---
title: homophone — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «homophone» in the school dictionary: A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling, like «there», «their» and «they're». Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# homophone

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** homophone, word, I, their, joke, knight · **What happens:** be, sound, have, call, see, write · **To what, where:** word, same, different meaning, Two such words, see homophones, group · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«homophone» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [homophone in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/homophone.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling, like «there», «their» and «they're».

<!-- fold The tree, 28 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:m1:1
# text = A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling, like «there», «their» and «they're».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	homophone	homophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	7	nsubj	_	_
7	sounds	sound	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	acl:relcl	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	same	same	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	_
10	as	as	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
11	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	12	det	_	_
12	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	_
13	but	but	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	conj	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	17	amod	_	_
17	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	obj	_	_
18	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	22	cc	_	_
19	often	often	ADV	RB	_	22	advmod	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	22	det	_	_
21	different	different	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	22	amod	_	_
22	spelling	spelling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
24	like	like	ADP	IN	_	26	case	_	_
25	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	22	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
27	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	26	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
28	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	30	punct	_	_
29	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	30	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
30	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
31	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	30	punct	_	_
32	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	35	cc	_	_
33	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	35	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
34	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	35	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
35	're	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
36	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	35	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
37	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a homophone | a word |  |  |  | meaning *nmod* | tree rules |
| 2 | **sound** | present | a word | the same |  |  |  | as another word | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «PP.location V NP»: agent=Location same=Theme |
| 3 | **have** | present | a word *not said here* | a different meaning and a different spelling |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent meaning=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Two or more such words are called homophones of each other.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:m2:1
# text = Two or more such words are called homophones of each other.
1	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
2	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	3	cc	_	_
3	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	1	conj	_	_
4	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj:pass	_	_
6	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	aux:pass	_	_
7	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
8	homophones	homophone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	xcomp	_	_
9	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	each	each	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	8	nmod	_	_
11	other	other	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	fixed	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | present · passive |  | Two such words |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Sea» and «see» are homophones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:x1:1
# text = «Sea» and «see» are homophones.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Sea	Sea	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
9	homophones	homophone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | see homophones |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Two», «too» and «to» are a group of homophones.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:x2:1
# text = «Two», «too» and «to» are a group of homophones.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	6	punct	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
13	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
14	group	group	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	conj	_	_
15	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	homophones	homophone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a group |  |  |  | of homophones | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I wrote «their» instead of «there» — a homophone mistake.

<!-- fold The tree, 9 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:x3:1
# text = I wrote «their» instead of «there» — a homophone mistake.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wrote	write	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
6	instead	instead	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	fixed	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	there	there	ADV	RB	PronType=Dem	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	14	punct	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	homophone	homophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **write** | past | I | their homophone mistake |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent mistake=Theme |
| 2 | **mistake** |  | their *= they* |  |  |  |  |  | nom mistake «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The joke works because «knight» and «night» are homophones.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:x4:1
# text = The joke works because «knight» and «night» are homophones.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	joke	joke	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	works	work	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	13	mark	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	knight	knight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	night	night	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
13	homophones	homophone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **work** | present | the joke |  |  |  |  |  | vn employment-95.3 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | knight and night | homophones |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Circle the correct homophone: The (bare/bear) ate the honey.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:x5:1
# text = Circle the correct homophone: The (bare/bear) ate the honey.
1	Circle	Circle	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	correct	correct	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	homophone	homophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	bare/bear	bare/bear	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	8	punct	_	_
10	ate	eat	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
12	honey	honey	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **eat** | past | Circle | the honey |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent honey=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you think of a homophone for «flour»?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:x6:1
# text = Can you think of a homophone for «flour»?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	think	think	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	homophone	homophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
7	for	for	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	flour	flour	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **think** *speech: other* | can | you |  |  |  |  | of a homophone for flour | vn focus-87.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Spell checkers often miss homophone mistakes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:homophone:x7:1
# text = Spell checkers often miss homophone mistakes.
1	Spell	spell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	checkers	checker	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
3	often	often	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	miss	miss	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	homophone	homophone	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **miss** | present | Spell checkers | homophone mistakes |  |  |  | often *property* | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer mistake=Stimulus |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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