Synonym is to meaning as homonym is to what?

A synonym is a word that has the same or similar meaning as another word, while a homonym is a word that either sounds the same as another word or is spelled the same but has a different meaning. The relationship between synonyms and meaning aligns closely with the relationship between homonyms and sound.

In this context, the term "sound" refers to the auditory similarity between homonyms, distinguishing them from other forms of words. For instance, "bat" (an implement used in sports) and "bat" (a flying mammal) are homonyms because they have identical sounds but different meanings.

Understanding these relationships helps clarify the nature of words in the English language, allowing one to better grasp how language functions in terms of meaning and sound.