A homograph is any word that shares the same spelling as another word but has a different meaning.

A heteronym is a specific type of homograph: words with identical spellings that are also pronounced differently.

Simply put: all heteronyms are homographs, but not all homographs are heteronyms.

1. True Homonyms

These words are both spelled and pronounced exactly the same, but their meanings differ. 

• Bear: To carry or endure (verb)
  vs. A large, furry mammal (noun).
• Bark: The outer layer of a tree
  vs. The sharp sound a dog makes.
• Match: A contest or game
  vs. A small stick used to start a fire. 

2. Homophones

These words sound the same but have different spellings and meanings (from the Greek phone, meaning sound). 

• There / Their / They’re: Place / Possessive pronoun / Contraction of “they are”.
• To / Too / Two: Preposition / Also or excessively / The number.
• Meat / Meet: Food vs. To come into contact with someone. 

3. Homographs

These words are spelled the same but have different meanings and are often pronounced differently (from the Greek graph, meaning to write). 

• Lead: To guide or direct (pronounced leed)
  vs. A heavy metal (pronounced led).
• Bow: A weapon used to shoot arrows
  vs. To bend forward in respect.
• Wind: Moving air
  vs. To coil or twist something. 

Understanding these categories is useful for improving vocabulary and spelling. For a deeper dive into the etymology of these word types, visit the Wikipedia Homonym Entry or explore comprehensive lists on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.