Which term describes words like 'sea' and 'see'?

Which term describes words like 'sea' and 'see'?

• A. Homonym
• B. Homophone
• C. Homograph
• D. Hyponym

Answer: (B)

Words that are pronounced the same but have different spellings and meanings are called homophones. Sea and see fit this category because they sound identical in most dialects, yet they have different meanings and spellings: sea refers to the ocean, while see means to perceive with the eyes. The focus here is on the sound, not the spelling, so homophone is the precise term. A homograph would involve the same spelling with different meanings, which isn’t the case. A hyponym is a more specific term within a broader category, which isn’t about pronunciation. A homonym can be used in some contexts to mean words that sound alike, but the clearest label for this pair is homophone.