Homographs

Homographs are words that have the same spelling but different meaning.

Same pronunciation
Words that have the same spelling, the same pronunciation and different meaning are called homonyms.
 * arm: body part; gun
 * bank: financial services; side of a river
 * bear: n. animal; v. accept
 * left: past tense of leave; opposite of right
 * spring: season after winter; twisted wire; water that comes from underground
 * trunk: part of a tree; nose of an elephant; back of a car (boot)

Different pronunciation
Words that have the same spelling, different pronunciation and different meaning are called heteronyms.


 * bass: /bæs/ a type of fish; /beɪs/ a musical instrument; a deep sounding voice.
 * bow: /baʊ/ bend down in respect; front of a ship; /bəʊ/ a weapon; a decorative knot.
 * close: /kləʊs/ adj. near; /kləʊz/ v. shut.
 * dove: /dʌv/ a kind of bird; /dəʊv/ past tense of dive (also dived).
 * lead: /liːd/ to go ahead; /ld/ a grey metal used in the past for pipes.
 * moped: /məʊpt/ to be depressed; /ˈməʊpd/ a motorized bike.
 * minute: /ˈmɪnɪt/ part of an hour; /maɪˈnjuːt/ very small.
 * present: /ˈpreznət/ a gift; existing now; /prɪˈzent/ to introduce, show, exhibit.
 * refuse: /rɪˈfjuːz/ won't do something; /ˈrfjuːs/ trash, junk.
 * sewer: /ˈsuːər/ smelly underground pipes; /ˈsəʊər/ person or thing that sews
 * tear: /tr/ to rip; /tɪər/a drop of water from the eye.