When the same is different

If the words are pronounced the same but have different spelling and meanings we refer to them as homonyms e.g. seas - sees.

Types of homonyms:
  • Homophones are words that have exactly the same pronunciations and same or different spelling and different meanings.
  • Heterophones are words that are spelt the same but have different pronunciations and meanings
Types of homophones:
  • Homographs- words that may sound alike and are spelt the same but have different meanings e.g. number – meaning more numb or numerical value and bear – the teddy or to carry (these are in fact also homonyms). Additionally, heteronyms are specific types of homographs with the same spelling but different pronunciations and meanings e.g. sewer (one who sews) and sewer (from sewage) or  record (noun) and record (verb).
  • Heterographs – words that sound alike while spelt differently and have different meanings e.g to (preposition) and two (number), hour and our.
Synonyms are different words with the same meanings e.g. maybe and perhaps whereas a polyseme is a word with multiple meanings e.g. to get.

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