noun
- a word that is spelled the same as another word but has a different pronunciation and meaning
Usage: linguistics
Examples
- The words ‘lead’ (to guide) and ‘lead’ (the metal) are heteronyms.
- Students often struggle with heteronyms like ‘bow’ (to bend) and ‘bow’ (weapon).
- The word ‘tear’ (to rip) and ‘tear’ (from crying) form a heteronym pair.
- Reading heteronyms correctly requires understanding the context of the sentence.
- Teachers use heteronyms to demonstrate how spelling and pronunciation can vary.
- The heteronym ‘wind’ can mean air movement or to turn something around.