A homograph is one of a group of words that are spelled the same way but
have
different meanings.
A homograph that is also pronounced differently
is a heteronym. Some
examples of heteronyms are given below.
bow pronounced to rhyme with how, a verb meaning to bend the head or body
as a sign of respect or in greeting as in The visitors bowed to the emperor and
The mourners bowed their
heads as the coffin was lowered into the grave.
bow pronounced to rhyme with low, a noun meaning a looped knot or a ribbon
tied in this way, as in She wears
blue bows in her hair; or a wooden tool used to
propel an arrow, as in He shot the
arrow from the bow.
deliberate pronounced to rhyme with deliberat, an adjective meaning carefully
thought out or planned, intentional, as in It was a deliberate insult.
deliberate pronounced to rhyme with deliberate, a verb meaning to consider
something deeply, to ponder or think something over, as in The jury deliberated
for some time before reaching
a verdict.
lead pronounced leed, a verb meaning to show the way,
as in The guide will lead you down the mountain.
lead pronounced led, a noun meaning a type of greyish
metal, as in They are going to remove water pipes made from lead.
row pronounced to rhyme with low, a noun meaning a number of people
or things arranged in a line, as in The princess sat in the front row.
row pronounced to rhyme with how, a noun meaning a quarrel, a
disagreement, as in He has had a row with his neighbour over
repairs to the garden wall.
sow pronounced to rhyme with low, a verb meaning to scatter seeds
in the earth, as in She sowed some flower seeds in the garden.
sow pronounced to rhyme with how, a noun meaning a female pig, as
in The sow is in her pigsty with her piglets.
