Updated on January 5, 2024
What are heteronyms? A guide to look-alike words in English
If you study English, then surely you’ve come across confusing words. In English there are many grammar rules that seem to have endless exceptions! Have you encountered words that are spelled the same but have a different meaning? And are they pronounced differently as well? These words are called heteronyms.
This article will describe heteronyms, give examples and discuss some similar grammatical word forms.
Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings and different pronunciations. In English, most heteronyms come in pairs. Here is an example:
In this sentence, row means an argument. This is the pronunciation /rau/ and it rhymes with cow.
In this sentence, row means to use oars to move a boat. This is the pronunciation /rō/ and it rhymes with go.
These words are clearly confusing! The word row is spelled the same in each sentence. But the meaning is completely different and the pronunciation is different. As you get better at English, you will recognize the right word to say based on context.
Now that we know the definition of a heteronym let’s take a look at a list of heteronyms.
| Heteronym | Definition, usage and pronunciation 1 | Definition, usage and pronunciation 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bass | A stringed instrument, type of guitar: He plays the bass. /bās/ | A type of fish: They go fishing for bass. /bas/ |
| Bow | A tool used to shoot an arrow at a target: The kids practiced using a bow and arrow at camp. /boh/ | To bend the upper part of the body as a greeting or sign of respect: In Japan, it is respectful to bow when greeting people. /bou/ |
| Close | Cover an opening: Will you close the door? /klohz/ | Near: The store is close to the school. /kləʊs/ |
| Desert | To leave or abandon: Did he desert his wife? /dih-zurt/ | A dry, barren area of land: The Sahara desert is in northern Africa. /dez-ert/ |
| Lead | To show someone the way: I am going to lead the group trip in Mexico. /leed/ | A type of metal: Lead paint is banned in many countries. /led/ |
| Live | To reside: I live in Chicago. /liv/ | In the moment, in person: I like listening to live music. /lahyv/ |
| Object | To express disagreement: It is common for a lawyer to object to the argument from the other side. /əbˈdʒɛkt/ | A material thing: The museum had an interesting object on display. /ob-jekt/ |
| Refuse | Garbage: After the party there was a ton of refuse. /ref-yoos/ | To indicate an unwillingness to do something: I refuse to answer your questions. /ri-fyooz/ |
| Tear | To rip or pull apart: If you tear the paper in half you will have two pieces of paper. /tair/ | A drop of liquid in the eye: I always cry a tear of happiness when I watch romantic movies. /teer/ |
| Wind | The natural movement of air: The wind is strong at the top of the mountain. /wind/ | To change direction, bend or turn: The road seems to wind through the mountains. /wahynd/ |
Let’s review another grammar form similar to heteronyms. Remember, heteronyms are words that are spelled the same, have different meanings, but are pronounced differently. Homonyms are words that are spelled the same, have different meanings, but are pronounced the same.
Here are some common homonyms used in example sentences:
Can I borrow your pen to sign my name? (Writing utensil that uses ink.)
The farm animals live in a pen so they do not escape. (Small fenced-in area.)
I am reading a great book. (A printed publication bound in a cover.)
Did you book the hotel room for our vacation? (Reserve.)
I broke my arm when I fell out of the tree. (Upper limb of the human body.)
I work for the New York arm of the company. (A division of a company.)
The child is very bright. (Smart.)
My new apartment is very bright. (Sunny.)
What kind of food would you like for dinner? (Type.)
My cousin is so kind to everyone. (Nice.)
They love rock music. (Rock and roll.)
The rocks in the river are smooth. (Hard mineral deposit.)
If you desert (abandon) your English studies, your language skill will become like the desert (a dry area of land without much life or vegetation). If you enjoy learning English, homonyms and heteronyms will be fun for you. With practice, you will know the difference between I live in Chicago (the city) and listen to live music by the Chicago (the band).
