* Sound Change: Languages are constantly changing, with sounds shifting and words evolving. Sometimes, words that were originally distinct in pronunciation end up sounding the same, even though they have different meanings.
* Borrowing: Languages borrow words from other languages. These borrowed words can sometimes sound like existing words in the language, creating homophones.
* Coincidence: It's also possible for words to develop similar sounds purely by chance.
Think of it this way: homophones are like two rivers flowing independently but eventually merging into a single stream. They were separate, but through the course of time, they've converged.
So, while no single person "invented" homophones, we can thank the natural evolution of language for creating these fun and sometimes tricky word pairs!