* Constantly Changing: The English language is constantly evolving. New words are coined, old words fall out of use, and meanings shift over time. This means the number of homonyms is always fluctuating.
* Different Definitions: What constitutes a homonym depends on your definition. Some people consider only perfect homonyms (words that are spelled the same and sound the same but have different meanings, like "bear" the animal and "bear" to carry). Others might include homophones (words that sound the same but are spelled differently, like "to" and "too").
* Context Matters: Even words that sound the same might not be considered homonyms if they are always used in different contexts. For example, "right" as in "right hand" and "right" as in "correct" are rarely used interchangeably.
Instead of a specific number, it's more accurate to say that there are many homonyms in the English language. This makes it a rich and sometimes confusing language!