Homographs, Homophones, & Homonyms: Homographs, Homophones, and Homonyms #2

In addition to homophones (words with the same sound, but different
spellings, meanings, or origins), there are also homographs (words
with the same spellings, but different meanings, origins, or
pronunciations. There are two large subgroups:

Subgroup 1:

These common words have the same spelling and pronunciation, but
very different meanings and/or origins. Common examples:

homographs	differences*
bear (N) bear (V)	bear (N): a kind of animal bear (V): to carry
date (N) date (V)	date (N): a kind of fruit; a calendar time date (V): to determine the age; to "go out"
fast (Adj) fast (V)	fast (Adj): quick fast (V): to abstain from (choose not to eat) food
hide (N) hide (V)	hide (N): animal skin hide (V): to conceal
net (N) net (Adj)	net (N): woven trap made of rope or cord  net (Adj): amount remaining after deductions
pick (N) pick (V)	pick (N): a kind of tool pick (V): to choose

* Check an English-English dictionary or an etymological dictionary
to see the different origins of many of these words.

Subgroup 2:

These words have the same spelling, but different stress. The stress
changes for the noun and verb forms of these words. Examples:

homographs*	differences
áddress (N) addréss (V)	address (N): where one lives address (V): to give a speech; to write an address
cómpress (N) compréss (V)	compress (N): medicine put on a cloth and worn next to the skin compress (V): press together
éxport (N) expórt (V)	export (N): something that is exported export (V): to send a product outside a country (to be sold)
ínsult (N) insúlt (V)	ínsult (N): insulting action or words insúlt (V): to say or do something which is offensive or rude
cónvert (N) convért (Adj)	convert (N): someone who has changed from one group (for example, a religion) to another convert (V): to change from one form to another
désert (N) desért (V)	desert (N): dry place desert (V): abandon

There are also homographs with the same spelling, but different
pronunciations and meanings. Here are a few examples:

read (present tense--pronounced [ ríyd ] /
read (past tense--pronounced [ red ]

lead (verb--pronounced [ líyd ] /
lead (noun [Pb]--pronounced [ led ]

do (noun [music]--pronounced [ dóu ] /
do (verb--pronounced [ dúw ]