links, lynx

The words links, lynx sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do links, lynx sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: links, lynx are homophones of the English language.

links
  1. :: noun-plural

    A golf course.

  2. :: noun-plural

    Scots Relatively flat or undulating sandy turf-covered ground usually along a seashore.

lynx
  1. :: noun

    Any of several wildcats of the genus Lynx, especially L. canadensis of northern North America or L. lynx of Eurasia, having soft thick fur, a black-tipped short tail, and tufted ears.

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").