Mastering the American Accent » Same Spelling, Different Pronunciation

Same Spelling, Different Pronunciation

Below are common words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations and different meanings.

PronunciationMeaning
bass
bass		a is /ae/ as in fat
a is /eɪ/ as in take		a kind of fish
a musical instrument, or low voice or tone
desert
desert		first syllable stress
second syllable stress		dry land with little or no vegetation
to leave empty or alone, to abandon
dove
dove		o is /ɘ/ as in fun
o is /ou/ as in boat		a kind of bird similar to a pigeon
past tense of dive
lead
lead		ea is /i/ as in meet
ea is /ɛ/ as in get		to guide
a kind of metal
minute
minute		i is /I/ as in sit
(first syllable stress)
i is /aɪ/ as in time
(second syllable stress)		sixty seconds
very small, tiny
Polish
polish		o is /ou/ as in boat
o is /ɑ/ as in father		(adjective) from Poland
to make a surface shine
refuse
refuse		second syllable stress
first syllable stress		(verb) to deny, reject
(noun) trash, garbage
resume
resume		final e is silent
(second syllable stress)
final e is /eɪ/ as in take
(first syllable stress)		to begin again after an interruption
a summary of work experience
tear
tear		rhymes with care
rhymes with here		to separate by force
a drop of liquid coming from the eye
wind
wind		i is /I/ as in sit
i is /aɪ/ as in time		outdoor current of air
to turn in circular motions
wound
wound		ou is /u/ as in food
ou is /aʊ/ as in house		injury, especially when skin is torn or cut
past tense of verb wind

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