HOMONYMS
Homonym a word that is spelled like another word (or pronounced like it) but which has a different meaning, for example, Key meaning ‘set of answer to problems’ and Key meaning ‘button on computer keyboard’.
The state of being a homonym is called homonymy.
Very Important Note:
In Strict Sense, Homonyms have the same spelling, same pronunciation, and different meanings.
HOMONYMS in Strict Sense:
Same Spelling / Same Pronunciation / Different meaning
Homonyms are also known as “Multiple Meaning Words”.
Examples: fare, principal, etc.
Fare -- a passenger | Fare -- price
Principal -- most important | Principal -- head of a school
In Wider Sense, Homonyms can also include words that have the same or similar pronunciation (but different spelling) or the same spelling (but different pronunciation).
In the first situation, they are called ‘HOMOPHONES’
In the second situation, they are called ‘HOMOGRAPHS’
HOMONYMS In Wider Sense:
HOMOPHONES:
Different Spelling / Same or Similar Pronunciation / Different meaning
Note: ‘Homophones’ are also called ‘Heterographs’.
Homophones are also known as “Sound-Alike Words”.
Examples: ad/add, know/no, etc.
ad -- advertisement | add -- to include
know -- to have information | no -- refusal
HOMOGRAPHS:
Same Spelling / Different Pronunciation / Different meaning
Note: ‘Homographs’ are also called ‘Heterophones’.
Examples: bow, lead, etc.
Bow (noun) -- [Pronunciation -- bau] -- a weapon used for shooting arrows
Bow (verb) -- [Pronunciation -- baw] -- to move your head forwards and downwards
Lead (noun) -- [Pronunciation -- led] -- a metallic element
Lead (verb) -- [Pronunciation -- lied] -- to go in front
100 HOMONYMS ALONG WITH THEIR MEANINGS:
Sample This:
01. Accident
1. Accident -- an event in which injury or damage is caused in or by a vehicle
2. Accident -- something that happens unexpectedly
02. Action
1. Action -- a legal process
2. Action -- fighting in a war
03. Alight
1. Alight -- on fire
2. Alight -- to get out of a vehicle
04. Angle
1. Angle -- inclination of two lines with each, measure in degrees
2. Angle -- to catch fish
05. Arch
1. Arch -- curve; semicircle
2. Arch -- mischievous
600 HOMOPHONE PAIRS ALONG WITH THEIR MEANINGS:
Sample This:
01. Abhorrent / Aberrant
1. Abhorrent -- causing hatred for moral reasons
2. Aberrant -- unusual and socially unacceptable
02. Accede / Exceed
1. Accede -- to agree
2. Exceed -- to surpass
03. Accept / Except
1. Accept -- to admit
2. Except -- apart from
04. Acclamation / Acclimation
1. Acclamation -- loud and enthusiastic welcome
2. Acclimation -- the process of getting used to a new climate or situation
05. Adapt / Adept / Adopt
1. Adapt -- to adjust or modify
2. Adept -- skillful
3. Adopt -- to become legal parents of somebody’s child
150 HOMOGRAPHS ALONG WITH THEIR MEANINGS AND PRONUNCIATION:
Sample This:
01. Absent
1. Absent (adjective) -- not present
2. Absent (verb) -- to not be in a place
02. Abuse
1. Abuse (noun) -- misuse
2. Abuse (verb) -- to misuse something
03. Accent
1. Accent (noun) -- pronunciation
2. Accent (verb) -- to put emphasis on a part of something
04. Address
1. Address (noun) -- details of the place where you live or work; postal address
2. Address (verb) -- to make a formal speech
05. Advocate
1. Advocate (noun) -- a supporter of something
2. Advocate (verb) -- to support something publicly