25 Homonyms Examples for Writers

If you look up the definition of a homonym, you might find that it’s a type of word that is also called either a homophone or homograph. But what does that mean? 

(Grammar Rules for Writers.)

A homonym is one of two or more words that are pronounced the same but have different spellings (homophone) and/or spelled the same but have different meanings (homograph). In other words, homonyms are wonderful building blocks for fun wordplay.

This post shares a few examples of homonyms. Each set of words is preceded by whether the homonyms are homographs and/or homophones. This is not an exhaustive list, but I hope it will help illustrate what a homonym is and get you started on your homonym trail (which is a homograph that can be a noun synonym for “path” and/or a verb meaning “to follow”).

Enjoy!

25 Homonyms Examples for Writers

Homograph: Attribute (characteristic) or attribute (credit someone or something)Homophone: Bolder (more bold) or boulder (more rock)Homograph and homophone: Can (able to) or can (metal container)Homophone: Cite (source), sight (vision), or site (location)Homograph: Close (near) or close (to shut)Homograph: Console (comfort) or console (video game unit)Homograph and homophone: Crane (bird) or crane (machine)Homophone: Creak (noise) or creek (small stream)Homograph and homophone: Fair (reasonable) and fair (festival)Homophone: Hole (opening) or whole (complete)Homograph: Lead (front) or lead (mineral)Homograph and homophone: Lean (thin) or lean (rest against something)Homograph and homophone: May (month) or may (might)Homograph: Minute (small) or minute (measurement of time)Homograph and homophone: Novel (new) or novel (book-length fiction)Homograph: Object (thing) or object (argue)Homophone: Peak (max height), peek (look), or pique (gets interest)Homograph and homophone: Pen (writing instrument) or pen (area for animals)Homophone: Rain (water from sky), reign (period of time), or rein (leather strap)Homograph and homophone: Saw (tool) or saw (past tense of “to see”)Homophone: Stationary (stay in one spot) or stationery (paper and envelopes)Homograph: Tear (rip) or tear (crying)Homograph and homophone: Train (mode of transport) or train (exercise)Homograph: Wind (blows) or wind (to turn)Homophone: Yore (refers to past), you’re (you are), or your (possessive you)

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