Lead.
How did you pronounce that word in your head when you read it? Did it rhyme with "seed" or did it sound more like "bed?"
Which pronunciation is correct? Well, it depends on the usage. "Lead" is not one of those words like "neither" which has two perfectly acceptable pronunciations which both have the same meaning; "lead" has very specific pronunciations depending on the meaning.
If you're referring to the heavy metal, then "lead" has a short E and rhymes with "bed," but if you're referring to the noun or verb which indicate being at the front of the pack, then it rhymes with "seed." There is only only way to pronounce the word in each of these sentences, but the pronunciation is different in each of them:
"The candidate's proposals sank like a lead weight."
"The view is always the same unless you're the lead dog."
In the first sentence, "lead" rhymes with "bed" because it refers to the metal. It would make no sense to rhyme it with "seed." Native speakers has no problem with this, but this is one of those aspects of English that can be incredibly confusing to a learner. The only way to know how to pronounce it is by the context of the usage.
Another such word is "read."
Unlike "lead," "read" doesn't vary its pronunciation based on varying definitions; the two pronunciations of "read" indicate the tense of the verb. Present tense, long E; rhymes with "seed;" past tense, short E, rhymes with "bed." Here are two sentences:
"I must read the instructions before I attempt it."
"I read the instructions before I attempted it."
Again, a native speaker won't be tripped-up at all, The first one rhymes with "seed" and the latter sounds like "bed."
(A small aside, the first sentence is not strictly a present tense construction. After I wrote one that is:
"I read the newspaper every day."
I realized that the sentence could be read either way. If I rhyme it with "seed" then it would indicate actions that I perform habitually currently, but if I use short E, then it would refer to actions that I performed habitually in the past. Same words; same word order; same spelling. I have to understand the context to pronounce it correctly.)
With such confusion and difficulties., it's a wonder that English has been adopted as the world's second language.
