Master homonyms (same spelling/sound, different meaning), homophones (same sound, different spelling/meaning), and homographs (same spelling, different sound/meaning). Learn to distinguish and use them correctly in writing and speech.
✅ Recommended for: Class 7-9 (Foundation) | Class 10-12 (Advanced Usage)
1. What Are Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs?
Homonyms: Words that are spelled AND pronounced the same but have different meanings.
Homophones: Words that are pronounced the same but have different spellings AND meanings.
Homographs: Words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations AND meanings.
| Type | Words | Pronunciation | Different Meanings | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homonyms | bat, bat | /bæt/ | 1. Flying mammal 2. Sports equipment |
I saw a bat flying. He hit the ball with a bat. |
| Homophones | bear, bare | /beər/ | 1. Animal 2. Uncovered |
The bear is brown. The tree is bare in winter. |
| Homographs | tear, tear | /tɪər/, /teər/ | 1. Water from eye 2. Rip apart |
A tear rolled down her cheek. Don't tear the paper. |
| Homonyms | bank, bank | /bæŋk/ | 1. River side 2. Financial institution |
We sat on the river bank. I went to the bank. |
| Homophones | flower, flour | /ˈflaʊər/ | 1. Plant blossom 2. Baking ingredient |
She picked a flower. We need flour for the cake. |
2. Common Homophones List
| Word 1 | Word 2/3 | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2/3 | Example Sentences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| allowed | aloud | permitted | audibly | You're allowed to go. / Read the poem aloud. |
| altar | alter | religious table | change | They stood at the altar. / Don't alter the plan. |
| bare | bear | naked | animal/carry | His feet were bare. / A brown bear. |
| be | bee | to exist | insect | Be happy. / The bee makes honey. |
| brake | break | stop vehicle | fracture/rest | Use the brake. / Don't break the glass. |
| buy | by | purchase | near/through | I'll buy bread. / Sit by me. |
| cell | sell | small room/unit | exchange for money | Prison cell. / I sell books. |
| cent | scent | penny | smell | One cent coin. / Flower scent. |
| cereal | serial | breakfast food | in sequence | Eat your cereal. / Serial number. |
| coarse | course | rough | route/class | Coarse sand. / Golf course. |
| complement | compliment | complete/add to | praise | Wine complements cheese. / She gave a compliment. |
| dear | deer | beloved | animal | My dear friend. / A spotted deer. |
| die | dye | cease living | color | Plants die without water. / Hair dye. |
| fair | fare | just/appearance | price/travel | Fair decision. / Bus fare. |
| flour | flower | baking ingredient | plant blossom | Wheat flour. / Rose flower. |
| for | four | preposition | number 4 | This is for you. / Four apples. |
| hair | hare | on head/skin | rabbit-like animal | Long hair. / The hare ran fast. |
| heal | heel | cure | foot part/shoe | Wounds heal. / Shoe heel. |
| hear | here | perceive sound | this place | Can you hear me? / Come here. |
| hole | whole | opening/gap | complete/entire | A hole in the wall. / The whole cake. |
| hour | our | 60 minutes | belonging to us | One hour later. / Our house. |
| idle | idol | inactive | worshipped figure | Don't stay idle. / Movie idol. |
| knight | night | medieval warrior | dark time | Brave knight. / Good night. |
| know | no | be aware of | negative | I know the answer. / No, thank you. |
| male | post | gender | Check your mail. / Male lion. | |
| meat | meet | animal flesh | encounter | Cook the meat. / Meet me later. |
| one | won | number 1 | past of win | One apple. / She won the race. |
| pail | pale | bucket | light color | Water pail. / Pale face. |
| peace | piece | absence of war | part/fragment | World peace. / A piece of pie. |
| plain | plane | simple/ flat area | aircraft/flat surface | Plain clothes. / Fly in a plane. |
| principal | principle | head of school/main | rule/belief | School principal. / Moral principle. |
| rain | reign | precipitation | rule as monarch | Heavy rain. / King's reign. |
| right | write | correct/direction | compose text | That's right. / Write a letter. |
| sea | see | ocean | perceive with eyes | Swim in the sea. / I can see you. |
| son | sun | male child | star | My son is tall. / The sun is bright. |
| stair | stare | step | look fixedly | Climb the stair. / Don't stare. |
| steal | steel | take illegally | metal | Don't steal. / Steel bridge. |
| tail | tale | animal's appendage | story | Dog's tail. / Fairy tale. |
| their | there | belonging to them | that place | Their house. / Put it there. |
| to | too | preposition | also/excessive | Go to school. / Me too. |
| waist | waste | middle of body | squander/garbage | Measure your waist. / Don't waste food. |
| wait | weight | stay in place | heaviness | Wait here. / Your weight. |
| weak | week | not strong | 7 days | Feeling weak. / Next week. |
| weather | whether | climate | if/choice | Good weather. / Whether to go. |
| which | witch | question word | magical woman | Which one? / The witch in the story. |
| wood | would | material from trees | past of will | Wood table. / I would like tea. |
| you're | your | you are | belonging to you | You're welcome. / Your book. |
| ate | eight | past of eat | number 8 | She ate lunch. / Eight people. |
| blew | blue | past of blow | color | Wind blew. / Blue sky. |
| board | bored | plank/group | uninterested | Wooden board. / I'm bored. |
| cite | site | quote | location | Cite your sources. / Construction site. |
| crews | cruise | groups of workers | sail for pleasure | Film crews. / Go on a cruise. |
| dough | doe | bread mixture | female deer | Knead the dough. / A doe and fawn. |
| flew | flu | past of fly | illness | Bird flew. / Have the flu. |
| grate | great | shred/metal frame | excellent/large | Grate cheese. / Great job! |
| hole | whole | opening | complete | Dig a hole. / The whole story. |
| led | lead | past of lead | metal/guide | He led the team. / Lead pencil. |
| made | maid | past of make | female servant | She made cookies. / The maid cleaned. |
| paws | pause | animal feet | temporary stop | Cat's paws. / Pause the video. |
| read | red | past of read | color | I read a book. / Red dress. |
| sew | so | stitch | therefore/very | Sew a button. / I'm so tired. |
| threw | through | past of throw | from end to end | He threw the ball. / Walk through the door. |
3. Common Homonyms List
| Word | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | Meaning 3 | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| address | location | speech | deal with | Home address. / Give an address. |
| arm | body part | weapon | branch | My arm hurts. / Nuclear arms. |
| bank | financial institution | river side | row/series | Go to the bank. / River bank. |
| bat | flying mammal | sports equipment | to hit | A bat flies at night. / Cricket bat. |
| bear | animal | carry/support | endure | Brown bear. / Bear weight. |
| bow | bend forward | weapon | ribbon | Bow to the king. / Arrow and bow. |
| box | container | sport | type of seating | Cardboard box. / Watch a boxing match. |
| can | be able to | metal container | preserve food | I can swim. / Soda can. |
| change | make different | coins | exchange | Change your clothes. / Loose change. |
| date | calendar day | fruit | social meeting | Today's date. / Eat a date. |
| duck | bird | lower head | avoid | Feed the duck. / Duck your head. |
| fair | just/reasonable | light complexion | exhibition | Fair decision. / Book fair. |
| fine | very good | penalty | thin/delicate | Fine weather. / Pay a fine. |
| fly | insect | travel through air | pants opening | House fly. / Birds fly. |
| jam | fruit preserve | stuck/traffic | play music | Strawberry jam. / Traffic jam. |
| kind | type/sort | caring/gentle | What kind? / Kind person. | |
| left | opposite of right | past of leave | remaining | Turn left. / He left early. |
| light | not heavy | illumination | pale color | Light package. / Turn on the light. |
| match | game/contest | small stick | go well with | Cricket match. / Strike a match. |
| mean | intend/signify | unkind | average | What does it mean? / Don't be mean. |
| nail | metal fastener | finger/toe part | achieve perfectly | Hammer a nail. / Cut your nails. |
| note | short message | musical sound | observe | Write a note. / Musical note. |
| orange | fruit | color | Eat an orange. / Orange shirt. | |
| park | public garden | leave vehicle | Walk in the park. / Park the car. | |
| pen | writing tool | enclosure | female swan | Use a pen. / Sheep pen. |
| pitcher | baseball player | container | The pitcher threw the ball. / Water pitcher. | |
| pool | swimming area | collective fund | game | Swim in the pool. / Car pool. |
| pound | weight unit | hit repeatedly | animal shelter | One pound. / Pound the nail. |
| ring | circular jewelry | sound of bell | arena | Wedding ring. / The phone rings. |
| rose | flower | past of rise | pink color | Red rose. / Sun rose at 6. |
| scale | climb | weighing device | fish skin | Scale the wall. / Bathroom scale. |
| seal | marine animal | close securely | official mark | Watch the seal. / Seal the envelope. |
| spring | season | water source | coiled metal | In spring. / Natural spring. |
| stalk | follow harassingly | plant stem | Don't stalk people. / Corn stalk. | |
| tire | wheel covering | become weary | Car tire. / I tire easily. | |
| trunk | elephant's nose | storage box | tree main stem | Elephant's trunk. / Car trunk. |
| watch | timepiece | look at | guard | Wrist watch. / Watch TV. |
| wave | hand gesture | sea water movement | hair style | Wave goodbye. / Ocean wave. |
| well | in good health | water source | satisfactorily | I'm well. / Water well. |
| yard | measurement (3 feet) | garden area | One yard of fabric. / Back yard. | |
| band | group of musicians | strip/ring | Rock band. / Rubber band. | |
| bark | tree covering | dog sound | Tree bark. / The dog barks. | |
| beam | ray of light | wooden support | smile broadly | Sun beam. / Wooden beam. |
| bill | invoice | bird's beak | proposed law | Pay the bill. / Duck's bill. |
| capital | main city | wealth/money | uppercase letter | Delhi is India's capital. / Invest capital. |
| current | present/now | flow of water | flow of electricity | Current situation. / River current. |
| express | state/show | fast train | specific/purposeful | Express your feelings. / Express train. |
| grave | serious | burial place | Grave situation. / Visit a grave. | |
| iron | metal | press clothes | golf club | Iron gate. / Iron clothes. |
| lead | guide | metal | main role | Lead the way. / Lead pipe. |
| mine | belonging to me | excavation site | explosive device | This book is mine. / Coal mine. |
| rock | stone | move gently | music genre | Throw a rock. / Rock the baby. |
| row | line of things | propel boat | quarrel | Sit in the front row. / Row a boat. |
| saw | cutting tool | past of see | Use a saw. / I saw him yesterday. | |
| sole | only | bottom of foot | type of fish | The sole purpose. / Shoe sole. |
| trip | journey | stumble | psychedelic experience | School trip. / Don't trip on the step. |
| will | future auxiliary | legal document | determination | I will go. / Write a will. |
4. Common Homographs List
| Word | Pronunciation 1 | Meaning 1 | Pronunciation 2 | Meaning 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bow | /baʊ/ | bend forward | /bəʊ/ | ribbon/weapon |
| close | /kləʊz/ | shut | /kləʊs/ | near |
| conduct | /kənˈdʌkt/ | lead/organize | /ˈkɒndʌkt/ | behavior |
| contract | /kənˈtrækt/ | become smaller | /ˈkɒntrækt/ | legal agreement |
| desert | /ˈdezət/ | arid region | /dɪˈzɜːt/ | abandon |
| entrance | /ˈentrəns/ | entry/way in | /ɪnˈtrɑːns/ | delight/captivate |
| excuse | /ɪkˈskjuːz/ | forgive/justify | /ɪkˈskjuːs/ | reason/explanation |
| invalid | /ɪnˈvælɪd/ | not valid | /ˈɪnvəlɪd/ | disabled person |
| lead | /liːd/ | guide | /led/ | metal |
| minute | /ˈmɪnɪt/ | 60 seconds | /maɪˈnjuːt/ | very small |
| object | /ˈɒbdʒɪkt/ | thing/item | /əbˈdʒekt/ | protest/disagree |
| perfect | /ˈpɜːfɪkt/ | ideal/flawless | /pəˈfekt/ | make perfect |
| present | /ˈpreznt/ | gift/current time | /prɪˈzent/ | give/show |
| produce | /prəˈdjuːs/ | make/create | /ˈprɒdjuːs/ | fresh food |
| project | /ˈprɒdʒekt/ | plan/assignment | /prəˈdʒekt/ | estimate/predict |
| record | /ˈrekɔːd/ | written account | /rɪˈkɔːd/ | capture/store |
| refuse | /rɪˈfjuːz/ | decline/reject | /ˈrefjuːs/ | garbage/trash |
| row | /rəʊ/ | line/series | /raʊ/ | quarrel/fight |
| separate | /ˈsepərət/ | individual/distinct | /ˈsepəreɪt/ | divide/split |
| tear | /tɪər/ | water from eye | /teər/ | rip/pull apart |
| wind | /wɪnd/ | moving air | /waɪnd/ | twist/turn |
| wound | /waʊnd/ | past of wind | /wuːnd/ | injury |
| content | /ˈkɒntent/ | substance/material | /kənˈtent/ | satisfied |
| contest | /ˈkɒntest/ | competition | /kənˈtest/ | challenge/dispute |
| convert | /kənˈvɜːt/ | change/transform | /ˈkɒnvɜːt/ | person who changed belief |
| decrease | /dɪˈkriːs/ | become less | /ˈdiːkriːs/ | reduction |
| discount | /ˈdɪskaʊnt/ | price reduction | /dɪsˈkaʊnt/ | disregard/ignore |
| export | /ˈekspɔːt/ | goods sent abroad | /ɪkˈspɔːt/ | send goods abroad |
| import | /ˈɪmpɔːt/ | goods from abroad | /ɪmˈpɔːt/ | bring goods from abroad |
| increase | /ɪnˈkriːs/ | become greater | /ˈɪnkriːs/ | growth/rise |
| insult | /ˈɪnsʌlt/ | offensive remark | /ɪnˈsʌlt/ | speak offensively |
| permit | /ˈpɜːmɪt/ | official document | /pəˈmɪt/ | allow/authorize |
| protest | /ˈprəʊtest/ | objection/demonstration | /prəˈtest/ | express objection |
| rebel | /ˈrebl/ | person who rebels | /rɪˈbel/ | fight against authority |
| reject | /ˈriːdʒekt/ | discarded item | /rɪˈdʒekt/ | refuse/decline |
| subject | /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt/ | topic/person studied | /səbˈdʒekt/ | cause to experience |
| suspect | /ˈsʌspekt/ | person suspected | /səˈspekt/ | doubt/distrust |
| transfer | /ˈtrænsfɜːr/ | movement/changing place | /trænsˈfɜːr/ | move/changing place |
| use | /juːs/ | purpose/utility | /juːz/ | employ/utilize |
| abuse | /əˈbjuːs/ | misuse/mistreatment | /əˈbjuːz/ | misuse/mistreat |
| affect | /əˈfekt/ | influence/impact | /ˈæfekt/ | emotion/feeling |
| attribute | /ˈætrɪbjuːt/ | quality/characteristic | /əˈtrɪbjuːt/ | assign/ascribe |
| combine | /ˈkɒmbaɪn/ | harvesting machine | /kəmˈbaɪn/ | join/merge |
| compress | /ˈkɒmpres/ | pad/bandage | /kəmˈpres/ | press/squeeze |
| conflict | /ˈkɒnflɪkt/ | fight/struggle | /kənˈflɪkt/ | be incompatible |
5. Comparison Table
| Feature | Homonyms | Homophones | Homographs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spelling | Same | Different | Same |
| Pronunciation | Same | Same | Different |
| Meaning | Different | Different | Different |
| Examples | bat (animal) / bat (sports) | flower / flour | tear (cry) / tear (rip) |
| Memory Trick | Same spelling + Same sound | Same sound only | Same spelling only |
| Common Confusion | Context determines meaning | Spelling errors in writing | Pronunciation errors in speech |
🎯 Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs Challenge
Identify whether the words are homonyms, homophones, or homographs.
1. "bank" (river side) and "bank" (financial institution) are: (homonyms/homophones/homographs)
Answer: homonyms (same spelling AND pronunciation, different meanings)
2. "flower" and "flour" are: (homonyms/homophones/homographs)
Answer: homophones (same pronunciation, different spelling AND meanings)
3. "tear" (cry) and "tear" (rip) are: (homonyms/homophones/homographs)
Answer: homographs (same spelling, different pronunciation AND meanings)
4. "bear" (animal) and "bare" (uncovered) are: (homonyms/homophones/homographs)
Answer: homophones (same pronunciation, different spelling AND meanings)
5. "lead" (guide) and "lead" (metal) are: (homonyms/homophones/homographs)
Answer: homographs (same spelling, different pronunciation AND meanings)
7. Memory Aids & Tips
Homonyms Tip:
• Same spelling + Same sound = Homonyms
• Context tells you which meaning is intended
• Example: "I went to the bank" could be river bank or money bank - context clarifies
Memory trick: "Nym" = name, so same name (spelling & sound).
Homophones Tip:
• Same sound only = Homophones
• Common source of spelling errors in writing
• Create mnemonics: "The principal is my pal" vs "I follow principles"
Memory trick: "Phone" = sound, so same sound only.
Homographs Tip:
• Same spelling only = Homographs
• Pronunciation changes with meaning
• Stress pattern often changes: CON-tent (what's inside) vs con-TENT (happy)
Memory trick: "Graph" = writing, so same writing only.
📝 Practice Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs
Master homonyms, homophones, and homographs with our comprehensive worksheet covering all types and distinctions!
Go to Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs WorksheetIncludes answer key • Identification exercises • Context usage • Spelling practice • Pronunciation guidance
