Homonyms, Homophones and Homographs: Vocabulary Building (English Word Power)

HOMONYMS- Homonym is a word that is spelled like another word (or pronounced like it) but which has a different meaning, for example, Key meaning ‘set of answer to problems’ and Key meaning ‘button on computer keyboard’. The state of being a homonym is called homonymy. Very Important Note: In Strict Sense, Homonyms have the same spelling, same pronunciation, and different meanings. HOMONYMS in Strict Sense:- Same Spelling / Same Pronunciation / Different meaning — Homonyms are also known as “Multiple Meaning Words”. Examples: fare, principal, etc.– Fare — a passenger — Fare – price —– Principal — most important — Principal — head of a school —– In Wider Sense, Homonyms can also include words that have the same or similar pronunciation (but different spelling) or same spelling (but different pronunciation). In the first situation, they are called ‘HOMOPHONES’ In the second situation, they are called ‘HOMOGRAPHS’. HOMONYMS In Wider Sense: -HOMOPHONES: Different Spelling / Same or Similar Pronunciation / Different meaning — Note:-‘Homophones’ are also called ‘Heterographs’. Homophones are also known as “Sound-Alike Words”. Examples: ad/add, know/no, etc. — ad — advertisement — add — to include —– know — to have information — no – refusal —– HOMOGRAPHS: Same Spelling / Different Pronunciation / Different meaning — Note: ‘Homographs’ are also called ‘Heterophones’. Examples: bow, lead, etc. – Bow (noun) — [Pronunciation — boU] — a weapon used for shooting arrows — Bow (verb) — [Pronunciation — baU] — to move your head forwards and downwards —– Lead (noun) — [Pronunciation — led] — a metallic element Lead (verb) — [Pronunciation — li:d] — to go in front 100 HOMONYMS ALONG WITH THEIR MEANINGS: Sample This: 01. Accident- 1. Accident — an event in which injury or damage is caused in or by vehicle — 2. Accident — something that happens unexpectedly —– 02. Action- 1. Action — a legal process — 2. Action — fighting in a war —– 03. Alight- 1. Alight — on fire — 2. Alight — to get out of a vehicle —– 04. Angle- 1. Angle — inclination of two lines with each, measure in degrees — 2. Angle — to catch fish —– 05. Arch- 1. Arch — curve; semicircle — 2. Arch – mischievous 600 HOMOPHONE PAIRS ALONG WITH THEIR MEANINGS: Sample This:- 01. Abhorrent / Aberrant- 1. Abhorrent — causing hatred for moral reasons — 2. Aberrant — unusual and socially unacceptable —– 02. Accede / Exceed- 1. Accede — to agree — 2. Exceed — to surpass —– 03. Accept / Except- 1. Accept — to admit — 2. Except — apart from —– 04. Acclamation / Acclimation- 1. Acclamation — loud and enthusiastic welcome — 2. Acclimation — the process of getting used to a new climate or situation —– 05. Adapt / Adept / Adopt- 1. Adapt — to adjust or modify — 2. Adept – skillful — 3. Adopt — to become legal parents of somebody’s child 150 HOMOGRAPHS ALONG WITH THEIR MEANINGS AND PRONUNCIATION: Sample This: 01. Absent- 1. Absent [aebs@nt] (adjective) — not present — 2. Absent [aeb’sent] (verb) — to not be in a place —– 02. Abuse- 1. Abuse [@bjus] (noun) – misuse — 2. Abuse [@bjuz] (verb) — to misuse something —– 03. Accent- 1. Accent [‘aeks@nt] (noun) – pronunciation — 2. Accent [aek’sent] (verb) — to put emphasis on a part of something —– 04. Address- 1. Address [aedres] (noun) — details of the place where you live or work; postal address — 2. Address [@dres] (verb) — to make a formal speech —– 05. Advocate- 1. Advocate [aedv@k@t] (noun) — a supporter of something — 2. Advocate [aedv@keIt] (verb) — to support something publicly