Which statement correctly compares homographs and homophones?

Which statement correctly compares homographs and homophones?

• A. Homophones sound alike but have different meanings; homographs are spelled the same but have different meanings.
• B. Homophones sound alike but have different meanings; homographs are spelled the same but have different meanings.
• C. Homographs and homophones are identical concepts.
• D. Homophones have the same meaning; homographs have opposite meanings.

Answer: (B)

This question tests understanding of the difference between words that sound the same and words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Homophones are words that sound alike but mean different things (they can be spelled differently, like night and knight). Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings (they may be pronounced the same or differently, like lead the verb vs. lead the metal). The statement that captures this distinction—homophones sound alike but have different meanings; homographs are spelled the same but have different meanings—is the correct one. Other options mix up these ideas or treat them as identical concepts, which isn’t accurate.

This question tests understanding of the difference between words that sound the same and words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Homophones are words that sound alike but mean different things (they can be spelled differently, like night and knight). Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings (they may be pronounced the same or differently, like lead the verb vs. lead the metal). The statement that captures this distinction—homophones sound alike but have different meanings; homographs are spelled the same but have different meanings—is the correct one. Other options mix up these ideas or treat them as identical concepts, which isn’t accurate.