* Homograph: Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and sometimes different pronunciations.
* Example: "bow" (a weapon) and "bow" (to bend)
* Homophone: Words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings.
* Example: "to" and "too" and "two"
* Homonym: This term is often used interchangeably with "homograph" and "homophone." However, technically, it refers to both homographs and homophones. So, it encompasses words that are spelled the same, sound the same, or both.
* Example: "bear" (an animal) and "bear" (to carry) are both homonyms because they are spelled the same and sound the same.
Here's a table to summarize:
| Term | Description | Example |
|-----------|---------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Homograph | Same spelling, different meanings (may sound different) | "bow" (weapon) and "bow" (bend) |
| Homophone | Same sound, different spelling and meaning | "to," "too," and "two" |
| Homonym | Same spelling, same sound, different meaning | "bear" (animal) and "bear" (carry) |
Remember, it's important to pay attention to the context of a word to understand its intended meaning, especially when dealing with homographs and homophones!