Homonyms, Homophones and Homographs: Vocabulary Building

Book excerpt: 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 meaning. 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 -- boʊ] -- a weapon used for shooting arrows Bow (verb) -- [Pronunciation -- baʊ] -- to move your head forwards and downwards Lead (noun) -- [Pronunciation -- led] -- a metallic element Lead (verb) -- [Pronunciation -- li:d] -- 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: 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