What are homographs?

Homographs are words that are spelled alike but pronounced differently, often having different meanings. For instance, "lead" can refer to a type of metal or the act of guiding someone, and it is pronounced differently in each context. Understanding homographs is crucial for reading comprehension since the meaning of a sentence can change based on how a homograph is pronounced and used.

The other choices describe different concepts. Words that sound alike but are spelled differently are homophones, while words that have multiple meanings can refer to polysemy, and synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings. Each of these concepts serves a unique role in language, emphasizing the complexity and richness of vocabulary.