What is the term for words that have different meanings and spellings but share pronunciation?

The correct term for words that have different meanings and spellings but share pronunciation is homophones. Homophones are pairs or sets of words that sound the same when spoken, regardless of their spelling or meaning. An example of homophones is "bare" and "bear," where both words are pronounced identically yet have distinct meanings and spellings.

Understanding this concept is crucial in the context of language education, especially in structured language approaches, as it emphasizes the importance of phonetic awareness in literacy development. Recognizing homophones can help students improve their spelling, reading comprehension, and vocabulary skills, as learners become more adept at distinguishing between words in auditory contexts.

The other terms listed refer to different concepts: homographs involve words that are spelled the same but can have different pronunciations and meanings, synonyms are words with similar meanings, and homonyms can refer to words that are either homophones or homographs, which can create confusion when discussing their specific characteristics. Thus, recognizing the definition of homophones is essential for effective language instruction.