Homographs

Category: Grammar

Homograph

Homographs are words with the same spelling but having more than one meaning and are often pronounced differently as well. There are three subgroups:

Subgroup 1

These words have the same spelling and pronunciation, but very different meanings.
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Here are some examples:

bat

• noun: a piece of sporting equipment used in baseball.
• noun: a winged animal associated with vampires.

bear

• noun: large mammal with long shaggy coat and strong claws.
  
• verb: to support or carry.

close

• noun: the temporal end; the concluding time.
• adjective: at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other.
• verb: move so that an opening or passage is obstructed (make shut).

fan

• noun: an admirer.
• noun: a cooling device.

fly

• noun: a two-winged insect.
• noun: move through the air.

left

• noun: the left-hand part, side, or direction.
• verb: past tense of leave.

play

• noun: a theatrical performance of a drama.
• verb: participate in a game or sport.

quarter

• noun: one of four equal parts.
• noun: a United States or Canadian coin worth one fourth of a dollar.

water

• noun: a colourless, transparent, odourless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain.
• verb: supply with water.

Subgroup 2

These words have the same spelling, but different stress. 
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Here are some examples:

desert

• noun (DE-sert): a rid and hot land with little or no vegetation.
• verb (DEE-sert): to leave.

present

• noun (Pre-SENT): a gift.
• verb (PRE-sent): at this moment or right now.

Subgroup 3

These words have the same spelling, but different pronunciations and meanings.
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Here are some examples:

do

• noun: musical note /dou/.
• verb: carry out an action /du/.

read

• verb in present tense /rid/.
• verb in past tense /red/.

Examples of homographs in a sentence

1. They were too close to the door to close it. 
2. I'd like to present you with a birthday present.
3. It's not recommended to water the flowers with water from the tap.
4. You must polish the Polish shoes. 
5. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.

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