Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Homonym

Definition: 

Here are three senses of homonym.

  • A word that has the same pronunciation as another. Homonyms differ from each other in:
    • meaning
    • origin
    • usually spelling
  • Loosely, a homograph
  • Either of two people with the same name
Examples: 

Here are some examples of homonyms in English listed according to sense:

  • Words with the same pronunciation but different in meaning:
    • bore and boar
    • two and too
  • Homographs (words with the same spelling but different in meaning):
    • bow 'to bend'
    • bow 'a decorative knot'
See Also: 
Also Known As: 
Homophone (12436)
Source: 

Glossary Hierarchy