sewer

This word is a heteronym, meaning it has two distinct pronunciations and meanings depending on the context. When referring to waste pipes, the stress is on the first syllable, evoking images of urban infrastructure and sanitation. When referring to a person who sews, the stress is on the second syllable. This usage is less common in modern English than the term seamstress or tailor, but it remains the technically accurate gender-neutral term for the profession.