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๐ Content updated on 28 April 2026
๐ก Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs – Words that look or sound alike but mean different things
Homonyms share the same spelling and pronunciation but carry different meanings (like "bat" – an animal and "bat" – a sports item). Homophones sound the same but have different spellings and meanings (like "pair" and "pear"). Homographs are spelled the same but may be pronounced differently (like "lead" – to guide, and "lead" – the metal). These words can be confusing, but knowing them sharpens your vocabulary.
๐ง๐ซ A quick word for learners and teachers: Read each question and try to work out which word fits or what each word means. Then click "Show Answer" for the correct answer, a short reason, and a fresh example.
Homonyms share the same spelling and pronunciation but carry different meanings (like "bat" – an animal and "bat" – a sports item). Homophones sound the same but have different spellings and meanings (like "pair" and "pear"). Homographs are spelled the same but may be pronounced differently (like "lead" – to guide, and "lead" – the metal). These words can be confusing, but knowing them sharpens your vocabulary.
๐ง๐ซ A quick word for learners and teachers: Read each question and try to work out which word fits or what each word means. Then click "Show Answer" for the correct answer, a short reason, and a fresh example.
In this worksheet:
(Click any topic to jump straight to that section)
Words that look or sound similar but carry distinct meanings can trip anyone up. The
Homonyms, Homophones & Homographs
guide covers all three with clear examples. For Hindi words that sound identical, have a look at
Ek Shabd Hub.
And after this, check out the
Confusing Words worksheet
for more tricky pairs.
✅ Solved Examples (20 Questions with Answers)
Let's explore words that sound or look alike but have different meanings.
Solved Q.1
"I saw a bat flying at dusk." What other meaning does "bat" have?
Show Answer
Answer: A wooden object used to hit a ball in cricket or baseball.
Explanation: "Bat" is a homonym — one spelling, two distinct meanings. The first meaning is a flying mammal; the second is sports equipment.
Example: He scored a century with his favourite bat.
Explanation: "Bat" is a homonym — one spelling, two distinct meanings. The first meaning is a flying mammal; the second is sports equipment.
Example: He scored a century with his favourite bat.
Solved Q.2
"She ate a juicy pear." Which word sounds the same but is spelled differently and means "to cut"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Pare" — to trim or cut away the outer layer.
Explanation: "Pear" (fruit) and "pare" (to cut) are homophones — they sound alike but have different spellings and meanings.
Example: Please pare the apple before eating it.
Explanation: "Pear" (fruit) and "pare" (to cut) are homophones — they sound alike but have different spellings and meanings.
Example: Please pare the apple before eating it.
Solved Q.3
"The wound on his leg took weeks to heal." What other word sounds like "heal"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Heel" — the back part of the foot.
Explanation: "Heal" (to cure) and "heel" (part of the foot) are homophones. They have completely different origins and spellings.
Example: The shoe rubbed against her heel.
Explanation: "Heal" (to cure) and "heel" (part of the foot) are homophones. They have completely different origins and spellings.
Example: The shoe rubbed against her heel.
Solved Q.4
"The teacher asked us to read the passage." In another sentence, "read" can be pronounced differently. Give an example.
Show Answer
Answer: "I have read that book already." (Pronounced "red")
Explanation: "Read" is a homograph — same spelling, different pronunciation depending on tense. Present is "reed"; past is "red".
Example: She read (red) the newspaper this morning.
Explanation: "Read" is a homograph — same spelling, different pronunciation depending on tense. Present is "reed"; past is "red".
Example: She read (red) the newspaper this morning.
Solved Q.5
"The wind blew strongly." What is another word that sounds like "blew"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Blue" — a colour.
Explanation: "Blew" (past tense of blow) and "blue" (the colour) are homophones. They sound identical but have no connection in meaning.
Example: The sky is clear and blue today.
Explanation: "Blew" (past tense of blow) and "blue" (the colour) are homophones. They sound identical but have no connection in meaning.
Example: The sky is clear and blue today.
Solved Q.6
"The lock on the door is broken." What other meaning does "lock" have?
Show Answer
Answer: A bunch of hair.
Explanation: "Lock" is a homonym — it can be a device for securing something, or a curl or tuft of hair.
Example: She had a golden lock of hair.
Explanation: "Lock" is a homonym — it can be a device for securing something, or a curl or tuft of hair.
Example: She had a golden lock of hair.
Solved Q.7
"Please write a letter to your grandmother." Which word sounds like "write"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Right" — meaning correct or the opposite of left.
Example: Turn right at the next corner.
Example: Turn right at the next corner.
Solved Q.8
"The tear from her eye rolled down her cheek." What other word is spelled the same but means "to rip"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Tear" (pronounced "tair") — to pull apart or rip.
Explanation: This is a homograph. "Tear" (liquid from eye) and "tear" (rip) have different pronunciations.
Example: Be careful not to tear the paper.
Explanation: This is a homograph. "Tear" (liquid from eye) and "tear" (rip) have different pronunciations.
Example: Be careful not to tear the paper.
Solved Q.9
"He plays the bass guitar." What other word sounds like "bass" but means a fish?
Show Answer
Answer: "Bass" (pronounced "base") is the deep tone; "bass" (pronounced "bass" as in mass) is a fish. They are homographs with different pronunciations.
Example: He caught a large bass in the lake.
Example: He caught a large bass in the lake.
Solved Q.10
"She put the bowl on the table." What other word sounds like "bowl"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Bowl" (vessel) and "boll" (a seed capsule, like cotton boll). "Bowl" is more common; "boll" is a homophone.
Example: The cotton boll was soft to touch.
Example: The cotton boll was soft to touch.
Solved Q.11
"The knight wore shining armour." Which word sounds identical to "knight"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Night" — the time of darkness.
Example: The stars shine at night.
Example: The stars shine at night.
Solved Q.12
"The sole of her shoe was worn out." What other meaning of "sole" is there?
Show Answer
Answer: "Sole" can mean "only" or "single". Also a fish (same spelling).
Example: She is the sole owner of the shop.
Example: She is the sole owner of the shop.
Solved Q.13
"Please close the door." What is the homophone of "close" meaning "near"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Close" (pronounced "klohs") meaning near is the same spelling but different pronunciation (homograph). Not a homophone. The homophone? Actually "close" (to shut) and "close" (near) are homographs. A homophone for "close" (shut) might be "cloze" (a type of test), but that's very rare. Let's change: "He lives close to the school." The word "close" (near) sounds like "close" (shut) only in spelling, not sound. They are homographs. We'll use "flower" and "flour". That's clearer. I'll replace Q13 with a homophone pair: "flower" (plant) and "flour" (cooking ingredient). Let's do that for Q13.
Solved Q.13
"She baked a cake with flour from the mill." What other word sounds like "flour"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Flower" — the colourful part of a plant.
Explanation: "Flour" (powdered grain) and "flower" (bloom) are homophones despite their different spellings.
Example: The garden is full of bright flowers.
Explanation: "Flour" (powdered grain) and "flower" (bloom) are homophones despite their different spellings.
Example: The garden is full of bright flowers.
Solved Q.14
"The band played music all night." What other meaning of "band" is there?
Show Answer
Answer: A strip of material, like a rubber band, or a group of people.
Example: She wore a bright band around her wrist.
Example: She wore a bright band around her wrist.
Solved Q.15
"I can see the sea from here." Which two words are homophones?
Show Answer
Answer: "See" and "sea".
Example: Can you see that ship on the sea?
Example: Can you see that ship on the sea?
Solved Q.16
"He gave me a rose." What other word is spelled the same but means "to get up"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Rose" — past tense of "rise".
Example: He rose from his chair and left.
Example: He rose from his chair and left.
Solved Q.17
"The bird flew high in the sky." What word sounds like "flew"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Flu" — the illness.
Example: She stayed home with the flu.
Example: She stayed home with the flu.
Solved Q.18
"He put the plate on the table." What other meaning of "plate" exists?
Show Answer
Answer: "Plate" can also refer to a flat piece of metal or a dental plate. Also, in baseball, the home plate.
Example: The metal plate was fixed to the wall.
Example: The metal plate was fixed to the wall.
Solved Q.19
"She wore a beautiful ring." Name another word that sounds like "ring".
Show Answer
Answer: "Wring" — to twist or squeeze.
Example: Wring out the wet cloth.
Example: Wring out the wet cloth.
Solved Q.20
"The sun rises in the east." Find the homophone of "sun".
Show Answer
Answer: "Son" — a male child.
Example: Her son is studying in college.
Example: Her son is studying in college.
Confusing words like "accept" and "except" are a similar challenge. The
Confusing Words worksheet
helps you master those distinctions. Meanwhile, try the
One Word Substitution worksheet
to build your vocabulary further.
✏️ Practice Questions (20 Questions with Answers)
Now test your ability to tell these tricky words apart.
Practice Q.1
"He hit the ball with a wooden bat." Is "bat" a homonym or a homophone?
Show Answer
Answer: Homonym — same spelling, multiple meanings (animal and sports gear).
Example: A bat is flying in the cave.
Example: A bat is flying in the cave.
Practice Q.2
"I need to buy some flour." Which word sounds like "flour"?
Show Answer
Answer: Flower.
Example: She picked a flower from the garden.
Example: She picked a flower from the garden.
Practice Q.3
"The wound is healing slowly." Which word sounds like "heal"?
Show Answer
Answer: Heel.
Example: The baby hurt his heel.
Example: The baby hurt his heel.
Practice Q.4
"She will read a story today." How is "read" pronounced in this sentence?
Show Answer
Answer: "Reed."
Example: Yesterday she read (red) the entire book.
Example: Yesterday she read (red) the entire book.
Practice Q.5
"We won the match by one run." What is the homophone of "won"?
Show Answer
Answer: One — the number.
Example: I have one brother.
Example: I have one brother.
Practice Q.6
"The bark of that tree is rough." What other meaning of "bark" is common?
Show Answer
Answer: The sound a dog makes.
Example: The dog's loud bark woke everyone up.
Example: The dog's loud bark woke everyone up.
Practice Q.7
"The wind is strong today." What is a homophone of "wind" (moving air)?
Show Answer
Answer: "Wind" (pronounced "wynd") as in to twist or turn. Homograph? Actually "wind" (air) and "wind" (twist) are homographs with different pronunciations. A homophone for the air sense is not common. I'll use a different pair. Let's reduce confusion. I'll change to "I will write a note." Homophone: "right". Already did that. I'll replace with: "The cell in the prison was tiny." Homophone: "sell". Good. Replace Q7 with: "He was locked in a cell." Homophone: "sell".
Practice Q.7
"The prisoner sat in a cold cell." Which word sounds like "cell"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Sell" — to exchange for money.
Example: They want to sell their old car.
Example: They want to sell their old car.
Practice Q.8
"There is a hole in my shoe." What other word sounds like "hole"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Whole" — entire, complete.
Example: He ate the whole cake.
Example: He ate the whole cake.
Practice Q.9
"Please bring me a glass of water." What is another meaning of "glass"?
Show Answer
Answer: The transparent material used for windows.
Example: The window is made of glass.
Example: The window is made of glass.
Practice Q.10
"The tailor will sew a dress." What word sounds like "sew"?
Show Answer
Answer: "So" — to such an extent.
Example: It was so cold outside.
Example: It was so cold outside.
Practice Q.11
"He threw the ball high." What is the homophone of "threw"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Through" — moving from one side to the other.
Example: The train passed through the tunnel.
Example: The train passed through the tunnel.
Practice Q.12
"There is a bee buzzing near the hive." What word sounds like "bee"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Be" — to exist.
Example: Be quiet, please.
Example: Be quiet, please.
Practice Q.13
"The knight fought bravely." What word sounds identical to "knight"?
Show Answer
Answer: Night — the dark hours.
Example: Good night, sleep tight.
Example: Good night, sleep tight.
Practice Q.14
"The hare ran fast." Which word sounds like "hare"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Hair" — strands growing on the head.
Example: She brushed her long hair.
Example: She brushed her long hair.
Practice Q.15
"I ate a pear for lunch." What word sounds like "pear"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Pair" — two.
Example: I need a pair of socks.
Example: I need a pair of socks.
Practice Q.16
"The plane flew across the sky." What word sounds like "plane"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Plain" — simple, or a flat area of land.
Example: The dress was very plain.
Example: The dress was very plain.
Practice Q.17
"I saw a huge whale in the ocean." What word sounds like "whale"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Wail" — a long, high cry.
Example: The baby let out a loud wail.
Example: The baby let out a loud wail.
Practice Q.18
"The sun is shining brightly." What word sounds like "sun"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Son" — male child.
Example: Her son is a pilot.
Example: Her son is a pilot.
Practice Q.19
"We went to the fair and rode the giant wheel." What other meaning of "fair" is there?
Show Answer
Answer: "Fair" can mean just, impartial, or a light complexion.
Example: The judge gave a fair decision.
Example: The judge gave a fair decision.
Practice Q.20
"She uses an iron to press clothes." What is another meaning of "iron"?
Show Answer
Answer: A strong, heavy metal used in construction.
Example: The gate is made of iron.
Example: The gate is made of iron.
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๐ Challenge Questions (10 Questions with Answers)
These require you to think about multiple meanings and differences in pronunciation.
Challenge Q.1
"The dove flew over the lake." What other meaning of "dove" exists with a different pronunciation?
Show Answer
Answer: "Dove" (rhymes with "love") — past tense of "dive" (chiefly US English).
Example: He dove into the pool.
Example: He dove into the pool.
Challenge Q.2
"She shed a tear." What is the homograph of "tear" that means "to rip"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Tear" (pronounced "tair") — to pull apart.
Example: Be careful not to tear the paper.
Example: Be careful not to tear the paper.
Challenge Q.3
"He played the lead role in the play." What other meaning of "lead" is there with a different pronunciation?
Show Answer
Answer: "Lead" (pronounced "led") — a heavy metal.
Example: The pipes were made of lead.
Example: The pipes were made of lead.
Challenge Q.4
"I like read." — Is this sentence correct? Explain using homophones.
Show Answer
Answer: It should be "I like to read" or "I like reading". The word "read" sounds like "reed" (present tense). If you meant the colour, it's "red".
Example: I like the colour red, and I enjoy reading.
Example: I like the colour red, and I enjoy reading.
Challenge Q.5
"The bow of the ship is pointed." Name two other meanings of "bow".
Show Answer
Answer: "Bow" (pronounced "bau") — a weapon for arrows, or a knot with loops; "bow" (pronounced "boh") — to bend the body in respect.
Example: He tied a bow; she took a bow after the performance.
Example: He tied a bow; she took a bow after the performance.
Challenge Q.6
"The row of houses was painted white." What other meaning of "row" has a different pronunciation?
Show Answer
Answer: "Row" (pronounced "rau" as in argument) — a noisy quarrel.
Example: The neighbours had a row over the fence.
Example: The neighbours had a row over the fence.
Challenge Q.7
"I can't bear the pain." What other word sounds like "bear"?
Show Answer
Answer: "Bear" (animal) vs. "bare" (naked, uncovered).
Example: The trees were bare in winter.
Example: The trees were bare in winter.
Challenge Q.8
"The company will present a good present to the winner." Identify the two meanings of "present".
Show Answer
Answer: "Present" (verb, pronounced "pri-zent") — to give or show; "present" (noun, pronounced "prez-ent") — a gift.
Example: They will present a present to the chief guest.
Example: They will present a present to the chief guest.
Challenge Q.9
"The wind was too strong to wind the kite string." Explain the two uses of "wind".
Show Answer
Answer: "Wind" (noun, moving air) and "wind" (verb, to twist or wrap). They are homographs with different pronunciations.
Example: The wind blew the paper; please wind up the thread.
Example: The wind blew the paper; please wind up the thread.
Challenge Q.10
"Please close the door when you are close to it." Explain the two uses of "close".
Show Answer
Answer: "Close" (verb, pronounced "kloz") — to shut; "close" (adjective, pronounced "klohs") — near.
Example: Close the window; sit close to me.
Example: Close the window; sit close to me.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FAQ 1
What is a homonym?
Show Answer
Answer: A homonym is a word that has the same spelling and pronunciation as another word but a different meaning. Example: "bat" (animal) and "bat" (sports equipment).
FAQ 2
What are homophones?
Show Answer
Answer: Homophones are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. Example: "pair" (two) and "pear" (fruit).
FAQ 3
What is a homograph?
Show Answer
Answer: A homograph is a word that is spelled the same as another but may be pronounced differently and has a different meaning. Example: "lead" (to guide, pronounced "leed") and "lead" (the metal, pronounced "led").
FAQ 4
Can a word be both a homophone and a homograph?
Show Answer
Answer: Yes, if it has the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings, it is both a homonym (which includes homographs and homophones). Homonyms can be both. However, homographs can be pronounced differently, which would not be homophones.
FAQ 5
Why should I learn homophones and homographs?
Show Answer
Answer: Learning them helps you avoid spelling mistakes, use words precisely in writing, and understand context better when reading. Many common errors (their/there, your/you're) are due to homophones.
