homoniem

Homoniem is a term used in linguistics to describe words that have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings. These words can sometimes cause confusion in language because their identical form can lead to misinterpretation. For example, the word "bank" can refer to a financial institution or the side of a river. Similarly, "bat" can be an animal or a piece of sports equipment.

The concept of homonymy is distinct from homophones, which sound alike but have different spellings and meanings (e.g., "to," "too," and "two"), and homographs, which are spelled alike but may have different pronunciations and meanings (e.g., "lead" as a metal and "lead" as a verb). True homonyms share both spelling and pronunciation.

Identifying homonyms is important for understanding the nuances of a language and for accurate communication. Dictionaries often provide multiple definitions for a single entry when it represents a homonym, helping readers to distinguish between the different meanings based on context. The presence of homonyms is a common feature across many languages, contributing to their richness and complexity.