Definition

Referring to words that have the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings.

Example

The word 'bat' is homonymous because it can mean both a flying mammal and a piece of sports equipment.

Conversation

Did you know that the word 'bat' is homonymous with both a flying animal and a sports equipment?

I never thought about that! It's interesting how one word can have so many meanings.

Exactly! It makes learning English a bit tricky with all these homonymous words.

True, but it also makes it more fun to discover the different uses.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Homonymous → It is formed from "homo-" (from Greek "homos", meaning same) and "onymos" (from Greek "onuma", meaning name). The word "homonymous" refers to words that have the same name or sound the same but have different meanings.

Memory Tip

Think of 'same' ('homo-') and 'name' ('onymos') to remember that 'homonymous' describes words that sound alike but mean different things.

Visually Confused Words