Homonym facts for kids

A homonym is a special kind of word. It's a word that sounds the same and is spelled the same as another word, but it has a completely different meaning! Think of it like two different words that just happen to look and sound identical.

For example, the word right can mean several things. It can mean something is correct or moral. It can also mean the opposite of left, like your right hand. And it can even mean a freedom or a privilege, like your right to speak freely. All these meanings use the same word, right, making it a homonym.

What are Homonyms?

Homonyms are words that share the same spelling and the same sound, but their meanings are not related at all. The word "homonym" comes from Greek words: "homos" meaning "same" and "onoma" meaning "name." So, it literally means "same name."

Homophones and Homographs

Homonyms are special because they are both homophones and homographs.

• Homophones are words that sound the same but might be spelled differently and have different meanings. For example, "to," "too," and "two" are homophones.
• Homographs are words that are spelled the same but might sound different and have different meanings. For example, "read" (present tense) and "read" (past tense) are homographs.

Since homonyms both sound the same and are spelled the same, they fit into both groups!

Fun Examples of Homonyms

Let's look at some common homonyms you might know:

• Bat: This can be a piece of sports equipment used in baseball, or it can be a flying animal that comes out at night.
• Bank: This can be a place where you keep your money, or it can be the side of a river.
• Bear: This can be a large, furry animal, or it can mean to carry or support something, like "bear the weight."
• Fair: This can mean something is just or equal, or it can be a fun outdoor event with rides and games.
• Light: This can be the opposite of heavy, or it can be the brightness that helps you see.
• Match: This can be a small stick used to start a fire, or it can mean two things that go well together.
• Park: This can be a place with trees and grass where you can relax, or it can mean to stop your car.
• Rose: This can be a beautiful flower, or it can be the past tense of "rise," meaning to stand up.

How to Understand Homonyms

When you see a homonym, how do you know which meaning is being used? You have to look at the other words in the sentence. This is called understanding the context. The words around the homonym give you clues about its meaning.

For example:

• "I went to the bank to deposit money." (Here, "bank" means the financial institution.)
• "The boat was tied to the bank of the river." (Here, "bank" means the land beside the river.)

The surrounding words like "deposit money" or "boat" and "river" help you figure out the correct meaning of "bank."

Why are Homonyms Important?

Homonyms can sometimes be tricky, but they also make language interesting! They show how flexible words can be. Understanding homonyms helps you become a better reader and writer. It also helps you understand jokes and puns, which often play on words with multiple meanings.

Images for kids

• 

  A friendly robot thinking about words.