Have you ever been confused by words that have the same spelling but different meanings and pronunciations? This blog post will help you understand the differences between Homonyms, Homographs, Heterographs, and Heteronyms when you come across them in your online English language course.
Homographs are words with different pronunciation, meanings but the same spelling.
Heterographs are words that have different spellings but sound the same.
Heteronyms are words that are spelled identically but have different meanings when pronounced
differently
Term | Meaning | Spelling | Pronunciation | Example |
Homographs | Different | Same | Same/Different | Bass – type of fish Bass- low, deep sound [Same Pronunciation] |
Heterographs | Different | Different | Same | Son- the male child of a person Sun – the star around which the earth moves and that provides light and heat for the earth |
Heteronyms | Different | Same | Different | Lead, pronounced /LEED/, means to guide Lead, pronounced /LED/, means a metallic element. |
Understanding the differences between all these may seem like a small detail, but it can make a big difference in communication.
Mix-ups between these types of words can lead to confusion and even embarrassment. For example, the ‘tear’ is a homograph, so it has two meanings, with the same spelling but different pronunciations. ‘Tear’ can mean water drops from crying or ‘ripping something’. If you are with someone who is crying because something bad happened, but you tell them “You have a lot of ‘tears'”, but you pronounce it wrongly! That can be embarrassing. This mistake may seem small, but it could completely change the intended message. By understanding these subtle differences, we avoid awkward misunderstandings.
To use these words correctly, it’s important to pay attention to context. In the sentence “I went to the bank,” the word “bank” could mean a financial institution or the edge of a river. The context of the sentence makes it clear which meaning is intended.
Homograph
- right (adverb meaning ‘correct’)
right (noun meaning ‘the opposite of left’) - bow (verb meaning ‘to bend the head or body in respect or greeting’)
bow (noun meaning ‘a weapon for shooting arrows’) - tear (verb meaning ‘to pull apart or to rip’)
tear (noun meaning ‘a drop of salty liquid from the eye’)
Heterograph
A heterograph is a word that is spelled differently than another word but has the same meaning.
- advice (noun meaning ‘opinion about what could be done’)
advise (verb meaning ‘to offer opinion about what could be done’) - brake (noun meaning ‘a device for slowing down or stopping a vehicle’)
brake (verb meaning ‘to slow down or stop a vehicle using a brake’) - lead (noun meaning ‘a soft, heavy, toxic metal’)
lead (verb meaning ‘to go in front of others; to show the way’)
Heteronym
- desert (noun meaning ‘a dry, barren area of land’)
desert (verb meaning ‘to leave someone alone in an unpleasant situation’) - live (verb meaning ‘to be alive; to have life’)
live (adjective meaning ‘not recorded; happening now’) - wind (noun meaning ‘air moving naturally or artificially’)
wind (verb meaning ‘to twist or coil around something else; to wrap up’)
It is important to understand the difference between homographs, hetrographs and heteronym as a part of the English language that can often times be confused and mixed up, especialyl in beginner English language students. By understanding the different types of homographs and practicing their use, we can communicate more effectively and avoid common mistakes.
IF you’d like to learn more about tricky and confusing words in the English language, its important to already understand the basic grammar and vocabulary. This is where an online English language course can help you learn in a progressive and correct way.
Have a look at EC Live and the different types of courses offering online English language lessons so you can make progress wherever you are.