Homonyms are words that share the same spelling and sometimes even the same pronunciation, but they have different meanings. For instance: bass/bass.
Types of Homonymy
- Homophony: Words with the same pronunciation but different spellings and meanings. For example: flower/flour.
- Homography: Words with the same spelling but different meanings. For example: bat (the animal)/bat (the sports equipment).
Understanding Homonymy
Homonymy is a phenomenon where words share the same name, which can sometimes lead to confusion, but the context usually clarifies the intended meaning.
Homonymous words often have vastly different origins. It’s important to distinguish homonymy from another linguistic phenomenon called polysemy.
Polysemy involves words originally having a single meaning but acquiring new meanings over time. For example: book (something you read)/book (to make a reservation).
Common instances of homonyms involve words from different parts of speech, such as nouns and verbs.
Examples of Sentences with Homonymous Words
- During the visit to the zoo, we saw a bear in the enclosure and a stuffed bear in the gift shop. (Homographs)
- The noblewoman named him a count during the week her first child had a count of five in his math test. (Homophones)
- The cruise ship set sail toward the continent of Asia. (Homophones)
- Her dress was beautiful, but she decided to cut her hair short for the summer. (Homophones)
- I need to wound the clock again; last time I did, I accidentally wounded its mechanism. (Homographs)
- We toured the Coca-Cola plant and then enjoyed a refreshing drink of Coke. (Homographs)
- While the view is lovely, the ticket price is quite steep. (Homographs)
- Hello, Mom! This beach is amazing; the waves are perfect for surfing. (Homophones)
- Ever since he underwent a surgery, my mother can’t find the right surgery to fix her car. (Homographs)
- Investing in capital will help you succeed in the capital city. (Homographs)
- This wine is exquisite; could you also pass the wine opener? (Homographs)
- The company takes serious actions, while the state deals with serious matters. (Homographs)
- The king will present a real watch from the time of Napoleon. (Homographs)
- We had a considerable amount of fun, regardless of the amount we paid for the tickets. (Homographs)
- The sumo wrestler enjoyed a glass of juice after training. (Homophones)
- I reminisce about the summer we spent by the river while listening to the gentle river flow. (Homographs)
- I hope La Is not involved; justice should prevail. (Homographs)
- When they shouted “high,” I stood on the high peak of the mountain. (Homographs)
- Don’t miss the game; my son has the skill to control the ball expertly. (Homographs)
- This Parisian costume is amazing; it matches the costume you always wanted. (Homographs)