Homographs are a group of words with exact spellings but differ in pronunciation, meanings, and origins. Keep reading this article to discover the homograph meaning and a list of homographs examples.
What Are Homographs?
A homograph originates from the Greek words; homós (identical) and gráphō (write). This means that homographs have matching written forms but contrasting meanings.
For instance, a word like “desert” has two meanings and pronunciations. You can use it to infer an arid region or abandon something. “Bass” is another example of a homograph. It can mean a musical instrument or a type of fish.
Since they have identical spelling, you will rely on context clues to determine what the writer or speaker is referring to.
Fun Fact: Homographs are common in the English language. However, other languages such as Chinese, Italian, or French also have them.
Examples of Homographs with Sentences
Here is a list of example sentences showing homographs.
| Close | I am standing close to the door. |
| Close | Please close the window. |
| Park | Park your vehicle near the office entrance. |
| Park | Tomorrow, I will take my children to the park. |
| Content | I am content with my financial situation. |
| Content | The content of the box is unknown. |
| Trash | She placed her trash in the garbage bin. |
| Trash | She trashed the entire house. |
| Advocate | The advocate will represent me in court. |
| Advocate | Paul and Winnie advocate for children’s rights. |
| Rose | The rose flower is beautiful. |
| Rose | She rose early in the morning. |
| Orange | Peel the oranges for your father. |
| Orange | The orange color blends well with black. |
| Fly | Noise from the fly is disturbing. |
| Fly | Birds fly close to our home. |
| Bark | The bark of the fig tree is decaying. |
| Bark | The dog barks loudly at night. |
| Left | My left hand has an injury. |
| Left | He left the house in the morning. |
| Well | He is feeling well today. |
| Well | The well has salty water |
| Fan | Can you place a fan in the living room? |
| Fan | The fan rushed towards her idol. |
Homophone vs. Homonym vs. Homograph: What’s the Difference?
Some English words are tricky since they can have similar spellings but different sounds, while others sound the same but have different spellings. To differentiate them, homophones, homonyms, homographs, and heteronyms come into place.
Homophones share identical pronunciations but have different spellings and meanings. For instance, when you say the words “sea” and “see,” there’s no difference in how you pronounce them. However, if you take a look at their etymology and definitions, they are entirely different.
On the other hand, homonyms only have two things in common – pronunciation and spelling. For instance, “bear” is an animal, but it can also mean to tolerate.
How about homographs meaning? Homographs have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations. For example, the word “bow” can mean to bend down from the waist, but it can also be a hair ribbon, a type of knot, or a weapon.
Another example is the word “lead.” It can mean to control or to influence a group of people or situations, but it can also be a type of metal.
Conclusion
Homographs have identical spellings, but their meanings differ. They are distinct from homophones and homonyms. If there is still confusion, remember homographs’ etymology – homós (identical) and gráphō (write), which means homographs only share the same spelling.
