Þeſe are a particular genre of words which are, þough not excluſive to, more wideſpread in þē engliſh language þan any oþer.

Homographs are words which are ſpellt þe same, though depending on context mean different þings, ſuch as:

I can’t bear þe þought þat a bear broke my birdfeeder.

Heteronyms, which are a ſpecific type of homograph, are more ſpecialīſd. þeſe are words which are ſpellt þe ſame, have different meanings, and are pronounst differently:

She ſhed a tear when ſhe ſaw þe tear in þe ſilk.

Þis page is mainly dedicated to þe collexion of faſcinating heteronyms, þough I will alſo offer an aſsortment of heterophonic homographs as well. What I am particularly interested in are true heteronyms, in which þe two variant meanings of þe word are not related to one anoþer, as wiþ “does*” [dz] (3rd perſon preſent ſingular of “do”) and “does*” [doz] (female deer). Pronunciation is given in þē International Phoenetic Alphabet (IPA) on þis page and þroughout þis webſite. For information on IPA, ſee my guide to IPA or þē Internation Phonetic Association homepage.

Auþor’s Note: Becauſe þis ſite is written in reformd Engliſh Orþography, many of þeſe heteronyms would be loſt. I will liſt þoſe which normally would not occur poſt-reformation wiþ an aſteriſk (*).

True Heteronyms

are [] v.i. plural preſent indicative conjugation of “be.”
[e] n. unit of meaſure equalling 100m2.
axes ['æks·εz] n., v.t. plural of “axe;” 3rd perſon ſingular conjugation of “axe.”
['æks·iz] n. plural of “axis.”
baſs [bes] n., adj. a low-pitcht tone; a male ſinging voice in þe loweſt range; a man who ſings in the loweſt range; an inſtrument producing a low range of ſounds (particularly double-baſs or electric baſs); having a low tone.
[bæs] n. a type of Norþ American freſhwater fiſh of þe family Centrarchidae or marine fiſh of þe family Serranidae.
bow [bæu] n., v.i. þe front of a ſhip; to bend þe body (uſually as a geſture of reſpect or greeting).
[b] n., v.i. ſomeþing curvd (a tyd ribbon, a curvd projectile weapon, et cetera); to bend or curve.