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Words like "read", "wind", "live" and "lead" are spelt the same, but have different meanings:

Lead1 (leed):
cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc. while moving forward.
-- Dictionary.com

and

Lead2 (led):
A heavy, comparatively soft, malleable, bluish-grey metal.
-- Dictionary.com

So what are these words called? And are there any others, beside the 4 I have mentioned?

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  • They are called homographs, and you could add bear (hairy animal; carry) or sow (lady pig; scatter seeds) to the list.
    – Roaring Fish
    Commented Sep 29, 2014 at 15:44
  • 1
    @RoaringFish those are examples of words that are spelt the same but also are pronounced the same... the OP requested words that are spelt the same but pronounced differently
    – ThunderToes
    Commented Sep 29, 2014 at 15:47
  • No, like bow (curtsey / ribbon) - pronounced differently, or tear (rip / cry).
    – Tim
    Commented Sep 29, 2014 at 15:47
  • 1
    I know but its a different example I guess
    – ThunderToes
    Commented Sep 29, 2014 at 15:49
  • 1
    But unlike the earlier question, this question also asks for examples of such words (not that such examples are especially difficult to find once you know what they are called).
    – Sven Yargs
    Commented Sep 29, 2014 at 21:02

4 Answers 4

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Word that are spelled the same, but which have different meanings and etymologies are normally referred to as:

  • homographs

Words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently are:

  • heteronyms

The word homograph is made from two morphemes. The first is homo- meaning same. The second is graph which means writing or written. -nym as you can probably guess means name.

Other examples of homographs:

  • (river) bank, (high street bank)
  • (transport) plane (woodwork tool)
  • (person) fan (machine)
  • (implement) pen (farm)
  • (punctuation) colon (pooh)

Some heteronyms - which are also homographs:

  • (argue) row (sport)
  • (guitar) bass (fish)
  • (genuflect) bow (ribbon)
  • (wind) buffet (canape)
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HOMONYMS are words that sound alike but have different meanings.

Homophones are a type of homonym that also sound alike and have different meanings, but have different spellings.

HOMOGRAPHS are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings.

Heteronyms are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different.

For simplification:

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Words that are spelled the same but are pronounced differently are call Heteronyms

For an interesting article on word types, see Wikipedia

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Here are some additional examples of heteronyms (many of them lifted from this site):

  • (second option) alternate (switch back and forth)

  • (suitable) appropriate (commandeer)

  • (panel) console (comfort)

  • (complete, v) consummate (perfect, adj.)

  • (satisfied) content (thing or things contained)

  • (document, n) contract (shrink)

  • (talk, v) converse (thing reversed in order)

  • (representative) delegate (assign)

  • (intentional) deliberate (consider carefully)

  • (price reduction) discount (minimize or disregard)

  • (way in) entrance (enrapture or enthrall)

  • (very close) intimate (suggest indirectly)

  • (incorrect) invalid (disabled)

  • (frown) lower (relative position)

  • (60 seconds) minute (tiny)

  • (temperate) moderate (preside or oversee)

  • (in attendance) present (give)

  • (undercoat paint) primer (textbook)

  • (fruits and vegetables) produce (generate)

  • (advance, n) progress (advance, v)

  • (tell) recount (add again)

  • (deny) refuse (garbage)

  • (move apart) separate (distinct)

  • (have doubts about) suspect (person under suspicion)

  • (carry as freight) transport (conveyance)

  • (distress or discombobulate) upset (surprise victory)

There are many, many others.

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