Rogers Reference states 9,370 words that sound the same

Two or more words which are spelt differently but pronounced the same are generally referred to as Homophones. Hence, bare and bear, sea and see, pray and prey, and site, cite and sight, are all homophones.

Two or more words that are spelt exactly the same but have different origins and meanings are referred to as Homographs. Hence, row (the argument), row (the group of objects arranged in a line) and row (the boating activity) are homographs. Homographs do not have to have the same pronunciation.

Two or more words which are either spelt the same or pronounced the same or both are referred to as Homonyms. So, any word pair or group that are homophones or homographs are also homonyms. It’s an umbrella term for the two. Hence, watt is, indeed, a homonym, but it is first and foremost a homophone, and row is a homonym but first and foremost a homograph.

http://macmillandictionaries.com/MED-Magazine/November2002/02-language-interference-homonym.htm


Last modified: Sunday, 27 June 2021, 2:08 PM