I see a lot of confusion these days on the web about the words homonym, homophone, and homograph.
(Actually, I see a lot of confusion these days on the web about lots of things but we’ll bypass that topic for now.)
I think that over the years, the meaning of these words has gotten blurred and that has helped to create the confusion.
(I think that the web has also helped to create the confusion but we’ll save THAT topic for another day.)
I thought I’d take a few minutes to clarify the meaning of these three words for you. Then you can go out with your homeschool friends and show off your outstanding vocabulary skills.
OR, at the very least, you can teach these definitions to your kids so that they can be informed English language speakers.
It’s whichever you prefer or both.
So let’s get started with learning about homonyms vs. homophones vs. homographs.
Homonyms vs. Homophones vs. Homographs
A homograph is a word with the same spelling as another word but has a different sound and meaning. Some examples are:
bass – a fish (often found in Minnesota lakes. That’s speaking from experience.)
bass – a really big stringed instrument
desert – a very dry area of land
desert – to leave or abandon
lead – a type of metal
lead – to guide or direct
An easy way to keep homograph straight from the other two words is to remember that graph is a Greek root which means “to write or draw.” So homographs are two words that are written the same.
A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word or words but is spelled differently and has a different meaning. Some examples include:
sail – to travel in a boat
sale – a store event where prices are discounted (often frequented by homeschool moms)
ate – past tense of eat
eight – the number that comes after seven
there – a place or location
their – belonging to them
they’re – the contraction for they + are
If you want to keep this one straight in your brain, keep in mind that phone comes from the Greek root word meaning sound. So homophones are two or more words that sound the same.
Last, but not least, a homonym is a word that is spelled the same and sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning. Homonyms sometimes referred to as multiple meaning words. Here are some examples:
rose – a flower
rose – past tense of rise
fall – to move down fast (thanks to the law of gravity)
fall – a season that comes after summer
right – opposite of left
right – to be correct (something a homeschool mom always is)
Some people mistakingly call a homophone and/or homograph a homonym, but a true homonym is a word that both looks and sounds the same as another. The only difference is the meaning.
I hope this cleared up any confusion you had about homonyms, homophones, and homographs.
If you’d like a fun, hands-on activity that you can use to teach your kids about true homonyms, check out my Homonym Butterfly Puzzles. Your children can practice matching 24 homonyms to their definitions. Plus you get a printable homonym poster to hang up in your homeschool room.