Learn English » Homonyms, Homographs, and Homophones

Homonyms, Homographs and Homophones

Well, English is a beautiful but confusing language isn’t it? There are some words that look the same, sound the same, but have different meanings. There are some words with the same spelling, but different sounds and meanings. There are some other words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings.

Now, words with the same spelling and sound, but different meaning are called homonyms. Words with the same spelling but different sounds and meanings are called homographs. Words that have the same sounds but different spellings and meanings are called homophones.

Just read the following sentences, and you will realize what we mean.

• When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
• The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
• Sam broke the wrist of his left hand, as soon as he left the hospital, where he had been admitted to treat the broken wrist of his right hand!
• It is a pity that we had to pay a fine for speeding, on such a fine day!
• Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
• The soldier decided to desert the dessert in the desert.
• My father munches on prunes as he prunes the trees in our backyard.
• A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
• He could lead if he would get the lead out.
• We must polish the Polish furniture.
• The farm was used to produce produce.
• The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
• The bandage was wound around the wound.
• I did not object to the object.
• There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
• A seamstress and a sewer fell into a sewer line.
• The buck does funny things when the does are present.
• They were too close to the door to close it.
• The chief examiner had to bar the students from taking the examination when he spotted them at the bar in town!
• To help with planting, the famer taught his sow to sow.
• During the spring season, the spring near our cottage is always swollen with clear water.
• When I saw the tear in the painting, I shed a tear.
• As a teacher, my pupils are as dear to me as the pupils of my eyes.
• I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
• The sole purpose of my pedicure was to make the sole of my right foot smoother.
• The gypsy read the palm of my right hand as she leaned against the palm tree.
• The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
• The height of the tree on the right side of the house is just right for a Christmas tree decoration.
• I am pretty sure that you look very pretty in that dress.
• How can I not intimate this to my most intimate friend?