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Homographs, Homophones, and Homonyms #2, by Dennis Oliver
Homophones, Homonyms, and
Homographs (#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 ]
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