Which of these describes a homophone?

A homophone is defined as a word that shares the same pronunciation as another word but has a different meaning, and often is spelled differently. For example, "to," "too," and "two" are homophones—while they are pronounced the same way, they each have distinct meanings and spellings.

Option C accurately captures this definition, emphasizing that homophones pertain to sound while allowing for different meanings. This distinction is essential in studying language and helps clarify pronunciation and usage in speech and writing.

Other options do not align with the definition of homophones. For instance, a word that imitates sound relates more closely to onomatopoeia, and a word spelled the same with a different meaning refers to homographs. Figurative language describes a broader category of linguistic expressions that convey meanings beyond the literal, which is not specific to homophones.