HOMONYMS
There are generally two types of word categories for homonyms. There are
the homographs, which are words that are spelled alike but have very
different meanings. For example, the words bear and bear. One can bear a
heavy load, and the 500-pound bear is a heavy load. Another example is the
word bat, as in a wooden stick, used to protect yourself from the rabid bat
flying into your hair, causing you to shell out change in your pocket to pay
for the change in your hairstyle. Homographs are spelled the same but with
two completely different meanings. For realtime purposes, homographs
need not be written differently on our machines but, rather, it is advised to
know their definitions for proper word usage.
The second category of homonyms is homophones. The words sound
exactly the same, but they are spelled differently. And for realtime
purposes, they absolutely MUST be written differently on our machines.
The following is a list of 25 frequently used homophones, their definitions,
and how they can be differentiated through writing them differently on our
machines. When using the asterisk for differentiation, you want to apply it
to the homophonic word used the least and always for proper names. Of
course, our writing styles may differ, but you can apply your own techniques
for differentiation, whatever works for you.
ant – an insect – APBT
aunt – a relative – AUPBT
beat – to pound - PWAOET
beet – a vegetable - PWAO*ET
bare – uncovered or naked – PWA*EUR
bear – an animal – PWAEUR
sale – a discounted price – SAEUL
sail – powered by wind – SA*EUL
made – to make – PHAEUD
maid – a servant – PHA*EUD
loan – to lend – HROEPB
lone – solitary – HRO*EPB
pain – hurt – PAEUPB
Payne – a last name – PA*EUPB
pane – window glass – PAEBP
know – to have knowledge – TPHOE
no – opposite of yes – TPHO
knot – tied rope – TPHO*T
not – negative - TPHOT
weight – a measureable load – WA*EUT
wait – to kill time – WAEUT
male – opposite of female - PHAEL
mail – postal delivery – PHA*EUL
seen – viewed – SAOEPB
scene – landscape – SAO*EPB
rose – flower – ROEZ
rows – lines – RO*EZ
plain – ordinary – PHRA*EUPB
plane – aircraft or flat surface – PHRAEPB
steel – a hard alloy – STAOEL
steal – to swipe – STAEL
see – observe with eyes – SAOE
sea – body of water – SA*E or SAO*E
tail – hindmost part of an animal - TAEUL
tale – a story – TA*EUL
their – belonging to them - THAEUR
there – at that place - THR
they’re – they are – THAER
right – correct or opposite of left – RAOEUT
write – to scribble – WRAOEUT or RAO*EUT (brief stroke – WREU)
Wright – a last name – WRAO*EUT
sole – single – SOEL
soul – spirit or essence – SOUL
Seoul – city in Korea – SO*EL
role – function - ROEL
roll – to rotate - ROL
some – a few – SOPH (brief stroke – SPH)
sum – an amount - SUPH
meat – animal protein – PHAET
meet – to get together – PHAOET
peace – calm – PAES
piece – a portion – PAOES
poor – no money – PAOR
pore – a small opening in the skin – PO*R
pour – make flow – POR