* Homonym: This is the most common and general term. It refers to words that sound alike and are spelled alike, but have different meanings.
* Homograph: This term applies specifically to words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and may or may not be pronounced the same.
* Homophone: This term applies to words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings.
For example:
* "Bat" is a homonym because it can refer to a nocturnal flying mammal or a piece of equipment used in baseball.
* "Bat" (the mammal) and "bat" (the baseball equipment) are both homographs because they are spelled the same but pronounced differently.
* "To, too, and two" are homophones because they sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
Therefore, the most accurate term to use will depend on the specific relationship between the two meanings of the word.