Why are polish and Polish spelled the same?

You're right to notice the potential for confusion! It's because of how English works, and it has to do with:

* Capitalization: "Polish" with a capital "P" refers to the nationality or language, while "polish" with a lowercase "p" means to make something shine or smooth.

* Homographs: These are words spelled the same but have different meanings. They're common in English and can sometimes be tricky!

Think of it like this:

* Polish (capital "P"): "I speak Polish."

* polish (lowercase "p"): "I'm going to polish my shoes."

It's like "bear" (the animal) and "bear" (to carry). Context is key!