Homonyms: Meaning and Examples

What Are Homonyms?

In English grammar, homonyms are words that have the same spelling and/or pronunciation but different meanings. The word “homonym” is derived from the Greek word “homōnymos,” which means “having the same name.”

Difference Between Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs

Words that have the same pronunciation but differ in spelling or meaning are called “homophones.” On the other hand, words that have the same spelling but vary in pronunciation or meaning are called “homographs.” A grammar checker can help identify these nuances in language usage.

Homonyms can be either homographs, homophones, or both. 

Example: Bat

1. I saw a bat perched on a tree last night. 
2. My dad bought me a new baseball bat last week. 

Examples of Homonyms Used in Sentences

Here are some examples of homonyms whose difference in meaning is brought out in the sample sentences that follow:

Trip (1) – Journey, voyage, or expedition

Trip (2) – To stumble or to lose balance

1. We are planning to go on a trip for my birthday.
2. I warned my kid brother to be careful and not trip over my cat.

Palm (1) – A tree with fan-shaped leaves that grows in warm areas with tropical climate

Palm (2) – The inner surface of the hand

1. The coconut tree belongs to the family of the palm tree.
2. I’m interested in palm reading, and I wish to learn more about it.

Ring (1) –  A raised platform secured by a rope in which boxers fight

Ring (2) – A type of jewellery which is a small circular band worn around a finger

1. The boxers entered the boxing ring for the first round of the fight.
2. He gifted her a diamond engagement ring.

Spring (1) – Move or jump briskly

Spring (2) – The season after winter and before summer

1. With an easy spring, the cat reached the top of the cupboard.
2. Spring and summer are my favorite seasons.

Match (1) – Pairing

Match (2) – A competition in which teams compete against each other

1. Their marriage was in trouble, and it seemed as if they were not a match made in heaven.
2. I accompanied my dad to the cricket stadium to watch a one-day match.

Bark (1) – The sound made by a dog

Bark (2) – The rough outer covering of a tree trunk

1. It is strange that my dog doesn’t bark at strangers.
2. The bark of the tree was too hard and difficult to peel.

Nail (1) – The hard outer covering at the end of the upper surface of fingers and toes

Nail (2) – A metal pin which serves as a hook

1. I hit my hand on the door and broke a nail.
2. She hit the nail hard with a hammer to drive it deep into the wall.

Watch (1) – Look at something attentively

Watch (2) – A timepiece worn on one’s wrist

1. My favorite pastime is to watch new movies and shows online.
2. I lost my watch at the bar last night.

Slip (1) – Move in a stealthy way

Slip (2) – To lose balance and fall over or skid

1. Some students managed to slip away from college unnoticed.
2. The rock climbers took all necessary precautions while climbing since they didn’t want anyone to slip and fall off.

Ruler (1) – A monarch or a crowned authority who rules over a state

Ruler (2) – A metal, wooden, or a plastic strip that is used to draw lines

1. Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian ruler who governed a large kingdom.
2. I can’t draw a straight line without using a ruler.

Board (1) – An elected individual who represents the shareholders of a company and participates in key decision making

Board (2) – A flat piece made from hard materials such as wood or metal which is used to chop vegetables, meat, etc.

1. The company owner’s daughter was unanimously chosen to be on the board of directors.
2. I broke the cutting board while trying to fit it in the dishwasher.

Bear (1) – To tolerate or to endure something unpleasant

Bear (2) – A large, short-tailed carnivorous mammal

1. She had to resort to taking painkillers since she couldn’t bear the pain.
2. I saw a big brown bear in the woods when we went hiking last month.

Saw (1) – The past tense of see

Saw (2) – A blade with a sharp edge that is used to cut wood and other hard materials

1. We saw several alligators at the zoo.
2. The woodcutter used an electric saw to cut down the trees that were blocking the entrance to the freeway.

Tie (1) – A strip of clothing worn around the collar of a shirt

Tie (2) – To fasten something with a string, band, cord, etc.

1. I was afraid that the salsa stain on my tie wouldn’t wash off.
2. The head chef advised the inexperienced intern to tie her hair while cooking.

Feet (1) – A unit of measurement for the height of a person

Feet (2) – The lower extremity of the leg

1. My 16-year-old cousin is 6 feet 3 inches tall and growing.
2. My daughter played in the muddy puddle and dirtied her feet.

Lie (1) – To assume a resting or a horizontal position

Lie (2) – An untrue statement

1. The patient who felt light-headed was advised to lie down till she felt better.
2. A lie travels faster than truth.

Light (1) – A type of energy that stimulates sight and makes seeing possible

Light (2) – Pale colored

1. I was too scared to put the light out in my room after watching a horror movie.
2. Elaine has light green eyes.

Clip (1) – To trim something using a cutter or scissors

Clip (2) – A hook-like object that holds papers together

1. I was too afraid to clip my dog’s nails, so I took him to the vet.
2. It is hard to find a paper clip when you desperately need one.

Rock (1) – A genre of music

Rock (2) – A concrete mass made of minerals which is hard and stony

1. I miss going to rock concerts.
2. I saw a beautiful bird sitting on the huge mossy rock on the river bank.

Pan (1) – Move or swing the camera in a horizontal or vertical direction

Pan (2) – A metal container used for cooking food

1. The director asked the camera person to pan the camera from left to right.
2. She put a pan on the stove to make some pasta.

Stalk (1) – Pursue stealthily

Stalk (2) – Stem of a plant, flower, etc.

1. Nocturnal wild animals are known to stalk their prey at night.
2. I added some tender broccoli stalk to my soup, and it tasted great.

Can (1) – To be able to do something

Can (2) – A sealed container used to preserve food in

1. I don’t think I can take on any new projects at this time.
2. I cut my finger when I was trying to open a can of soup.

Pen (1) – An enclosure in which animals are kept

Pen (2) – An instrument used for writing, drawing, etc.

1. My neighbor keeps his three dogs in a huge pen so that they can run around freely.
2. I forgot to return the pen I had borrowed from my colleague.

Address (1) – Direct attention toward someone or something

Address (2) – Details of the location of a building

1. The people gathered at the meeting requested the senator to address their issues.
2. I now have a new address since I just moved to New Jersey.

Fan (1) – A mechanical or electrical device with blades that is used for cooling and ventilation and rotates to create a current of air

Fan (2) – Someone who admires and supports something or someone

1. He turned off the fan whenever he felt too cold.
2. I’m a big fan of the Avengers movie franchise.

Homonyms are often confused with homophones and homographs but all these terms are different. Each of these has different meanings and cannot be used interchangeably.