Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. For learners, the important ones also change their pronunciation, like the noun REcord and the verb reCORD, or live /lɪv/ and live /laɪv/. You choose the right sound from the grammar and the meaning of the sentence.
What are homographs?
A homograph is a word that looks exactly like another word but means something different. Bank (the place for money) and bank (the side of a river) are homographs, and they sound the same.
When people search for homographs as a pronunciation problem, they usually mean something narrower: words with the same spelling that are said differently. Teachers sometimes call these heteronyms. This is the group that catches learners out, because the spelling gives you no help. You must decide which sound to use from the sentence.
There are two main patterns. In the first, the moves. In the second, a sound changes. Both are common in IELTS topics such as the environment, technology and work.
Pattern 1: the stress moves between noun and verb
In many two- words, the noun has its strong syllable first and the verb has it second. The strong syllable is longer, louder and higher in pitch. The other syllable becomes short and weak, often with a quiet like or .
So we say 'There was an INcrease in prices' but 'Prices will inCREASE'. The spelling is identical. Only the tells the listener which word you mean.
This pattern is useful, but it is a tendency and not a law. Some pairs keep the same stress, such as visit, answer and promise. When you meet a new word, check a dictionary for the stress mark.
- an INcrease /ˈɪŋkriːs/ (noun) · to inCREASE /ɪnˈkriːs/ (verb)
- a REcord /ˈrekɔːd/ (noun) · to reCORD /rɪˈkɔːd/ (verb)
- a PREsent /ˈpreznt/ (noun, a gift) · to preSENT /prɪˈzent/ (verb)
- the PROduce /ˈprɒdjuːs/ (noun, fruit and vegetables) · to proDUCE /prəˈdjuːs/ (verb)
- a CONflict /ˈkɒnflɪkt/ (noun) · to conFLICT /kənˈflɪkt/ (verb)
Pattern 2: the vowel sound changes
In the second group, the stays where it is, but the or a changes. Here the meaning decides the sound, not the alone.
Read the whole sentence before you say the word. 'The pipes are made of lead' uses the metal, /led/. 'She will lead the team' uses the verb, /liːd/. If you have not understood the sentence, you cannot choose the sound.
- live /lɪv/: I live in Leeds. · live /laɪv/: a live concert
- lead /liːd/: to lead a team · lead /led/: the metal
- read /riːd/: I read every day. · read /red/: I read it yesterday.
- wind /wɪnd/: a strong wind · wind /waɪnd/: to wind a clock
- close /kləʊs/: very close to the station · close /kləʊz/: to close the door
- use /juːs/: the use of phones · use /juːz/: to use a phone
- minute /ˈmɪnɪt/: sixty seconds · minute /maɪˈnjuːt/: very small
How to choose the right sound
Ask two quick questions. First, what is the word doing in the sentence? After the, a, an or my, it is usually a noun. After to, will or must, it is usually a verb. Second, what does it mean here?
Then say the whole phrase, not the word alone. 'A new record' and 'to record a song' are easier to say than the word record on its own, because the rhythm of the phrase helps you place the .
- Look at the words before it: the, a, my, this (noun) or to, will, can (verb).
- Check the stress mark in a dictionary: the mark sits before the strong .
- Say the phrase aloud with the strong syllable long and the weak syllable short.
- Keep a small list of your own homographs from your reading and add the sentence you found them in.
More pairs worth knowing
These words appear often in academic topics. Learn each one with a short phrase, not alone, so the and the meaning stay together.
Notice that in each pair the verb is the one with the weak first . A weak first syllable sounds like /rɪ/, /prə/, /kən/ or /dɪ/, never like a full .
- a CONtract /ˈkɒntrækt/ (an agreement) and to conTRACT /kənˈtrækt/ (to get smaller)
- an OBject /ˈɒbdʒɪkt/ (a thing) and to obJECT /əbˈdʒekt/ (to disagree)
- a DEsert /ˈdezət/ (dry land) and to deSERT /dɪˈzɜːt/ (to leave)
- REfuse /ˈrefjuːs/ (rubbish) and to reFUSE /rɪˈfjuːz/ (to say no)
- a PERmit /ˈpɜːmɪt/ (a document) and to perMIT /pəˈmɪt/ (to allow)
Practise it in context
Make short pairs of sentences and say them aloud, one after the other: 'The export of tea is growing. Many countries export tea.' Listen for the strong moving. Record yourself if you can.
Do not exaggerate the weak syllable until it disappears. It should be short and quiet, but it should still be there.
Remember that most homographs sound the same, like bank, bat and light. You do not need to worry about these. Only the words in the lists above change their sound.
How to make the sound
- Say the strong longer, louder and a little higher.
- Say the weak syllable quickly with a relaxed tongue and mouth: or .
- Move the strong syllable and keep the same speed: INcrease, then inCREASE.
- Say each pair in a short sentence so the rhythm helps you.
IELTS tip
In Speaking Part 3 you often talk about change, so you will say 'an increase' and 'to increase' many times, and the same pattern applies to many other words you use when you describe trends. Put the stress on the right each time. Saying the sentence with natural stress is more important than saying one word perfectly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between homographs and homophones?
Homographs are spelled the same. Homophones sound the same but are spelled differently, like write and right.
Do all homographs sound different?
No. Bank (money) and bank (river) sound the same. The ones that sound different, like lead and live, are the pronunciation problem.
Is there a rule for noun and verb pairs?
In many two- pairs the noun is first and the verb second, but there are exceptions such as visit and promise. Check a dictionary when you are not sure.
What if I choose the wrong sound?
Listeners will usually work it out from the sentence, but wrong stress can slow them down. It is worth learning the common pairs.
Sources
- Roach, P. (2009). English Phonetics and Phonology: A Practical Course (4th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- Cruttenden, A. (2014). Gimson's Pronunciation of English (8th ed.). Routledge.