HOMONYMS

There are generally two types of word categories for homonyms. There are
the homographs, which are words that are spelled alike but have very
different meanings. For example, the words bear and bear. One can bear a
heavy load, and the 500-pound bear is a heavy load. Another example is the
word bat, as in a wooden stick, used to protect yourself from the rabid bat
flying into your hair, causing you to shell out change in your pocket to pay
for the change in your hairstyle. Homographs are spelled the same but with
two completely different meanings. For realtime purposes, homographs
need not be written differently on our machines but, rather, it is advised to
know their definitions for proper word usage.

The second category of homonyms is homophones. The words sound

exactly the same, but they are spelled differently. And for realtime purposes,
they absolutely MUST be written differently on our machines.

The following is a list of 25 frequently used homophones, their definitions,

and how they can be differentiated through writing them differently on our
machines. When using the asterisk for differentiation, you want to apply it
to the homophonic word used the least and always for proper names. Of
course, our writing styles may differ, but you can apply your own techniques
for differentiation, whatever works for you.

ant – an insect – APBT

aunt – a relative – AUPBT

beat – to pound - PWAOET

beet – a vegetable - PWAO*ET

bare – uncovered or naked – PWA*EUR

bear – an animal – PWAEUR

sale – a discounted price – SAEUL

sail – powered by wind – SA*EUL

made – to make – PHAEUD

maid – a servant – PHA*EUD
loan – to lend – HROEPB
lone – solitary – HRO*EPB

pain – hurt – PAEUPB

Payne – a last name – PA*EUPB
pane – window glass – PAEBP

know – to have knowledge – TPHOE

no – opposite of yes – TPHO

knot – tied rope – TPHO*T

not – negative - TPHOT

weight – a measureable load – WA*EUT

wait – to kill time – WAEUT

male – opposite of female - PHAEL

mail – postal delivery – PHA*EUL

seen – viewed – SAOEPB

scene – landscape – SAO*EPB

rose – flower – ROEZ

rows – lines – RO*EZ

plain – ordinary – PHRA*EUPB

plane – aircraft or flat surface – PHRAEPB

steel – a hard alloy – STAOEL

steal – to swipe – STAEL

see – observe with eyes – SAOE

sea – body of water – SA*E or SAO*E

tail – hindmost part of an animal - TAEUL

tale – a story – TA*EUL

their – belonging to them - THAEUR

there – at that place - THR
they’re – they are – THAER
right – correct or opposite of left – RAOEUT
write – to scribble – WRAOEUT or RAO*EUT (brief stroke – WREU)
Wright – a last name – WRAO*EUT

sole – single – SOEL

soul – spirit or essence – SOUL
Seoul – city in Korea – SO*EL

role – function - ROEL

roll – to rotate - ROL

some – a few – SOPH (brief stroke – SPH)

sum – an amount - SUPH

meat – animal protein – PHAET

meet – to get together – PHAOET

peace – calm – PAES

piece – a portion – PAOES

poor – no money – PAOR

pore – a small opening in the skin – PO*R
pour – make flow – POR