What is a Homograph?
Words that are spelled the same but have different meanings.
Double Take: Exploring Homographs in Creative Writing
Homographs are a fascinating aspect of the English language that can add layers of meaning and humor to a creative piece.
These words not only look the same but are often pronounced the same, yet their meaning varies depending on context. Imagine writing a witty dialogue between characters who confuse 'wind' (as in the breeze) with 'wind' (as in to twist or coil something up) and the humorous misunderstandings that could ensue.
Homographs not only challenge our vocabulary and language skills, but also offer exciting opportunities to showcase our creativity and wordplay!
Read on to see how these writers creatively incorporated homographs into their stories:
The Wizard of Oz author uses the homograph 'wind' to create a clever contrast in this passage: 'The sun shone bright, and a gentle wind made the fresh air as exhilarating as champagne.'
In this short story, Smith uses the homograph 'bass' twice to convey different meanings: 'We caught a bass for dinner' and 'he turned up the bass on his stereo'.