| heteronym |
| Definition: Words that are spelled the same but which are (1) pronounced differently and (2) have different meanings. |
| Example:
(1) The words desert (di - 'zert), abandon, and desert ('dezz - ert), arid region, are heteronyms, because they have different meanings and different pronunciations. (2) The words mean (intend) and mean (average) are not heteronyms, because though they have different meanings they are pronounced the same. |
| Etymology: The word derives from the Greek heteros, the other one + onoma, name. |