Understanding homophones, homographs, and homonyms is important when learning English. These words can sound the same, look the same, or both, but they have different meanings. For example, \u201cI\u201d and \u201ceye\u201d sound alike, but one refers to a person and the other to part of your body.<\/p>\n
Below I’ll explain these types of words in more detail, with simple examples to help you see how they’re used in context.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Homophones, homographs and homonyms<\/a> are part of our daily life, regardless of what your mother language is.<\/p>\n Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings.<\/strong><\/p>\n When you say “I have only one eye,” the words I<\/em> and eye<\/em> sound exactly the same, but they obviously have different meanings.<\/p>\n The same happens with words such as break<\/em> and brake<\/em>, here<\/em> and hear<\/em> or hour<\/em> and our,<\/em> just to give you a few examples.<\/p>\n On the other hand, homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations.<\/strong><\/p>\n Think about the verb read<\/em>.<\/p>\n The infinitive is pronounced \/rEEd\/ (with a long e), but the past tense and the past participle are pronounced \/red\/, like the color red. They are written in the exact same way, but their pronunciations are different.<\/p>\n And lastly, we have homonyms\u2014<\/strong>words that either sound or are spelled identically<\/strong> but have different meanings.<\/strong><\/p>\n Homonyms can be homophones, homographs or both. To\u00a0make things easy for you, we will be calling this post’s words homonyms unless stated otherwise.<\/strong><\/p>\n There are several methods to learn the different meanings of words. You can look them up<\/em> (search) in a dictionary<\/a>, check an online translator<\/a> or even ask a friend to help you.<\/p>\n The following 21 words are common English words<\/a> that have different meanings and\/or pronunciations. They can be a little tricky sometimes, but thanks to this post, you will be able to understand them in no time. So, let the fun begin!<\/p>\n Let’s go back to the first sentence of this post: The fair boy at the fair is really fair.<\/p>\n If this is the first time you have seen the word fair,<\/em> you are probably having a language heart attack right now. If you have seen this word before, though, you most likely know its meaning as a noun (funfair, carnival). But what about the other two?<\/p>\n Well, this word can have different meanings depending on whether it is a noun or an adjective. Take a look at all three meanings of the word below.<\/p>\n Meaning #1<\/strong>: a\u00a0carnival; a public event where there are games, competitions, rides and entertainment<\/p>\n Also, in the United States, a fair is an event where farm products and animals are shown and judged.<\/p>\n The boy showed his horse and his two pigs at the state fair<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Meaning #2: <\/strong>treating someone right or in a way that does not favor other people<\/p>\n The boy at the fair is very fair<\/strong> with his siblings when they play games together.<\/p>\n Meaning #3: <\/strong>having light skin and\/or hair<\/p>\n Since her skin is so fair<\/strong>, she has to be careful when she goes in the sun.<\/p>\n The fair<\/strong> boy at the fair is very fair with his siblings.<\/p>\n You probably know this word as the past tense<\/a> of the verb to see<\/em>, but did you know it can also be a tool and the infinitive of another verb?<\/p>\n Saw<\/em> comes from the Old English word\u00a0saga <\/em>(to cut), but also from the Middle English word\u00a0sawen <\/em>(knife), hence its different meanings nowadays.<\/p>\n Meaning #1: <\/strong>a device or tool with sharp teeth, typically made of metal<\/p>\n He used a saw<\/strong> to cut the branch of the tree.<\/p>\n Meaning #2:\u00a0<\/strong>to saw, to cut with a saw<\/p>\n He is going to saw<\/strong> the tree down with a saw.<\/p>\n Meaning #3: <\/strong>past tense of the verb to see<\/p>\n I saw<\/strong> the saw he used to saw the tree down.<\/p>\n Now this one’s tricky. A lot of my beginner students think this is the past tense of to feel<\/em>, but actually it is the past tense of the verb to fall<\/em>.<\/p>\n What not many non-native speakers know is that it can also be the infinitive form of a different verb, and also a formal adjective<\/a>!<\/p>\n Meaning 1: <\/strong>past tense of the verb to fall<\/p>\n The girl fell<\/strong> on the floor and started crying.<\/p>\n Meaning #2: <\/strong>to fell, to knock or cut down, to cause to fall<\/p>\n He used an ax to fell<\/strong> the tree.<\/p>\n Meaning #3: <\/strong>(formal) fierce, cruel, savage<\/p>\n He was imprisoned by his fell<\/strong> enemy.<\/p>\n This word is another example of the past tense of a verb that is also the infinitive of a different verb.<\/p>\n Meaning #1: <\/strong>past tense and past participle of the verb to find<\/em> (to come upon by chance, to locate)<\/p>\n I found<\/strong> a lot of old books in the attic yesterday.<\/p>\n Meaning #2: <\/strong>to found, to set up or establish, to base on, to provide a basis for<\/p>\n We want to found <\/strong>a new translation company.<\/p>\n Bow is a word that can have several different meanings.\u00a0It is also a homograph because the pronunciation is slightly different<\/a> between the noun and verb form.<\/p>\n As a noun, for example, you can wear one around your neck or use one to attack someone. As a verb, you can use it to show respect.<\/p>\n Don’t you love English?<\/p>\n Meaning #1: <\/strong>to bow, to bend forward at the neck or waist in order to greet someone or show respect<\/p>\n We must all bow<\/strong> before the queen.<\/a><\/p>\n Meaning #2: <\/strong>a knot made by tying a ribbon into two or more loops, often referred to as bow tie<\/p>\n He is wearing a green bow<\/strong> tie.<\/p>\n Meaning #3: <\/strong>a weapon used for shooting arrows<\/p>\n The hunter had a bow<\/strong> and many arrows.<\/p>\n I still remember when I learned this word myself. I imagined a giant machine that transformed into a bird. I have never forgotten this word!<\/p>\n Meaning #1: <\/strong>a big machine with a long arm used by builders to lift or move big objects<\/p>\n I think we are going to need a crane<\/strong> to lift that statue.<\/p>\n Meaning #2: <\/strong>a tall bird that has a long neck and long legs; it lives near water<\/p>\n It is impossible to see a crane<\/strong> here. There is no water around.<\/p>\n This is a very common word.<\/p>\n If you are a romantic person, this word will probably make you think of special occasions with a partner. If time is important for you, you will see a date as a day on a calendar.<\/p>\n Both options are correct, but there are still more meanings!<\/p>\n Meaning #1: <\/strong>a specific day of a month or year<\/p>\n What is the date <\/strong>today?<\/p>\n Meaning #2: <\/strong>a situation where two people who have or want to have a romantic relationship do some activity together<\/p>\n I would love to go on a date <\/strong>with you.<\/p>\n Meaning #3: <\/strong>the person you go on a date with<\/p>\n Mary is my date<\/strong> for tonight.<\/p>\n Meaning #4: <\/strong>to date someone, to do some kind of activity with a person you have or want to have a romantic relationship with<\/p>\n Mary and I are dating<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Meaning #5:<\/strong> to date something, to write the date on something<\/p>\n Please, do not forget to sign and date<\/strong> your exam.<\/p>\n Here we have a homograph. Minute is pronounced \/minit\/ when it refers to time.<\/p>\n It can also refer to size, in which case it is pronounced \/mai’niut\/. In meaning #3, click on the link and play the example labeled “minute [Adjective]” to hear the proper pronunciation.<\/p>\n Meaning #1: <\/strong>a unit of time equal to 60 seconds<\/p>\n We have been waiting for 20 minutes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Meaning #2: <\/strong>(always plural) the official record of everything that is said and done during a meeting<\/p>\n Ms. Roche will be taking the minutes<\/strong> during the meeting.<\/p>\nCommon English Homonyms<\/h2>\n
1. Fair<\/h3>\n
2. Saw<\/h3>\n
3. Fell<\/h3>\n
4. Found<\/h3>\n
5. Bow<\/h3>\n
6. Crane<\/h3>\n
7. Date<\/h3>\n
8. Minute<\/h3>\n