Polysemy

There are words that are both spelled and pronounced in the same way.

For exampel the bark of a tree and the bark of a dog. You might recognize that example from the writing exercise with similar words.

Those two words are not related. That is: they have different etymological origins.

Another example of words that are both spelled and pronounced in the same way: The palm tree and the palm of the hand.

Those two words are related. The palm tree got its name because someone thought the leaves looked like hands.

Some more example of words that are written and pronounced the same way because they are related:

On the river bank there is a bank office.

Let's head to the head of the office, let me just first wear a hat on my head.

Watching the World Cup, drinking a cup of tea.

When words are similar because they have the same origin, it is called polysemy.

Now for your writing assignment. It is not that surprising.

Write a text that contains at least three examples of polysemy.