What is a homograph?

A homograph is one of two or more words that have the same spelling, but have different origins, meanings and often different pronunciation.

From homo (same) and graph (written)

Examples:

♦ lead – /liːd/ - to guide, conduct or control

lead – led – a metal

♦ fair – /feəʳ / US /fer/ – reasonable, according to the rules, free from prejudice

fair – /feəʳ / US /fer/ – with light coloured hair or complexion

♦ wave – /weɪv/ – to move your hand from side to side as a greeting or farewell, or to add emphasis to your words

wave – /weɪv/ – a moving swell or ridge on the surface or the edge of a body of water

♦ bat – /bæt/ – a piece of wood used for hitting a ball in games such as cricket, baseball, rounders and table tennis

bat – /bæt/ – a nocturnal flying mammal

♦ wind – /wɪnd/ – the natural movement of air (as in the weather)

wind – /waɪnd/ – to tighten the spring of a clock or watch by turning a key or spindle