| Common Homographs |
Homographs are words that are spelled the same, and in most instances, sound the same,but which have different meanings. Below is a list of common homographs. For a complete list of homographs, you should consult a reference book such as Homophones and Homographs : An American Dictionary. |
| arms (weapons) | arms (part of body) |
| ball (sphere) | ball (dance) |
| band (music makers) | band (strap) |
| bass (low musical sound) | bass (fish) * |
| bear (animal) | bear (carry) |
| bluff (steep embankment) | bluff (fool) |
| boil (bubble) | boil (skin sore) |
| bow (bend) | bow (part of ship) |
| bow (weapon) * | |
| box (container) | box (hit) |
| box (shrub) | |
| brush (tool) | brush (undergrowth) |
| can (container) | can (able) |
| case (container) | case (condition) |
| colon (part of body) | colon (punctuation mark) |
| count (royalty) | count (number) |
| date (fruit); date (on calendar) | date (companion) |
| down (feathers) | down (direction) |
| down (grassland) | |
| duck (bird) | duck (avoid) |
| duck (cloth) | |
| fan (admirer) | fan (cooling device) |
| fast (quick) | fast (starve) |
| fine (good quality) | fine (payment for wrongdoing) |
| firm (hard) | firm (company) |
| fly (insect) | fly (move through air) |
| fly (flap of cloth covering pant zipper) | |
| fresh (new) | fresh (bold) |
| gum (chewing treat) | gum (mouth part) |
| hold (grasp) | hold (part of ship) |
| jam (preserved fruit) | jam (squeeze) |
| jam (impromptu music) | |
| lap (part of body) | lap (course) |
| lap (drink) | |
| lean (slant) | lean (thin) |
| left (direction) | left (went) |
| lie (untruth) | lie (recline) |
| loaf (lounge) | loaf (bread) |
| lumber (wood) | lumber (walk slowly) |
| mole (skin spot) | mole (animal) |
| page (call) | page (of paper) |
| page (youth) | |
| pen (for writing) | pen (enclosure) |
| pitcher (container) | pitcher (in baseball) |
| pop (sound) | pop (popular) |
| pop (father) | pop (soda) |
| pound (weight) | pound (kennel) |
| pound (hit) | |
| prune (fruit) | prune (cut) |
| pupil (part of eye) | pupil (student) |
| racket (for tennis) | racket (scheme) |
| racket (noise) | |
| ring (circle) | ring (sound of bell) |
| row (in a line) | row (with oars) |
| row (fight)* | |
| sock (hit) | sock (stocking) |
| tap (hit lightly) | tap (faucet) |
| swallow (bird) | swallow (gulp) |
| well (good) | well (for water) |
| nail (body part) | nail (hit with a hammer) |
| *Note that these homographs are pronounced differently. | |