A homograph is a word spelled the same as another word but not the same in meaning — and often not the same in origin, grammar, or pronunciation either. The usual classroom pair is record the noun (a disc, a written note, stress on REC-) and record the verb (to capture sound, stress on -CORD). Lead the metal (said LED) and lead meaning "go first" (said LEED) are homographs that do not even share a sound. Bat the animal and bat the wooden stick share both spelling and sound; whether you still call those homographs, or save the name homonym for them, depends on which teacher you ask. Though actually, linguists have never fully agreed. Some books treat homonym as the umbrella and slide homograph (same letters) and homophone (same sound) under it. Some want a homograph to come from two different histories, not just two different meanings. School exams usually want the simple picture: same spelling, different meaning, and the sound may or may not match. You will almost never need this word outside a language class.

同形異義詞