Here's a breakdown:
* Same pronunciation: The key characteristic of a homonym is that it has the same sound as another word.
* Different meaning: The two words have distinct meanings, even though they sound the same.
* Spelling: Homonyms can be classified based on their spelling:
* Homographs: These homonyms are spelled the same, like "bear" (the animal) and "bear" (to carry).
* Heterographs: These homonyms are spelled differently, like "to, too, and two".
Examples of homonyms:
* Bear (animal) - Bear (to carry)
* See (to view) - Sea (body of water)
* Write (to put words on paper) - Right (correct)
* To (preposition) - Too (also) - Two (number)
* Flower (a bloom) - Flour (powdered grain)
Homonyms can be confusing, but they also add richness and complexity to the English language!