What defines homophones?

Homophones are defined as words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. This definition is crucial because it emphasizes that while the pronunciation may be identical, the context and spelling of these words can vary significantly. For example, "to," "two," and "too" are homophones; they are pronounced the same way (as /tuː/) but have different meanings and spellings. This characteristic is what distinguishes homophones from other types of word relationships, such as homographs, which are spelled the same but may not sound the same or have different meanings, and synonyms, which share meanings but differ in pronunciation. The option correctly captures both the phonetic similarity and the distinction in meaning and spelling, making it the right choice among the alternatives presented.