Pronunciation: /ˈhɑmənɪm/

Definitions of homonym

noun a word that has the same spelling or pronunciation as another word but has a different meaning

Example Sentences

A1 A homonym is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning.

A2 In English, there are many homonyms that can be confusing for language learners.

B1 Understanding the difference between homonyms is important for clear communication in writing.

B2 Homonyms can create ambiguity in sentences if not used correctly.

C1 Linguists study the phenomenon of homonyms as part of their research on language structure.

C2 Authors often play with homonyms in their writing to create clever wordplay and double meanings.

adjective describing a word that is a homonym

Example Sentences

A1 I learned about homonym words in my English class.

A2 She confused the homonym words 'to' and 'too' in her essay.

B1 The teacher explained the concept of homonym words to the students.

B2 He used a homonym wordplay to make his speech more engaging.

C1 The author's clever use of homonym phrases added depth to the novel.

C2 The comedian's homonym jokes were a hit with the audience.

Examples of homonym in a Sentence

formal The word 'bark' is a homonym, as it can refer to the sound a dog makes or the outer covering of a tree.

informal I always get confused with homonyms like 'to', 'too', and 'two'.

slang I can't believe how many homonyms there are in the English language, it's so confusing!

figurative The homonym 'bear' can mean an animal or to endure something difficult.

Grammatical Forms of homonym

past tense

homonymed

plural

homonyms

comparative

more homonymous

superlative

most homonymous

present tense

homonyms

future tense

will homonym

perfect tense

have homonymed

continuous tense

is homonyming

singular

homonym

positive degree

homonym

infinitive

to homonym

gerund

homonyming

participle

homonymed

Origin and Evolution of homonym

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: Greek
Story behind the word: The word 'homonym' originated from the Greek words 'homos' meaning 'same' and 'onoma' meaning 'name'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to words that sound the same but have different meanings, the term 'homonym' has evolved to also include words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, as well as words that are both spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings.