30 Homographs Examples for Writers
A homograph is one of two or more words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. In this post, we share 30 homographs examples for writers.
Homographs are some of the most versatile words in the English language, but they can also be confusing. A homograph is one of two or more words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Sometimes they have the same pronunciation too, but that's not always the case.
This post shares a few examples of homographs in two different lists: One with homographs that are pronounced differently and the other with homographs that are pronounced the same. These are not exhaustive lists, but I hope they'll help illustrate what a homograph is and untangle a few for writers in the process.
Enjoy!
15 Homographs With Different Pronunciations
- Attribute (characteristic) or attribute (credit someone or something)
- Bass (fish) or bass (drum)
- Bow (weapon) or bow (down)
- Close (near) or close (to shut)
- Console (comfort) or console (video game unit)
- Content (satisfied) or content (various media)
- Lead (front) or lead (mineral)
- Minute (small) or minute (measurement of time)
- Object (thing) or object (argue)
- Present (gift) or present (to bring forth)
- Produce (create) or produce (fruits and veggies)
- Subject (thing) or subject (to something)
- Tear (rip) or tear (crying)
- Wind (blows) or wind (to turn)
- Wound (injury) or wound (past tense of wind)
15 Homographs With Same Pronunciations
- Bat (flying mammal) or bat (sports equipment)
- Blue (color) or blue (depressed feeling)
- Can (able to) or can (metal container)
- Crane (bird) or crane (machine used in construction)
- Fair (reasonable) or fair (festival)
- Lean (thin) or lean (rest against something)
- May (month) or may (might)
- Miss (overlook something) or miss (long for something)
- Novel (new) or novel (book-length fictional story)
- Park (play area) or park (to bring vehicle to a stop)
- Pen (writing instrument) or pen (small area to keep animals)
- Saw (tool) or saw (past tense of "to see")
- Skip (type of jump) or skip (miss out on something)
- Train (mode of transport) or train (exercise)
- Watch (to view) or watch (object that tells time)
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No matter what type of writing you do, mastering the fundamentals of grammar and mechanics is an important first step to having a successful writing career.
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
