Homonyms, Homophones and Homographs: Vocabulary Building

Homonym a word that is spelt like another word (or pronounced like it) but which has a different meaning, for example Key meaning ‘set of answer to problems’ and Key meaning ‘button on computer keyboard’.

The state of being a homonym is called homonymy.

Very Important Note:
In Strict Sense, Homonyms have same spelling, same pronunciation, and different meaning.

HOMONYMS in Strict Sense:
Same Spelling / Same Pronunciation / Different meaning
Examples: fare, trunk, etc.
Fare -- a passenger | Fare -- price
Trunk -- a large strong box | Trunk -- main stem of a tree

In Wider Sense, Homonyms can also include words that have same or similar pronunciation (but different spelling) Or same spelling (but different pronunciation.)
In first situation, they are called ‘HOMOPHONES’
In second situation, they are called ‘HOMOGRAPHS’

HOMONYMS In Wider Sense:

HOMOPHONES: Different Spelling / Same or Similar Pronunciation / Different meaning
Examples: ad/add, know/now, to/too/two
ad -- advertisement | add -- to include
Note: ‘Homophones’ are also called ‘Heterographs’

HOMOGRAPHS: Same Spelling / Different Pronunciation / Different meaning
Examples: abuse, bow, close, desert, entrance, fine, incense, lead, object
bow -- (Pronunciation - bOU) -- a weapon used for shooting arrows
bow -- (Pronunciation bAU) -- to move your head forwards and downwards
Note: ‘Homographs’ are also called ‘Heterophones’