Which term is defined as words that are written and pronounced the same but have different meanings?

Which term is defined as words that are written and pronounced the same but have different meanings?

• A. Homonym
• B. Synonym
• C. Polyseme
• D. Antonym

Answer: (A)

Understand how word relationships are defined by form and meaning. When two words are written and pronounced the same but carry different meanings, they’re homonyms. The shared spelling and pronunciation together with distinct senses is the key idea here, and that’s what this term captures. For example, bat can refer to the animal or to a piece of sports equipment, and both forms sound and look the same yet point to different ideas. Synonyms are words with similar meanings, so they don’t fit. Antonyms are opposite meanings, not about identical form. A polyseme is one word with multiple related meanings, whereas homonyms are separate meanings for the same form. So the term described is homonym.

Understand how word relationships are defined by form and meaning. When two words are written and pronounced the same but carry different meanings, they’re homonyms. The shared spelling and pronunciation together with distinct senses is the key idea here, and that’s what this term captures. For example, bat can refer to the animal or to a piece of sports equipment, and both forms sound and look the same yet point to different ideas. Synonyms are words with similar meanings, so they don’t fit. Antonyms are opposite meanings, not about identical form. A polyseme is one word with multiple related meanings, whereas homonyms are separate meanings for the same form. So the term described is homonym.