🔀 Heteronyms

Heteronyms are words that are spelled identically but pronounced differently and carry different meanings. Lead can be the metal or the verb “to guide.” Tear can be a drop from the eye or the act of ripping. The spelling stays the same; only the sound and the sense change. Context tells listeners which meaning is intended.

The common heteronyms below show both (or all) versions, with clear examples of each. Note: The audio buttons use your device’s built-in speech engine. Some heteronyms may not be pronounced correctly depending on the browser or operating system. When in doubt, check a reliable dictionary for the accurate pronunciation of each meaning.

🔀 Same Spelling, Different Sound & Meaning

🔩 Lead

1. The soft, heavy metal.
2. To guide or go first.

Examples:
The old pipes were made of lead.
She will lead the discussion this afternoon.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Plomo / guiar
1. El metal blando y pesado. 2. Guiar o ir delante.
🇫🇷 French: Plomb / diriger
1. Le métal mou et lourd. 2. Guider ou aller en tête.
🇩🇪 German: Blei / führen
1. Das weiche, schwere Metall. 2. Führen oder vorangehen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Piombo / guidare
1. Il metallo morbido e pesante. 2. Guidare o andare avanti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Chumbo / liderar
1. O metal macio e pesado. 2. Guiar ou ir na frente.


💡 Nuance: One meaning refers to the metal; the other is the verb (and the noun meaning “front position”).
😢 Tear

1. A drop of liquid from the eye.
2. To rip or pull apart.

Examples:
A single tear ran down his cheek.
Be careful not to tear the paper.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lágrima / rasgar
1. Una gota del ojo. 2. Rasgar o romper.
🇫🇷 French: Larme / déchirer
1. Une goutte de l’œil. 2. Déchirer.
🇩🇪 German: Träne / zerreißen
1. Ein Tropfen aus dem Auge. 2. Zerreißen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Lacrima / strappare
1. Una goccia dall’occhio. 2. Strappare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lágrima / rasgar
1. Uma gota do olho. 2. Rasgar.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is the liquid from the eye; the other is the action of ripping.
🙇 Bow

1. To bend the body forward as a sign of respect; also the front of a ship.
2. The weapon that shoots arrows; also a decorative knot or the stick used to play stringed instruments.

Examples:
The actors came forward to bow at the end of the play.
He drew the bow and released the arrow.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Inclinar / arco
1. Inclinar el cuerpo en señal de respeto; también la proa. 2. El arma que dispara flechas; también un lazo o el arco de un instrumento.
🇫🇷 French: S’incliner / arc
1. S’incliner par respect ; aussi la proue. 2. L’arme qui tire des flèches ; aussi un nœud ou l’archet.
🇩🇪 German: Verbeugen / Bogen
1. Sich verbeugen; auch der Bug. 2. Die Waffe, die Pfeile schießt; auch eine Schleife oder der Geigenbogen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Inchinarsi / arco
1. Inchinarsi in segno di rispetto; anche la prua. 2. L’arma che lancia frecce; anche un fiocco o l’archetto.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Inclinar-se / arco
1. Inclinar o corpo em sinal de respeito; também a proa. 2. A arma que dispara flechas; também um laço ou o arco de um instrumento.


💡 Nuance: One group of meanings involves bending or the front of a ship; the other involves the weapon, a knot, or a musical bow.
💨 Wind

1. Moving air.
2. To turn or twist something (a clock, a path, a string).

Examples:
The wind shook the windows all night.
You need to wind the clock once a week.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Viento / dar cuerda
1. Aire en movimiento. 2. Girar o enrollar algo (un reloj, un camino, un hilo).
🇫🇷 French: Vent / remonter
1. Air en mouvement. 2. Tourner ou enrouler (une horloge, un chemin, une ficelle).
🇩🇪 German: Wind / aufziehen
1. Bewegte Luft. 2. Drehen oder wickeln (eine Uhr, einen Weg, eine Schnur).
🇮🇹 Italian: Vento / caricare
1. Aria in movimento. 2. Girare o avvolgere (un orologio, un sentiero, un filo).
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Vento / dar corda
1. Ar em movimento. 2. Girar ou enrolar (um relógio, um caminho, um fio).


💡 Nuance: One meaning is the moving air; the other is the action of turning or twisting.
🎸 Bass

1. A type of fish.
2. The low male singing voice or the low-pitched instrument and sound range.

Examples:
They caught a large sea bass in the water.
He plays bass in the jazz quartet.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Lubina / bajo
1. Un tipo de pez. 2. La voz grave masculina o el instrumento y registro graves.
🇫🇷 French: Bar / basse
1. Un type de poisson. 2. La voix grave masculine ou l’instrument et le registre graves.
🇩🇪 German: Barsch / Bass
1. Eine Fischart. 2. Die tiefe Männerstimme oder das tiefe Instrument und der tiefe Tonbereich.
🇮🇹 Italian: Spigola / basso
1. Un tipo di pesce. 2. La voce grave maschile o lo strumento e il registro gravi.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Robalo / baixo
1. Um tipo de peixe. 2. A voz grave masculina ou o instrumento e a faixa grave.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is the fish; the other belongs to music (voice or instrument).
🚣 Row

1. A straight line of things; also to move a boat with oars.
2. A noisy quarrel or argument.

Examples:
Please sit in the front row.
They had a big row about the schedule.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Fila / pelea
1. Una línea de cosas; también remar. 2. Una discusión ruidosa.
🇫🇷 French: Rangée / dispute
1. Une ligne de choses ; aussi ramer. 2. Une dispute bruyante.
🇩🇪 German: Reihe / Streit
1. Eine gerade Linie von Dingen; auch rudern. 2. Ein lauter Streit.
🇮🇹 Italian: Fila / lite
1. Una linea di cose; anche remare. 2. Una lite rumorosa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Fila / briga
1. Uma linha de coisas; também remar. 2. Uma briga barulhenta.


💡 Nuance: One set of meanings involves an orderly line or moving a boat; the other is a noisy argument (more common in British English).
⏱️ Minute

1. Sixty seconds, or a very short stretch of time.
2. Extremely small.

Examples:
The meeting will start in one minute.
There were minute traces of the substance on the surface.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Minuto / minúsculo
1. Sesenta segundos, o un rato muy corto. 2. Extremadamente pequeño.
🇫🇷 French: Minute / minuscule
1. Soixante secondes, ou un très court moment. 2. Extrêmement petit.
🇩🇪 German: Minute / winzig
1. Sechzig Sekunden, oder ein sehr kurzer Zeitraum. 2. Extrem klein.
🇮🇹 Italian: Minuto / minuscolo
1. Sessanta secondi, o un attimo. 2. Estremamente piccolo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Minuto / minúsculo
1. Sessenta segundos, ou um intervalo muito curto. 2. Extremamente pequeno.


💡 Nuance: One meaning refers to time; the other means extremely small.
📦 Object

1. A physical thing that can be seen or touched.
2. To express disagreement or protest.

Examples:
The object on the table was an old camera.
Several people object to the new proposal.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Objeto / objetar
1. Una cosa física que se puede ver o tocar. 2. Expresar desacuerdo o protestar.
🇫🇷 French: Objet / s’opposer
1. Une chose physique que l’on peut voir ou toucher. 2. Exprimer un désaccord ou protester.
🇩🇪 German: Gegenstand / einwenden
1. Ein greifbares Ding. 2. Widersprechen oder protestieren.
🇮🇹 Italian: Oggetto / obiettare
1. Una cosa fisica che si può vedere o toccare. 2. Esprimere disaccordo o protestare.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Objeto / objetar
1. Uma coisa física que se pode ver ou tocar. 2. Expressar desacordo ou protestar.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is a physical thing; the other is the act of expressing disagreement.
🎁 Present

1. A gift; also, existing or happening now.
2. To introduce, show, or formally offer something.

Examples:
She brought a small present to the party.
Please present your findings to the committee.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Regalo / presentar
1. Un regalo; también, lo que existe o ocurre ahora. 2. Presentar, mostrar u ofrecer formalmente.
🇫🇷 French: Cadeau / présenter
1. Un cadeau ; aussi, ce qui existe ou se passe maintenant. 2. Présenter, montrer ou offrir formellement.
🇩🇪 German: Geschenk / vorstellen
1. Ein Geschenk; auch das, was jetzt ist. 2. Vorstellen, zeigen oder formell anbieten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Regalo / presentare
1. Un regalo; anche, ciò che esiste o accade ora. 2. Presentare, mostrare o offrire formalmente.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Presente / apresentar
1. Um presente; também, o que existe ou acontece agora. 2. Apresentar, mostrar ou oferecer formalmente.


💡 Nuance: One set of meanings covers a gift or the current time; the other is the verb meaning to introduce or show.
🏜️ Desert

1. A dry, barren region with little rainfall.
2. To abandon a person or place.

Examples:
They crossed the desert at night to avoid the heat.
He would never dessert his friends in a crisis.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Desierto / desertar
1. Una región seca y árida con poca lluvia. 2. Abandonar a una persona o un lugar.
🇫🇷 French: Désert / déserter
1. Une région sèche et aride avec peu de pluie. 2. Abandonner une personne ou un lieu.
🇩🇪 German: Wüste / im Stich lassen
1. Eine trockene, karge Gegend mit wenig Regen. 2. Eine Person oder einen Ort im Stich lassen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Deserto / abbandonare
1. Una regione secca e arida con poca pioggia. 2. Abbandonare una persona o un luogo.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Deserto / desertar
1. Uma região seca e árida com pouca chuva. 2. Abandonar uma pessoa ou um lugar.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is the dry land; the other is the verb “to abandon.” (Note: “dessert” with a double “s” is the sweet course.)
😊 Content

1. Satisfied and happy with what one has.
2. The material or information contained in something (a book, website, speech, etc.).

Examples:
She felt content after a quiet day at home.
The website’s content is updated every week.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Contento / contenido
1. Satisfecho y feliz con lo que se tiene. 2. El material o la información que hay dentro de algo.
🇫🇷 French: Content / contenu
1. Satisfait et heureux de ce que l’on a. 2. Le matériel ou l’information contenu dans quelque chose.
🇩🇪 German: Zufrieden / Inhalt
1. Zufrieden mit dem, was man hat. 2. Der Inhalt von etwas.
🇮🇹 Italian: Contento / contenuto
1. Soddisfatto e felice di ciò che si ha. 2. Il materiale o le informazioni contenute in qualcosa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Contente / conteúdo
1. Satisfeito e feliz com o que se tem. 2. O material ou a informação contida em algo.


💡 Nuance: One meaning describes a feeling of satisfaction; the other refers to the actual material inside something.
🥦 Produce

1. Fresh fruit and vegetables.
2. To make, create, or bring something into existence.

Examples:
The market had excellent fresh produce this morning.
The factory can produce two thousand units a day.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Productos frescos / producir
1. Fruta y verdura frescas. 2. Hacer, crear o dar existencia a algo.
🇫🇷 French: Produits frais / produire
1. Fruits et légumes frais. 2. Fabriquer, créer ou faire exister quelque chose.
🇩🇪 German: Obst und Gemüse / herstellen
1. Frisches Obst und Gemüse. 2. Herstellen, schaffen oder ins Leben rufen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Prodotti freschi / produrre
1. Frutta e verdura fresche. 2. Fare, creare o far esistere qualcosa.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Hortifrúti / produzir
1. Frutas e verduras frescas. 2. Fazer, criar ou dar existência a algo.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is the farm goods; the other is the verb meaning to create or manufacture.
📋 Project

1. A planned piece of work with a specific goal.
2. To throw, cast, or estimate something forward (light, an image, a figure, etc.).

Examples:
She is managing a large research project this year.
They project that sales will rise by 15 percent.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Proyecto / proyectar
1. Un trabajo planificado con un objetivo concreto. 2. Proyectar, lanzar o estimar hacia delante.
🇫🇷 French: Projet / projeter
1. Un travail planifié avec un but précis. 2. Projeter, lancer ou estimer vers l’avant.
🇩🇪 German: Projekt / projizieren
1. Eine geplante Arbeit mit einem klaren Ziel. 2. Werfen, werfen lassen oder nach vorn schätzen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Progetto / proiettare
1. Un lavoro pianificato con un obiettivo specifico. 2. Proiettare, lanciare o stimare in avanti.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Projeto / projetar
1. Um trabalho planejado com um objetivo específico. 2. Projetar, lançar ou estimar para frente.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is a planned task; the other is the verb meaning to throw forward or forecast.
🗑️ Refuse

1. Waste material or garbage.
2. To say no to something or decline an offer.

Examples:
The refuse was collected early on Monday morning.
She had to refuse the invitation because of a prior commitment.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Basura / rechazar
1. Residuos o basura. 2. Decir que no o rechazar una oferta.
🇫🇷 French: Ordures / refuser
1. Déchets ou ordures. 2. Dire non ou décliner une offre.
🇩🇪 German: Müll / ablehnen
1. Abfall oder Müll. 2. Nein sagen oder ein Angebot ablehnen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Rifiuti / rifiutare
1. Rifiuti o spazzatura. 2. Dire di no o rifiutare un’offerta.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Lixo / recusar
1. Lixo ou resíduos. 2. Dizer não ou recusar uma oferta.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is rubbish; the other is the act of declining.
↔️ Separate

1. Apart or divided; not joined.
2. To set or keep things apart from each other.

Examples:
The two houses are completely separate.
Please separate the recycling from the general waste.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Separado / separar
1. Apartado o dividido; no unido. 2. Poner o mantener las cosas separadas.
🇫🇷 French: Séparé / séparer
1. Séparé ou divisé ; non joint. 2. Mettre ou garder les choses à part.
🇩🇪 German: Getrennt / trennen
1. Getrennt oder geteilt; nicht verbunden. 2. Dinge voneinander trennen oder getrennt halten.
🇮🇹 Italian: Separato / separare
1. Separato o diviso; non unito. 2. Mettere o tenere le cose separate.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Separado / separar
1. Separado ou dividido; não unido. 2. Colocar ou manter as coisas separadas.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is the adjective describing things that are apart; the other is the verb meaning to divide them.
🚪 Entrance

1. A way in; a door or opening that allows access.
2. To fill someone with wonder, delight, or fascination.

Examples:
The main entrance is on the left side of the building.
The performance was so beautiful it seemed to entrance the entire audience.
Show translationsHide translations🇪🇸 Spanish: Entrada / cautivar
1. Una vía de acceso; una puerta o abertura. 2. Llenar a alguien de asombro, deleite o fascinación.
🇫🇷 French: Entrée / enchanter
1. Un accès ; une porte ou une ouverture. 2. Emplir quelqu’un d’émerveillement, de plaisir ou de fascination.
🇩🇪 German: Eingang / fesseln
1. Ein Zugang; eine Tür oder Öffnung. 2. Jemanden mit Staunen, Freude oder Faszination erfüllen.
🇮🇹 Italian: Ingresso / affascinare
1. Un accesso; una porta o un’apertura. 2. Riempire qualcuno di meraviglia, piacere o fascino.
🇵🇹 Portuguese: Entrada / encantar
1. Um acesso; uma porta ou abertura. 2. Encher alguém de assombro, prazer ou fascínio.


💡 Nuance: One meaning is a physical way in; the other is the verb meaning to captivate or charm.

🏆 Final Practice

English in the Real World:

Read the sentence. Choose the meaning that fits this spelling in this context.
Question 1 of 8
✅ Correct: 0
❓ Questions: 0
🎯 Accuracy: 0%