Some words share spelling but split in sound and meaning — homographs. Which word can mean both 'a drop from the eye' and 'to rip apart'?

"Tear" is a homograph, meaning it's spelled one way but pronounced two different ways depending on meaning: as "tɪər" it's a drop of liquid from the eye, and as "tɛər" it means to rip something apart. Only context and pronunciation, not spelling, tell listeners which meaning is intended.

"Tier" refers to a level or layer, like tiers of a cake or a ranking system, and is unrelated in meaning despite sounding like one pronunciation of "tear." "Tare" is an obscure word for the weight of an empty container, also unrelated.

English has a surprising number of these dual-pronunciation homographs, including "lead" (the metal versus to guide) and "wind" (moving air versus to twist), all quietly testing a reader's ability to use context to pick the right sound.