What defines homonyms?

Homonyms are defined as words that have different meanings but sound alike. This characteristic is key to understanding homonyms; for example, the words "bare" (to uncover) and "bear" (the animal) sound identical yet have distinct meanings. This unique quality of having the same pronunciation while differing in significance creates a fascinating aspect of language.

While some options might seem related, they do not accurately capture what homonyms represent. Words that have similar meanings typically fall under synonyms, not homonyms. Phonetically similar words can include a range of terms that may or may not carry the same meaning—this does not specifically denote homonyms. Lastly, words that are spelled the same refer to homographs, which may not always be pronounced the same and can lead to different meanings, but this is a separate category from homonyms. Therefore, the definition of homonyms hinges significantly on the aspect of sound coupled with differing meanings.