homonyms

Words having the same sound or shape, but different meanings. Heteronymy in grammar is partial homonymy, as when words have the same sound but different spelling (through, threw). This is also a case of homophony, or sameness of sound, but heteronymy also occurs when words have the same spelling but different sounds (good conduct, conduct the band). Homonymy is a central concern of Aristotle, who recognizes that we speak in several ways of what is good, or what love or honour is (e.g. Nicomachean Ethics, 1118 b, 1125 b). Homonymy also applies to cases of different people sharing a name: it is reported in Diogenes Laertius that a certain Demetrius of Magnesia wrote a treatise entitled Of Men of the Same Name.