Words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings (e.g., bare and bear; fourth and forth).

Words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings (e.g., bare and bear; fourth and forth).

• A. Homophone
• B. Homonym
• C. Synonym
• D. Antonym

Answer: (A)

Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings are called homophones. The examples bare and bear, forth and fourth all share the same pronunciation but differ in how they are spelled and what they mean, which is exactly what this term describes. This concept focuses on how words sound, not on having similar meanings or being opposites. Synonyms are words with similar meanings, and antonyms are opposite meanings. Some people use the broader term homonym for words that sound alike or are spelled alike with different meanings, but when the clue specifies sound-alike with different spellings, homophone is the precise fit.

Words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings are called homophones. The examples bare and bear, forth and fourth all share the same pronunciation but differ in how they are spelled and what they mean, which is exactly what this term describes. This concept focuses on how words sound, not on having similar meanings or being opposites. Synonyms are words with similar meanings, and antonyms are opposite meanings. Some people use the broader term homonym for words that sound alike or are spelled alike with different meanings, but when the clue specifies sound-alike with different spellings, homophone is the precise fit.