Myriora English › Words › Chapter 2: How words relate

Homographs

Ages 9–11Chapter 2 · Lesson 5

In this lesson

Homographs are spelt the same but mean different things.
Some are even said differently.
Read the whole sentence to find the meaning.
And homophones sound the same, but homographs are spelt the same.

Your turn

Which word fits both? A diamond blank on your finger, and to blank a bell.

Show the answer

Ring! A ring on your finger, and to ring a bell.

The common mistake

Here's a common mistake. Mixing up homographs and homophones. Here and hear sound the same, but they're spelt differently, so they're homophones. Homographs are spelt the same, like the two bats.

Try it at home

Double-meaning riddles: one person gives two meanings (a dog's sound, a tree's skin) and the other finds the one word for both (bark). Take turns making your own.

Read the whole lesson

Hello, and welcome to Myriora English! Some words are spelt exactly the same, but have different meanings. They're called homographs. A bat can be an animal, or the thing you hit a ball with.

Some homographs are even said differently. Look at this word. When you bend forward to say thank you, it rhymes with cow. When it ties a ribbon, it rhymes with go. And this one rhymes with ear when it falls from your eye, but with bear when you rip paper.

So how do you know which meaning? Read the whole sentence. The dog began to bark. The bark of the tree was rough. Same word, but the rest of the sentence tells you which one.

Let's try one together. Which word means a game of football, and a little stick you strike to make a flame? Say it out loud!

The word is match! A football match, and a match to light a candle. Well done if you said match!

Here's a common mistake. Mixing up homographs and homophones. Here and hear sound the same, but they're spelt differently, so they're homophones. Homographs are spelt the same, like the two bats.

Your turn! Which word fits both? A diamond blank on your finger, and to blank a bell. Pick the right card. You've got eight seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! Ring! A ring on your finger, and to ring a bell.

Quick review. Homographs are spelt the same but mean different things. Some are even said differently. Read the whole sentence to find the meaning. And homophones sound the same, but homographs are spelt the same. See you next time!