Lead

Today’s cuppa is brought to you by the word lead.

From Merriam-Webster:

Lead: To guide something or someone along a way; to go at the head of; to be first in or among; to bring to some conclusion or condition; to tend toward or have a result.

Also from Merriam-Webster:

Lead: A soft, heavy metallic element.

Two words, spelled exactly alike. One is a verb, one is a noun. One is typically associated with meaningful action, with forward motion and responsibility. The other describes something that is often used to cover or separate.

I like the fact that two words can be so alike, yet so different. Context and meaning matter, and the applicable word is based on our decisions regarding how, when, where, and why.

As with music, the melody of language is influenced by how we choose to play the notes, and how we interpret the sounds.