a word that is spelt like another word (or pronounced like it) but that has a different meaning, for example can meaning ‘be able’ and can meaning ‘put something in a container’ 同形（同音）异义词（写法或读音相同，但意义不同） Word Originlate 17th cent.: via Latin from Greek homōnumon, neuter of homōnumos ‘having the same name’, from homos ‘same’ + onoma ‘name’.