homographs
Same letters, different meanings
Homographs is the plural of homograph, a word spelled the same as another but with different meaning.
The term covers both words that sound alike (bear the animal and bear meaning to carry) and words that don't (lead the metal and lead meaning to guide).
English has many homographs because unrelated words from different languages have converged on identical spellings.
Deep pitch or fish
- leadDense metal, symbol Pb
- tearTo pull apart
- bowRespectful forward inclination
- windAir current outdoors
row · does · polish · present · read · live · minute · record
Word having related meanings
- spellingCorrect letter sequence
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- lexiconVocabulary of a language
- dictionaryAlphabetical word reference
definition · meaning · context · semantics · morphology · lexicography · glossary · usage
Wordplay using double meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- jokeHumorous statement seeking laughter
humor · wit · riddle · double meaning · word games · equivocation · verbal irony · playfulness
Make something understandable
- distinguishRecognize as distinct
- differentiateIdentify differences between things
- parseExamine syntax closely
- resolveFirmness of purpose
interpret · context clues · multiple meanings · reading comprehension · text processing · natural language processing
bass
Deep pitch or fish
wind · row · does · polish · present · read · live · minute · record · close
polysemy
Word having related meanings
- spellingCorrect letter sequence
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- lexiconVocabulary of a language
dictionary · definition · meaning · context · semantics · morphology · lexicography · glossary · usage · syntax
pun
Wordplay using double meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- wordplayVerbal wit techniques
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
joke · humor · wit · riddle · double meaning · word games · equivocation · verbal irony · playfulness
clarify
Make something understandable
- distinguishRecognize as distinct
- differentiateIdentify differences between things
- parseExamine syntax closely
resolve · interpret · context clues · multiple meanings · reading comprehension · text processing · natural language processing
- Pronunciationphonetic spelling, pronunciation key, pronunciation keys, syllable stress, word stress
- word studyword origins, word roots, word meaning, word meanings, word formation
- lexicologysynonyms, antonyms, homonyms, homophones, polysemy
- spellingspelling, spelling rules, spelling patterns, spelling errors, spelling conventions
- doublesdouble, doubles, twin, twins, duplicate
- homographsalternate, bass, bow, close, compound