200 Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs

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homonyms
Definitions
Homonyms are two or more words that have the same sound or spelling but
differ in meaning. Adjectives: homonymic and homonymous.
Generally, the term homonym refers both to homophones(words that
are pronounced the same but have different meanings, such as pair and pear)
and to homographs (words that are spelled the same but have different
meanings, such as "bow your head" and "tied in a bow").
Note that some dictionaries and textbooks define and distinguish these three
terms in different ways. Some equate homonyms only with homophones
(words that sound the same). Others equate homonymns only with
homographs (words that look the same). See the observations below by Tom
McArthur and David Rothwell. Also see Homophones and Homographs: An
American Dictionary, 4th ed., by James B. Hobbs (McFarland & Company,
2006).
homophones
Definition
Homophones are two or more words (such
as knew and new or meat and meet) that are pronounced the same but differ
in meaning, origin, and often spelling. Adjective:
homophonous or homophonic.
A homophone is generally considered a type of homonym.
In Homophones and Homographs: An American Dictionary (2006), James B.
Hobbs points out that homophones may vary from one dialect to another. For
example, "aunt and ant may be homophonous for some, while others would
insist that aunt must properly rhyme with font or taunt, but never with the
insect."
homographs
Definition
Homographs are words that have the same spelling but differ in origin,

meaning, and sometimes pronunciation, such as the verb bear (to carry or
endure) and the noun bear (the animal with a shaggy coat).
Adjective: homographic.
Some homographs are also heteronyms: words with the same spelling but
different pronunciations and meanings, such as the verb moped (past tense
of mope) and the noun moped (a motorbike).
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A homograph is generally considered a type of homonym. See the

observation by David Rothwell, below.
200 Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs
Homonyms, Homophones, & Homographs (A - B)

accept - take in except - other than
ad – advertisement add - join, combine
advice - guidance advise - recommend
aid - assist, assistance aide - one who gives assistance
ail - to suffer poor health ale - a beverage
air - atmosphere ere – before heir - one who inherits

property
aisle - a passage I'll - contraction of I will isle - island
allusion - an indirect reference illusion - false appearance
altar - table in a church alter - to change
ate - past tense of eat eight - the number 8
bail - to clear water bail - release of a prisoner bale - a large bundle
band - a ring, something that band - a group banned - prohibited

binds
bare - uncovered bear - large animal bear - support, yield
bases - starting points bases - four stations on a baseball basis - a basic principle
field
beat - to strike, overcome beat – exhausted beet - a plant with red roots
blew - past tense of blow blue - the color
bread - baked food item bred – produced
buy - purchase by - near, through bye - goodbye
Homonyms, homophones, and homographs are words that are easily

confused because they look alike or sound alike (or both) but have different
meanings. These charts--which list some of the most common homonyms,
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homophones, and homographs--should help you recognize the differences

between many commonly confused words.

1. accept/except to cell/sell (page one)
2. capital/capitol to eminent/imminent (below)
3. fair/fare to lie/lye (page three)
4. meat/meet/mete to role/roll (page four)
5. scene/seen to whine/wine (page five)
Follow the links below for examples and expanded definitions of the
commonly confused words.
Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs (C - E)

capital - punishable by death capital - chief city capitol - building where legislature meets
ceiling - top of a room sealing - setting, fastening
cell - small unit sell - to give up for money
cent - a penny scent - an odor sent - past tense of send
chews - gnaws with teeth choose - to select
cite - mention, quote sight – vision site - place
coarse – rough course - path, procedure
complement - make complete compliment - praise
conduct – behavior conduct - to lead
council – assembly counsel - advice, to advise
days - plural of day daze – stun
dear - loved one, valued deer - the animal
desert - to abandon desert - dry land dessert - after-dinner treat
die – expire dye – color
discreet – tactful discrete – distinct
dual – double duel – fight
elicit - draw out illicit – illegal
eminent – distinguished imminent – soon

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Homographs are words that have the same spelling but differ in origin,

A homograph is generally considered a type of homonym. See the

200 Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs

Homonyms, Homophones, & Homographs (A - B)

ad – advertisement add - join, combine

advice - guidance advise - recommend

aid - assist, assistance aide - one who gives assistance

ail - to suffer poor health ale - a beverage

air - atmosphere ere – before heir - one who inherits

aisle - a passage I'll - contraction of I will isle - island

allusion - an indirect reference illusion - false appearance

altar - table in a church alter - to change

ate - past tense of eat eight - the number 8

bail - to clear water bail - release of a prisoner bale - a large bundle

band - a ring, something that band - a group banned - prohibited

bare - uncovered bear - large animal bear - support, yield

blew - past tense of blow blue - the color

bread - baked food item bred – produced

buy - purchase by - near, through bye - goodbye

Homonyms, homophones, and homographs are words that are easily

homophones, and homographs--should help you recognize the differences

Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs (C - E)

ceiling - top of a room sealing - setting, fastening

cell - small unit sell - to give up for money

cent - a penny scent - an odor sent - past tense of send

chews - gnaws with teeth choose - to select

cite - mention, quote sight – vision site - place

coarse – rough course - path, procedure

complement - make complete compliment - praise

conduct – behavior conduct - to lead

council – assembly counsel - advice, to advise

days - plural of day daze – stun

dear - loved one, valued deer - the animal

desert - to abandon desert - dry land dessert - after-dinner treat

die – expire dye – color

discreet – tactful discrete – distinct

dual – double duel – fight

elicit - draw out illicit – illegal

eminent – distinguished imminent – soon

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