be used as a verb, meaning (5) to be more than or (6) to provide with a topping (i.e., in cooking).

Examples:

1. My lifelong dream is to reach the top of Mount Everest.
2. Remember to put the top on the jar before you place it in the fridge.
3. My grandmother gave me her old top, and I have just been spinning it the whole day.
4. Mr. Roberts is the top boss at the company, so we have to treat him with the utmost respect.
5. She topped the list of examinees this year.
6. Ollie topped the cake with some icing and sprinkles.

Watch

To watch means (1) to look at or observe something for a long time. But it can also refer to (2) a small timepiece typically worn on one’s wrist.

Examples:

1. Would you like to watch a movie with me?
2. I am giving my brother a new watch for his birthday because he is always late!

Homographs can be confusing. But it can be made easier with the right guidance from a teacher. LingualBox, a one-on-one English tutoring platform, has many professional tutors who can help you master the English language. Book a class today to get started!

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