Heteronym

Two different words are heteronyms if they have different meanings and different pronunciations but share the spelling. For example the metal "lead" /led/ and the verb "lead" /liːd/.

Wikipedia has a long list of heteronyms in Heteronym (linguistics).

Common heteronyms[edit]

Noun is stressed in the first syllabe, verb is stressed in the second or in the last syllable

Spelling	Pronunciation	PoS	Meaning	Example
attribute	/ˈætrɪbjuːt/	n.	a characteristic	Its best attribute is its durability.
	/əˈtrɪbjuːt/	v.	to associate ownership	Scholars attribute this musical piece to Bach.
conflict	/ˈkɒnflɪkt//	n.	serious disagreement	Violence is no way to resolve conflict!
	/kənˈflɪkt/	v.	to come into collision	The two news reports seem to conflict each other.
record	/ˈrekərd/	n.	physical information	I have a record of my medical expenses.
	/rɪˈkɔːrd/	v.	to keep a permanent account	I plan to record my medical expenses.

Other examples

• conduct, content, contrast, desert, object, present, produce, project, survey, subject, transfer, transport

Noun is pronounced with /s/, verb is pronouced with /z/.

Spelling	Pronunciation	PoS	Meaning	Example
abuse	/əˈbjuːs/	n.	improper treatment	This is an abuse.
	/əˈbjuːz/	v.	to use improperly	Please don't abuse.
house	/ˈhaʊs/	n.	a residential building	I live in a small house.
	/ˈhaʊz/	v.	to place in residence	I can house you for only 3 days.
use	/juːs/	n.	function, benefit	I have a use for 10 euros.
	/juːz/	v.	employ, utilize	I use a toothbrush every day.

Other

Spelling	Pronunciation	PoS	Meaning	Example
alternate	/ˈɔːltərnət/	adj.	other	Peter and Mary do dishes on alternate days.
	/ælˈtɜːrnət/
	/ˈɔːltərneɪt/	v.	to take turns	Peter and Mary alternate doing the dishes.
dove	/dʌv/	n.	a bird	A white dove symbolizes peace.
	/dəʊv/	v.	past tense of dive	Jane dove into a swimmingpool.
invalid	/ɪnˈvælɪd/	adj.	incorrect	An invalid password.
	/ˈɪnvəlɪd/	n.	a disabled person	A chair for invalids.
Keynes	/keɪnz/	proper name	John Maynard Keynes, British economist
	/kiːnz/	proper name	Milton Keynes, a city in England
lead	/liːd/	v.	to guide	John will lead you to your room.
	/led/	n.	a metal / a stick of graphite	A protective wall made of lead. My pencil broke its lead.
read	/riːd/	v.	present tense	I read the news every day.
	/red/	v.	past tense and past participle	I read Tom Sawyer when I was a teenager.
tear	/ˈtɪər/	n.	liquid produced by crying	A tear dropped into his cup.
	/ˈteər/	v.	to separate	It is easy to tear a sheet of paper.
used	/juːst/	modal verb	used to indicates something that happened repeatedly	I used to read a lot when I was young.
	/juːzd/	v.	past tense of use: employed, utilized	I used my toothbrush yesterday. Toothpaste is used to clean your teeth.
wind	/wɪnd/	n.	air movement	The afternoon wind.
	/waɪnd/	v.	to tighten a spring	In a wristwatch you must turn the crown to wind the spring.
wound	/waʊnd/	v.	past tense and past participle of wind	Older watches had to be wound every day.
	/wuːnd/	n.	an injury	Ann fell and received a wound.

Riddle[edit]

What words change their pronunciation when capitalized?

The answer to this riddle is below.

Spelling	Pronunciation	PoS	Meaning
polish Polish	/ˈpɒlɪʃ/	noun	a substance used to make something shiny
	/ˈpəʊlɪʃ/	adjective	from Poland
job Job	/dʒɒb/	noun	work or task
	/dʒəʊb/	proper name	a Biblical character
nice Nice	/naɪs/	adjective	pleasant; friendly
	/niːs/	proper name	a city in France
reading Reading	/ˈriːdɪŋ/	-ing form, noun	from the verb read
	/ˈredɪŋ/	proper name	a city in England