1. Homographs: These words have the same spelling but different pronunciations and meanings.
* Examples:
* bow (to bend) vs. bow (a weapon)
* lead (a metal) vs. lead (to guide)
* read (present tense) vs. read (past tense)
2. Homophones: These words have the same pronunciation but different spellings and meanings.
* Examples:
* to/too/two
* there/their/they're
* hear/here
* write/right
3. Perfect Homonyms: These words have the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings. This is the most restrictive category and is often used interchangeably with "homonym".
* Examples:
* bat (an animal) vs. bat (a piece of sporting equipment)
* bank (a financial institution) vs. bank (the edge of a river)
* minute (a unit of time) vs. minute (tiny)
It is important to note that the classification of homonyms can be complex and there may be some overlap between the categories. Some words might fit into multiple categories, depending on the context.