Homographs: List, Uses & Examples

Homographs: List, Uses & Examples to Boost Your English Skills

What Are Homographs?

Homographs are words that have the same spelling but different meanings. Sometimes, they are even pronounced differently! These tricky words can be confusing, but they make English more exciting once you understand them.

Let’s break it down with a simple example:

• Tear (a drop from the eye)
• Tear (to rip something)

Both are spelled the same, but their meanings and pronunciation differ.

See also: Homophones: List, Uses & Examples  

Why Should You Learn Homographs?

Understanding homographs helps you:

1. Avoid misunderstandings in conversations.
2. Boost your reading and writing skills by knowing the correct usage.
3. Impress others with your grasp of English nuances!

Tips to Remember Homographs

1. Check the context:

• Always look at the sentence to understand which meaning fits.

Example:

• The wind blew gently. (moving air)
• Please wind the toy. (twist or turn)

2. Practice pronunciation:

• Some homographs are pronounced differently depending on their meaning. Use a dictionary or listen to examples online.

3. Use them in sentences:

• Writing or saying sentences with homographs helps you remember them better.

List of Common Homographs in English

Here’s a list of some easy-to-remember homographs with their meanings & examples:

Word	Meaning 1	Meaning 2	Example 1	Example 2
Abuse	To mistreat or harm	Improper use of something	The manager will not tolerate abuse of employees.	Drug abuse is a serious issue.
Address	A location or residence	To speak to someone or deal with something	Please write your home address here.	The teacher will address the students about the changes.
Air	The invisible gaseous substance surrounding Earth	To broadcast or express	We need clean air to survive.	The new episode will air tonight.
Apparent	Clearly visible or obvious	Seeming to be real or true, but not necessarily so	It was apparent that she was upset.	The apparent cause of the accident was driver fatigue.
Axis	An imaginary line about which a body rotates	A central part on which something revolves	Earth spins on its axis.	The wheel rotates around its axis.
Ball	A spherical object used in sports	A formal dance event	We played soccer with a new ball.	The princess attended the royal ball.
Bank	An institution for financial transactions	The side of a river	I deposited money in the bank.	We walked along the river bank.
Bark	The outer covering of a tree	The sound a dog makes	The tree's bark is rough to touch.	The dog started to bark at the stranger.
Bat	A flying mammal	An implement used in sports like cricket or baseball	The bat flew out of the cave.	He hit the ball with a wooden bat.
Bow	To bend as a gesture of respect	A weapon used to shoot arrows	The performer gave a bow after the applause.	Robin Hood carried a bow and arrows.
Can	To be able to	A container for holding liquids	I can solve this problem easily.	The soda can is empty.
Capital	The city where the government is located	Wealth in the form of money	Paris is the capital of France.	He invested a lot of capital in the business.
Club	A group of people with shared interests	A heavy stick used as a weapon	I joined the chess club at school.	The caveman used a wooden club.
Chest	The front part of the human body	A large box for storage	He felt pain in his chest while running.	The treasure was hidden in a chest.
Current	Happening now	A flow of water or electricity	She is happy with her current job.	The river's current was too strong to swim against.
Date	A specific day on the calendar	A sweet fruit from the date palm tree	Please write today’s date on the form.	I love eating dried dates as a snack.
Die	To stop living	A small cube with numbers used in games	Plants die without water.	Roll the die to play your turn.
Dress	A piece of clothing	To put on clothes	She wore a beautiful red dress to the party.	It’s time to dress for the event.
Duck	A type of water bird	To lower your head or body quickly	We saw a duck swimming in the pond.	Quickly duck to avoid hitting your head on the beam!
Drill	A tool used for making holes	A practice or training session	I need a drill to fix the shelf.	The fire drill was held at school today.
Even	Equal or smooth	Used to emphasize something surprising	The floor must be even before laying tiles.	She didn’t even say goodbye before leaving.
Engage	To involve someone in an activity	To promise to marry	The speaker tried to engage the audience with questions.	They announced they are officially engaged.
Express	To convey a thought or feeling	Fast and direct	It’s important to express your emotions.	The express train will get you there quicker.
Excuse	A reason given to justify an action	To forgive or overlook	That’s just an excuse to avoid responsibility.	Please excuse my mistake; I didn’t mean to do it.
Fair	Just and unbiased	An event or exhibition	The teacher made a fair decision about the grades.	We went to the book fair last weekend.
Fan	A device for creating airflow	A person who admires something	The room was hot, so we turned on the fan.	She is a huge fan of that singer.
File	A folder or document for storing papers	A tool used for smoothing or shaping	I saved the document in a digital file.	Use the file to smooth the edges of the metal.
Fine	Very good or excellent	A penalty for breaking a rule	She is feeling fine after the surgery.	He had to pay a parking fine yesterday.
Fall	To move downward	The season of autumn	Be careful not to fall on the wet floor.	The leaves turn orange in the fall.
Ground	The surface of the earth	Past tense of grind	She sat on the ground under the tree.	The coffee beans were ground into a fine powder.
Game	A form of play or sport	Wild animals hunted for food	We played a fun board game last night.	The hunter spotted some game in the forest.
Grave	A place for burying the dead	Serious or critical	She visited her grandfather’s grave on his birthday.	The situation is very grave and requires immediate attention.
Gear	Equipment used for a specific purpose	A part of a machine that transmits motion	Don’t forget to pack your hiking gear.	Switch to a lower gear when driving uphill.
Goal	A target or objective	A point scored in sports	Her main goal is to become a doctor.	He scored the winning goal in the match.
Head	The upper part of the body	A leader or person in charge	He has a headache from bumping his head.	She is the head of the marketing department.
Harm	To injure or cause damage	A danger or threat	He promised not to harm the animals.	The policy was created to prevent harm to citizens.
Hand	A part of the body at the end of the arm	To give or pass something	He raised his hand to ask a question.	Please hand me the book on the table.
Hatch	To emerge from an egg	A small opening or door	The chicks will hatch in a few days.	He opened the hatch to check the attic.
Ink	A liquid used for writing or printing	To mark or write with ink	The printer ran out of ink.	She inked the document with her signature.
Issue	A subject or topic for discussion	To distribute or send out	We need to address the issue of the delay.	The office will issue new employee ID cards.
Index	A list or catalogue	A numerical indicator of something	The book has an index at the end.	The stock market index dropped today.
Iron	A metal element used in construction	An appliance for smoothing clothes	The iron was used to build the bridge.	She used the iron to press her shirt.
Incline	A slope or slant	To lean or bend towards something	The road has a steep incline.	He inclined his head to show respect.
Jam	A sweet spread made from fruit	A situation where things are stuck or blocked	She spread some jam on her toast.	The traffic was at a jam during rush hour.
Jog	A slow run for exercise	To push or move slightly	He goes for a jog every morning in the park.	Can you jog the memory of what happened yesterday?
Joint	A place where two parts meet or connect	A restaurant or casual business establishment	My knee joint hurts after the workout.	Let’s grab a burger at that new joint in town.
Judge	A person who makes legal decisions	To form an opinion or estimate	The judge ruled the case in her favor.	It’s not fair to judge someone without knowing the facts.
Jump	To leap off the ground	A sudden increase or change	The cat jumped over the fence.	The stock market saw a sharp jump today.
Knock	To strike a surface to make a sound	To criticize or speak negatively	She knocked on the door to get my attention.	He always knocks other people's ideas down.
Knot	A loop of rope or thread tied tightly	A complicated situation or problem	The knot in my shoelace is too tight to untie.	We need to solve this knot of issues before proceeding.
Kind	Having a caring and gentle nature	A type or variety of something	She is very kind to everyone she meets.	There are many kinds of flowers in the garden.
Keep	To hold onto or maintain possession of something	A strong, defensive building or structure	Can you keep this secret for me?	The keep of the castle was built centuries ago.
Kill	To cause death	To stop something from continuing	The hunter tried to kill the bear.	We need to kill time before the movie starts.
Lead	A heavy, malleable metal	To guide or direct	The pipes were made of lead in the old house.	He will lead the team to victory in the competition.
Lend	To give something temporarily	A type of loan or credit given to someone	Can you lend me a pencil?	The bank offers lend services to individuals in need of money.
Light	Visible brightness from a source like the sun	Not heavy; easy to carry	The light in the room is very bright.	This bag is very light, so I can carry it easily.
Live	To be alive	To broadcast in real-time	She wants to live a long, healthy life.	The concert will be streamed live on the internet.
Lock	A mechanism for fastening something shut	To fasten or secure something with a lock	Don't forget to check the lock on the door.	Make sure to lock your phone when you're not using it.
Match	A contest or competition	A small stick used to start a fire	The soccer match was exciting!	He lit the candle with a match.
Mine	Belonging to me	A place where minerals are extracted from the earth	This book is mine.	The workers are digging in the mine.
Matter	Physical substance or material	An issue or subject	The chair is made of hard matter.	We need to discuss this matter further.
Minute	A unit of time, equal to 60 seconds	Extremely small or detailed	It will take just a few minutes to finish the task.	He paid minute attention to every detail.
Model	A representation or replica of something	A person who displays fashion or designs	The architect showed the model of the new building.	She works as a model for a famous brand.
Net	A fabric or mesh used to catch things	The amount remaining after expenses	The fisherman cast the net into the water.	After taxes, my net income is lower than expected.
Notice	To observe or become aware of something	An announcement or alert	Did you notice the beautiful painting on the wall?	The company sent out a notice about the meeting time change.
Nap	A short sleep, especially during the day	A fabric texture, often on the surface of some fabrics	She took a short nap in the afternoon.	The sofa had a soft nap on its fabric.
Navigate	To plan and direct the route or course of a vehicle or vessel	To find one's way or deal with challenges	The captain will navigate the ship through the storm.	She learned how to navigate the complex system in her job.
Number	A mathematical value or symbol	A quantity or count of something	He wrote down the number on the paper.	There are a large number of books on the shelf.
Object	A thing that can be seen or touched	To express or feel disapproval	The object on the table is a beautiful vase.	He objected to the new rules at the meeting.
Off	Not operating or not active	To remove something from its place	The lights are turned off.	Please take the book off the shelf.
Offer	To present something to someone	A proposal or suggestion	He offered me a cup of tea.	They made an offer for the house.
Over	Located above or higher than something	To exceed or surpass	The picture is hanging over the fireplace.	The team won the match over the weekend.
Only	Alone or solely	Without exception	She is the only person I trust.	We have only 10 minutes left.
Park	A public green space for recreation	To bring a vehicle to a stop and leave it temporarily	The children are playing in the park.	She parked her car near the building.
Punch	A forceful blow or strike	A sweet, fruity beverage often served at parties	He threw a powerful punch at the bag.	They served tropical punch at the party.
Pitch	The quality of sound, often referring to its highness or lowness	To throw or toss something	The pitch of the singer’s voice was impressive.	He tried to pitch the ball to the batter.
Quarry	A place where stones or minerals are extracted from the ground	A hunted animal or prey	The workers are digging in the quarry for marble.	The lion chased its quarry through the grass.
Quarter	One-fourth of something	A section or area of a city or town	He gave me a quarter for the bus ride.	They live in the old quarter of the city.
Quack	The sound made by a duck	A fraudulent doctor or person claiming to have medical knowledge	The quack of the duck echoed through the pond.	The patient went to a quack doctor who gave bad advice.
Refuse	To decline or reject something	Waste material or garbage	She had to refuse the invitation due to other commitments.	He threw the refuse in the trash bin.
Read	To interpret written or printed words	The past tense of reading (pronounced differently)	She loves to read books in her free time.	He read the newspaper this morning.
Range	The scope or extent of something	A cooking stove or an area for outdoor activities	The range of topics in the conference was vast.	He cooked breakfast on the new range in the kitchen.
Scale	A device for measuring weight	The outer protective layer of a fish or reptile	He stepped on the scale to check his weight.	The fish has shiny scales on its body.
Season	A period of the year characterized by particular weather conditions	To add flavor to food with spices or herbs	Summer is my favorite season.	She likes to season her soup with salt and pepper.
Sign	A symbol, mark, or gesture used to represent something	To write your name on a document	The sign on the door says "Closed."	Please sign the form before you leave.
Sentence	A set of words that express a complete thought	A punishment given by a judge in court	He wrote a simple sentence in the essay.	The judge gave him a sentence of five years in prison.
Suit	A set of clothes worn for formal occasions	To be appropriate or fitting for something	He wore a black suit to the wedding.	Does this job suit your skills and interests?
Scale	A device for measuring weight	The outer protective layer of a fish or reptile	He stepped on the scale to check his weight.	The fish has shiny scales on its body.
Season	A period of the year characterized by particular weather conditions	To add flavor to food with spices or herbs	Summer is my favorite season.	She likes to season her soup with salt and pepper.
Sign	A symbol, mark, or gesture used to represent something	To write your name on a document	The sign on the door says "Closed."	Please sign the form before you leave.
Sentence	A set of words that express a complete thought	A punishment given by a judge in court	He wrote a simple sentence in the essay.	The judge gave him a sentence of five years in prison.
Suit	A set of clothes worn for formal occasions	To be appropriate or fitting for something	He wore a black suit to the wedding.	Does this job suit your skills and interests?
Tie	A piece of cloth worn around the neck, usually for formal occasions	To fasten or secure something with a knot	He wore a red tie to the meeting.	She tied her shoes before going for a walk.
Tank	A large container for holding liquid or gas	A heavily armored military vehicle	The fish are swimming in the tank.	The army used a tank in the battle.
Test	An exam or evaluation of knowledge or skill	To try or examine something to check its quality or functionality	She studied hard for the math test.	They tested the new phone for bugs.
Track	A path or course for moving or racing	To follow or monitor something	The runners are on the track for the race.	She tried to track the package online.
Unit	A single thing or object regarded as a part of a larger whole	A standard quantity used in measurement	Each unit of the set was carefully packed.	He measured the length in units of centimeters.
Up	Moving or positioned higher or to a higher place	To improve or increase in status or quality	She climbed up the ladder to reach the roof.	He worked hard to up his skills in tennis.
Urge	To strongly encourage someone to do something	A strong desire or impulse to do something	She urged him to take the job offer.	He felt an urge to travel and see the world.
Vocal	Relating to the voice or speech	Expressing opinions openly and loudly	She took vocal lessons to improve her singing skills.	He was very vocal about his views on the matter.
Wound	An injury to the body	The past tense of "wind" (to twist or turn)	He had a wound on his arm from the accident.	She wound the clock before going to bed.
Wave	A hand gesture to greet or say goodbye	A moving ridge of water, often caused by wind	She gave a wave to her friends as they left.	The waves crashed against the shore during the storm.
Well	In good health	A deep hole for obtaining water	She feels well after a good night’s sleep.	The children drew water from the well in the village.
Watch	A small timepiece worn on the wrist	To look at something attentively	He bought a new watch for his birthday.	She likes to watch movies on weekends.
Waste	To use something carelessly or inefficiently	Material discarded after use	Don’t waste your time on trivial matters.	We need to dispose of the waste properly.
Yarn	Thread used for knitting or weaving	A long, often exaggerated story	She bought some colorful yarn for knitting a sweater.	He told a long yarn about his travels across the world.
Zip	A fastener used for closing clothing or bags	To move quickly or with speed	She closed the jacket with a zip after the rain started.	He zipped across the street before the light turned red.

Final Thoughts

Homographs may seem tricky at first, but with practice, they can become your favorite part of learning English! Keep practicing, and soon you’ll master them.