Which term describes words that are written and pronounced the same way but have different meanings?

• A. Homograph
• B. Homonym
• C. Hyponym
• D. Minimal Pair

Answer: (B)

Words that are written the same and spoken the same but have different meanings are called homonyms. The exact match in both form and pronunciation, while the meanings diverge, is what defines them. This differs from homographs, which focus on the same spelling (whether or not the pronunciation differs), and from homophones, which focus on the same sound (whether or not the spelling differs). A hyponym is a more specific term within a category, and a minimal pair is two words that differ by one sound to create a contrast in meaning. So the scenario described fits homonyms because both the written form and the spoken form are identical, yet the senses are different.