Which choice is an example of a homophone?

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and often different spellings. In the case of "cents" and "sense," both words are pronounced identical to each other but represent different concepts. "Cents" refers to a unit of currency, while "sense" pertains to perception or understanding. This phonetic similarity, combined with the distinct meanings and spellings, is what makes these words a clear example of homophones.

The other options, while also involving words that share similar characteristics, do not fit the strict definition of homophones as effectively. For example, "lead" (the metal) and "lead" (to guide) are homographs, meaning they share the same spelling but have different meanings and pronunciations. Similarly, "close" (to shut) and "close" (near) are also homographs. The pair "bow" (to bend forward) and "bow" (a decorative knot) also falls into the category of homographs, as they are spelled the same but pronounced differently. Thus, the choice of "cents" and "sense" stands out as the clearest example of homophones due to their identical pronunciation and distinct meanings.