Homonym

In linguistics, a homonym is one of a group of words that share the same spelling or
pronunciation (or both) but have different meanings. The state of being a homonym is
called homonymy. Examples of homonyms are stalk (which can mean either part of a
plant or to follow someone around) and the trio of words to, too and two (actually, to, to,
too, too and two, being "for the purpose of" as in "to make it easier", the opposite of
"from", also, excessively, and "2", respectively). Some sources state that homonym
meanings must be unrelated in origin (rather than just different). Thus right (correct) and
right (opposed to left) would be polysemous (see below) and not be homonyms.

Note that some sources define homonyms as words that are spelled and pronounced alike.
There is a similar confusion about the definition of some of the related terms described
below. This article explains what appear to be the "standard" meanings, and variant
definitions are then summarised under "Terminological confusion".

The word "homonym" comes from the conjunction of the Greek prefix homo- (meaning
same) and suffix -onym (meaning name). Thus, it refers to two or more distinct words
sharing the "same name".

• Homography. Homographs are homonyms that share the same spelling.

Homographs may be pronounced the same, in which case they are also
homophones – for example, bark (the sound of a dog) and bark (the skin of a
tree). Alternatively they may be pronounced differently, in which case they are
also heteronyms – for example, row (argument) and row (propel with oars).
("Homograph" also has a specialised meaning in typography, where it may be
used as a synonym for homoglyph.)

• Homophony. Homophones are homonyms that share the same pronunciation.

Homophones may be spelled the same (in which case they are also homographs)
or spelled differently (in which case they are heterographs). Homographic
examples include desert (to abandon) and desert (a thing deserved).
Heterographic examples include to, too, two, and there, their, they’re.

• Heteronymy. Heteronyms are homonyms that share the same spelling but have
different pronunciations. That is, they are homographs which are not
homophones. Such words include desert (to abandon) and desert (arid region).
Heteronyms are also sometimes called heterophones. ("Heteronym" also has a
specialized meaning in poetry; see Heteronym (literature).)

• Polysemy. Polysemes are words with the same spelling and distinct but related
meanings. The distinction between polysemy and homonymy is often subtle and
subjective, and not all sources consider polysemous words to be homonyms.
 Words such as "mouth", meaning either the orifice on one's face, or the opening of
a cave or river, are polysemous and may or may not be considered homonyms.

• Capitonymy. Capitonyms are homonyms that share the same spelling but have
different meanings when capitalized (and may or may not have different
pronunciations). Such words include polish (to make shiny) and Polish (from
Poland).

In derivation, homograph means "same writing", homophone means "same sound",

heteronym (somewhat confusingly) means "different name", and heterophone means
"different sound".