Any English learner must have encountered two words that are spelled exactly alike but have different meanings. They are homographs, which can be a blessing or a curse. While some can diversify and add more flair to your writing or speaking, others might confuse you with their distinct pronunciations and add complexity to language. Let’s take a look at the list of homograph examples below for better understanding!
Top 40 Common Homographs With Examples
These words are common confusions in the English language, so pay attention to the context clues to use the correct homographs.
| Homographs | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 |
| Park | – A place for recreational activities. – Example: Let’s go to the park for a picnic. | – To bring a vehicle to a stop. – Example: She parked her car near the entrance. |
| Bat | – A flying mammal. – Example: We saw a bat flying at dusk. | – A sports equipment, like in baseball. – Example: He swung the bat and hit the ball. |
| Bass | – A type of fish. – Example: He caught a big bass in the lake. | – A low-pitched musical sound. – Example: The song has a deep bass line. |
| Minute | – A unit of time (60 seconds). – Example: I’ll be there in a minute. | – Extremely small. – Example: There was a minute difference in the samples. |
| Crane | – A large bird. – Example: The crane flew gracefully over the water. | – A machine for lifting heavy objects. – Example: The crane lifted the steel beams into place. |
| Can | – A container for liquids. – Example: She opened a can of soda. | – To be able to. – Example: I can swim. |
| Tear | – A drop of saline fluid from the eye. – Example: A tear rolled down her cheek. | – To rip something apart. – Example: He will tear the paper into pieces. |
| Bow | – To bend forward as a sign of respect. – Example: The actor took a bow after the performance. | – A weapon used to shoot arrows. – Example: He practiced shooting arrows with his bow. |
| Saw | – Past tense of see. – Example: I saw a movie last night. | – A tool used for cutting. – Example: He used a saw to cut the wood. |
| Pen | – A writing instrument. – Example: She signed the letter with a pen. | – A small enclosure for animals. – Example: The sheep were kept in a pen. |
| Lean | – To incline or rest against something. – Example: She leaned against the wall. | – Thin and lacking fat. – Example: He prefers lean meat. |
| Skip | – To move in a light, springy manner. – Example: The child skipped down the street. | – To omit or miss. – Example: She decided to skip the meeting. |
| Close | – Near in space or time. – Example: The store is close to my house. | – To shut. – Example: Please close the door. |
| May | – The fifth month of the year. – Example: Her birthday is in May. | – To express possibility. – Example: You may leave early. |
| Type | – A category or kind. – Example: This type of car is very popular. | – To write using a keyboard. – Example: She can type 80 words per minute. |
| Miss | – To fail to hit, reach, or catch. – Example: I missed the bus. | – A title for an unmarried woman. – Example: Miss Smith will teach the class. |
| Blue | – A color. – Example: The sky is blue today. | – Feeling sad. – Example: He’s been feeling blue lately. |
| Train | – A mode of transport traveling on railways. – Example: We took the train to the city. | – To teach or instruct. – Example: She trained her dog to sit. |
| Fair | – Just and unbiased. – Example: The decision was fair to everyone involved. | – An event with rides and games. – Example: We had fun at the county fair. |
| Bag | – A container made of flexible material. – Example: She carried her books in a bag. | – To capture or achieve. – Example: He bagged the first prize. |
| Slip | – To slide unintentionally. – Example: Be careful not to slip on the ice. | – A small piece of paper. – Example: He wrote the note on a slip of paper. |
| Attribute | – A quality or characteristic. – Example: Honesty is a key attribute. | – To regard something as being caused by. – Example: She attributes her success to hard work. |
| Console | – To comfort someone. – Example: She tried to console her friend. | – A panel with controls. – Example: The game’s console was expensive. |
| Content | – Satisfied; in a state of peaceful happiness. – Example: He felt content after the meal. | – The material dealt with in a speech or publication. – Example: The book’s content is fascinating. |
| Lead | – To guide or direct. Example: She will lead the team. | – A type of metal. Example: The pipes are made of lead. |
| Object | – A tangible thing that can be perceived by the senses. – Example: The object behind the tree is a shovel. | – To show disapproval. – Example: He objected to the plan. |
| Present | – The current time. Example: We must live in the present. | – A gift. Example: She received a lovely present. |
| Produce | – To create or make something. – Example: The factory produces cars. | – Fruits and vegetables. – Example: She bought fresh produce from the market. |
| Subject | – The topic of a conversation or piece of writing. – Example: The subject of the meeting was clear. | – To bring something under control. – Example: The country was subject to foreign rule. |
| Wind | – Moving air. – Example: The wind is blowing strongly today. | – To turn or twist. – Example: She needs to wind the clock. |
| Wound | – An injury. – Example: He has a wound on his arm. | – Past tense of wind. – Example: She wound the yarn into a ball. |
| Novel | – A long fictional narrative. – Example: She wrote a bestselling novel. | – New and original. – Example: They came up with a novel idea. |
| Watch | – To look at or observe attentively. – Example: He likes to watch movies. | – A small timepiece worn on the wrist. – Example: She bought a new watch. |
| Band | – A group of musicians. – Example: The band played their hit song. | – A strip of material. – Example: She wore a band around her wrist. |
| Class | – A group of students. – Example: The teacher addressed the class. | – A category or division. – Example: He belongs to the middle class. |
| Fan | – An admirer of a person or thing. – Example: She is a fan of that band. | – A device for moving air. – Example: The fan helps cool the room. |
| Kind | – A type or variety. – Example: She likes this kind of music. | – Caring and generous. – Example: He is a very kind person. |
| Part | – A portion or division of a whole. Example: The machine has many parts. | – To separate or leave. Example: They had to part ways. |
| Entrance | – A way in. Example: The entrance to the building is on the left. | – To captivate or charm. Example: The magician will entrance the audience. |
| Polish | – To make something smooth and shiny. Example: She polished the silverware. | – Relating to Poland or its people. Example: He is of Polish descent. |
Differences Between Homographs vs Homonyms vs Homophones
Homographs: Two or more words with distinctive meanings but similar spelling. They can be pronounced similarly or not. Example: Pen (A small closure for animals)/Pen (A writing instrument).
Homophones: Two or more words that are pronounced similarly but spelled differently. Example: Right/Write.
Homonyms: Two or more words with the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings. Homonyms encompass homographs and homophones. Example: They’re/Their/There (same sound – homophones) or watch/watch (same spelling – homographs).
See more: 40+ Five-Letter Words With Most Vowels
Conclusion
Homographs can be confusing and hard to remember for some new English learners. However, once you’ve mastered their meaning and usage, they become powerful tools to take your expression to the next level. We hope these examples of homographs can help you have a better understanding!
