homonyms
Identically pronounced words
Homonyms are words that share the same spelling or pronunciation but have different meanings.
Bank (riverbank) and bank (financial institution) are homonyms—two unrelated words that ended up looking identical.
The term covers both homographs (same spelling) and homophones (same sound).
English is full of homonyms that confuse language learners.
Place holding deposits
Word meaning the same
- antonymWord with contrary meaning
- polysemyWord having related meanings
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
- homographShared spelling, separate meanings
lexicography · semantics · ambiguity · etymology · morpheme · phoneme · lexicon · vocabulary
Manner of speaking words
- phoneticsStudy of speech sounds
- homophonesIdentically pronounced words
- alikeSharing key features
- soundAudible wave phenomenon
hearing · acoustic · articulation · speech · diction · utterance · accent · syllable
Wordplay using double meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- jokeHumorous statement seeking laughter
- witClever, inventive humor
- humorAmusing quality
play-on-words · innuendo · paronomasia · ambiguity · clever · quip · banter · jesting
Clue-based letter grid
- scrabbleClaw or grope frantically
- cryptogramCoded message puzzle
- acrosticVertically spelled hidden message
- hangmanOne who kills condemned
boggle · wordgame · anagram · spelling-bee · trivia · brain-teaser · clue · cipher
bank
Place holding deposits
bow · crane · date · lead · lie · match · mean · mug · nail · pound
synonym
Word meaning the same
- antonymWord with contrary meaning
- polysemyWord having related meanings
- homophoneIdentically pronounced, differently spelled word
homograph · lexicography · semantics · ambiguity · etymology · morpheme · phoneme · lexicon · vocabulary · denotation
pronunciation
Manner of speaking words
- phoneticsStudy of speech sounds
- homophonesIdentically pronounced words
- alikeSharing key features
sound · hearing · acoustic · articulation · speech · diction · utterance · accent · syllable · vowel
pun
Wordplay using double meanings
- double-entendreWords with suggestive second meaning
- jokeHumorous statement seeking laughter
- witClever, inventive humor
humor · play-on-words · innuendo · paronomasia · ambiguity · clever · quip · banter · jesting · wisecrack
crossword
Clue-based letter grid
- scrabbleClaw or grope frantically
- cryptogramCoded message puzzle
- acrosticVertically spelled hidden message
hangman · boggle · wordgame · anagram · spelling-bee · trivia · brain-teaser · clue · cipher · riddle
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- lexicologysynonyms, antonyms, homophones, homographs, polysemy
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