Homonyms are words which are identical in sound and spelling, or, at least, in one of these aspects, but different in their meaning.
bank, n. — a shore
bank, n. — an institution for receiving, lending, exchanging, and safeguarding money
ball, n. — a sphere; any spherical body ball, n. — a large dancing party
Homonyms which are the same in sound and spelling (as the examples given in the beginning of this chapter) are traditionally termed homonyms proper.
Homophones are the same in sound but different in spelling. night, n. — knight, n.; piece, n. — peace, n.; scent, n. — cent, n. — sent, v. (Past Indef., Past Part, of to send); rite, n. — to write, v. — right, adj.; sea, n. — to see, v. — С [si:] (the name of a letter).
The third type of homonyms is called homographs. These are words which are the same in spelling but different in sound.
to bow [bau], v. bow [bqu], п
to incline the head or body in salutation a flexible strip of wood for propelling arrows
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to lead [li:d],v.— to conduct on the way, go before to show the way - a heavy, rather soft metal |
lead [led], n. to tear [teq], v.
tear [tie], n.
to pull apart or in pieces by force
a drop of the fluid secreted by the lacrinial glands of the eye
