Answers.com > Wiki Answers > Categories > Literature & Language > Languages and Cultures > English Language > Grammar > English Spelling and Pronunciation > What do you call words that have the same spelling but different meanings?

What do you call words that have the same spelling but different meanings?

Answer:
The words are called "homographs," a type of homonym.
Examples are the words bear (animal, or to carry) and left (direction, or remaining amount).

The larger set of words that are referred to as homonyms are words that are spelled differently but sound the same: these are called homophones.
First answer by Yrjo. Last edit by Yrjo. Contributor trust: 114 Question popularity: 2 [recommend question].

Can you answer these English Spelling and Pronunciation questions?

Does ankle sound short a or long a vowel? Answer it!
Is the word asked short a sound? Answer it!
Why is iron spelled the way it is? Answer it!
What are the significance of greetings? Answer it!
How do you spell the swearing c word? Answer it!

Relevant answers:

Home

Answer these

What was the impact on brown vs Board of education?
In: African-American History
Answer it!
What is Californias average temperature in winter an summer?
In: Meteorology and Weather
Answer it!
What instruments are used in get up stand up by bob Marley?
In: Bob Marley
Answer it!
What happens if you file a theft report but then you find the object you thought was stolen?
In: Law & Legal Issues
Answer it!
» more

Featured guides

» More