Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and different meanings. A homograph that is pronounced differently is a heteronym.
Let’s look at some examples:
- The bandage was wound around the wound.
- The farm was used to produce produce.
- The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
- We must polish the Polish furniture.
- He could lead if he would get the lead out.
- The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
- Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
- A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
- When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
- I did not object to the object.
English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant, nor is there ham in hamburger. There is no apple or pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England and French fries aren’t from France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads (which aren’t sweet) are animal organs.
The English language is full of paradoxes: quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.