HOMONYMS, HOMOPHONES,

HOMOGRAPHS/HETERONYMS

Newsletter Date
Volume 1, Issue 1

College of Human Sciences International Graduate Student Writing Assistance

Tricky words: Examples and Definitions of Homonyms,

Homophones, Homographs/Heteronyms
Todays lesson is about tricky words. These words often confuse even native speakers.
While these types of words may have long and complicated names, the words
themselves are often used in the English language.
Homonyms: spelled the same, sound the same but mean different things.
Homophones: spelled the same or differently, sound the same, and mean different things.
Homograph/Heteronym: spelled the same, sound differently, and have different meanings.
Some video examples:
Homonyms Homophones Heteronyms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOGCLLEduLE
Homophones and Homographs Lesson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=777zZy2UMaA
Heteronyms and Homophones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvd9pUEqg3A
Heteronyms: American English Pronunciation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm52gPBqzRI

Some examples of Homonyms:

Bank (1. river bank, 2. bank account)
Lie (1. to tell a falsehood, 2. to lie on the bed)
Fine (1. to pay a monetary penalty, 2. superior quality or skill)
Light (1. sunlight, 2. light as a feather)
Pound (1. a weight, 2. to forcefully strike)
Tip (1. pencil tip, 2. to knock or fall over, 3. a gratuity)
Zip (1. to close or open a zipper, 2. to move fast)

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HOMONYMS, HOMOPHONES, HOMOPHONES/HETERONYMS

Some examples of Homophones:

their (possessive form of they)

than (a comparison)

there (location)

then (refers to a time in the past)

theyre (contraction of they are)

its (possessive form of it)
to (movement, toward)

its (contraction of it is or it has)

too (also, as well)

two (the number 2)

ascent (to climb or to rise)

assent (to agree)

your (possessive form of you)

youre (contraction of you are)

accept (a verb, meaning to receive or to

admit to a group)

affect (to influence or to change)

except (usually a preposition, meaning

effect (result)

but or only)

Some examples of Heteronyms

close ([klz] to shut, to block entry)

present ([pre-znt] a gift)

close ([kls] near)

present ([pre-znt} current time, now existing)

present ([pri-zent] to give a presentation)

lead ([ld] to guide or direct on a way, to go

first)

wind ([wnd] to wind a clock, to turn repeatedly

lead ([led] a soft pliable metal often used in

about an object)

batteries and solder, pencil lead)

wind ([wind] a breeze, natural movement of air)

Word list examples found at:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/index.php?category_id=2&sub_category_id=1&articl
e_id=48
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/proofing_grammar.shtml
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/english/homonyms/
http://www.cooper.com/alan/homonym_list.html
http://usefulenglish.ru/writing/homonyms-short-list
http://grammar.about.com/od/fh/g/heteronymsterm.htm
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cellis/heteronym.html
Full Definitions for words can be found at:
www.thefreedictionary.com
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

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