Homographs: Same Spelling, Different Words

Read homographs correctly by using the sentence to decide meaning and pronunciation.

Homographs are words spelled the same but with different meanings, and sometimes different pronunciations. 'Wind' can be moving air (rhymes with 'pinned') or to turn something (rhymes with 'find'). 'Tear' can be a drop from your eye or to rip. 'Lead' can mean to guide (rhymes with 'need') or a soft gray metal (rhymes with 'bed'). You cannot tell from the spelling, so the sentence must tell you.

Read: 'Wind the string before the strong wind blows the kite away. ' The first 'wind' is an action, to turn, said with a long i. The second is moving air, said with a short i. Ask: Is this word an action or a thing here?

• 1Homographs share a spelling but differ in meaning.
• 2Some are said differently too (wind, tear, lead).
• 3The sentence tells you which word it is.