Understanding Homographs: Examples and Confusions

A homograph is a word that is spelled the same as another word but has a different meaning. For example, "bass" can refer to a type of fish or to the low-pitched sound of a musical instrument.

Here are some examples of homographs:

1. Bass (fish) / bass (low-pitched sound)
2. Bear (animal) / bear (to carry or endure)
3. Bow (ribbon) / bow (to bend or curve)
4. Cite (to quote) / sight (the ability to see)
5. Deer (animals) / dear (beloved)
6. Flair (natural talent or aptitude) / flare (a sudden burst of flame or light)
7. Hair (hair on the human body) / hare (a long-legged, fast-moving mammal)
8. Heir (a person who will inherit property or a title) / air (the substance we breathe)
9. Knife (a cutting instrument) / knight (a medieval warrior)
10. Know (to be aware of something) / no (a negative response)

Homographs can be confusing, but they are not the same as homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings. For example, "to", "too", and "two" are homophones, but "bass" and "bear" are homographs.