Many English words have multiple meanings. This means that the same word, with the same spelling and pronunciation may have more than one meaning. Sometimes the meanings may be very different. This can be confusing for people learning English. You may wonder,” How do I know what the meaning is?” The best way is rely on context, illustrations, or diagrams in the text. However, if you still are not sure of the meaning, look it up. A dictionary will tell you all the meanings of any word. This posting cannot discuss every word with multiple meanings. There are simply too many of them. In this posting, however, I talk about 25 common words with multiple meanings. These are word you may see and hear in your daily life. I show you parts of speech, definitions, and example sentences for each meaning of each word.The download at the end will give you additional practice understanding words with multiple meanings.
Here is the free English video lesson I taught on YouTube:
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see all of our lessons and get the latest videos right away!
You can download the practice sheet NOW!
Below is a list of common words with multiple meanings.
B
- bank
2. bark
3. bill
4. break
5. bug
C
6. charge
7. company
8. current
D-H
9. date
10. fair
11. fast
12. fly
13. hit
J-N
14. jam
15. left
16. mine
17. nail
P-R
18. patient
19. pool
20. pupil
21. run
S-T
22. season
23. set
24. take
25. turn
You now know many common English words with multiple meanings. Often you can guess the meaning of the word through context. If that is not helpful, however, don’t hesitate to look the word up. The download will give you additional practice understanding words with multiple meanings.
You can download the practice sheet NOW!
Idioms of the day
- no picnic–This means something is difficult and not pleasant. I’m glad I moved, but making all the preparations was no picnic.
- turn a blind eye to–This means to not notice a very obvious problem. Her husband comes home drunk every night, but she turns a blind eye to his problems. She insists that he’s not an alcoholic.
Вопрос от пользователя:
UNDERLINE THE ONE WORD OR PHRASE THAT HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING FROM THE OTHERS IN BOLD, OR DOES NOT GRAMMATICALLY FIT IN THE SENTENCE.
5. The graph shows that there has been a gradual / marked / remarkable / sharp / slight / steady / steep rise in the number of incidents since 2012.
6. The table highlights the steady decline / decrease / drop / fall / rise in the number of teenage pregnancies.
7. The rate of Z is anticipated / designed / expected / projected to drop sharply after 2020.
8. The apparatus comprises / consists of / is made up of / is composed by / composed of three parts:
Подождите!
Не закрывайте страницу. Нейросеть пишет ответ. Он появится тут.
Этот ответ написан нейросетью.
Искуственный интеллект во многом преуспевает, но в некоторых областях может давать неточные ответы.
Если вам не понравился ответ, попробуйте задать его более развёрнуто и конкретно, используя точные параметры.
Нейросеть ChatGPT отвечает:
In the given sentences, the task is to identify the word or phrase that either has a different meaning from the others in bold or doesn’t grammatically fit in the sentence. The possible answers are as follows:
5. The word that doesn’t fit grammatically in the sentence is ‘remarkable’ as it is an adjective used to describe something worthy of attention, while the other options are all used to describe the degree of change in the number of incidents since 2012. A possible correction would be to replace ‘remarkable’ with ‘gradual,’ ‘marked,’ ‘sharp,’ ‘slight,’ ‘steady,’ or ‘steep’ depending on the intended meaning.
6. The word that has a different meaning from the others in bold is ‘rise’ as it is the opposite of the other options that indicate a decrease or decline. A possible correction would be to replace ‘rise’ with ‘decline,’ ‘decrease,’ ‘drop,’ or ‘fall’ depending on the intended meaning.
7. The word that doesn’t fit grammatically in the sentence is ‘designed’ as it implies that the rate of Z was intentionally set to drop sharply after 2020, which doesn’t make sense in this context. The correct option would be ‘anticipated,’ ‘expected,’ or ‘projected’ to indicate a prediction or estimation of a future event.
8. The phrase that has a different meaning from the others in bold is ‘is composed by’ as it is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase would be ‘is composed of,’ ‘comprises,’ ‘consists of,’ or ‘is made up of,’ which all mean the same thing, i.e., consisting of three parts.
⚠️Зарепортить пост!
Чтобы оставить комментарий, необходимо авторизоваться.
Задай любой вопрос нейросети!
она справится с любой поставленной задачей быстрее чем поиск в Яндекс.
Последние вопросы
(c) ChatGPT по русски 2023. Все права защищены. При обнаружении неправомерного контента пишите на [email protected]
Words, phrases, and expressions can have different meanings in different contexts. The study of these different meanings is known as semantics. This branch of study examines four qualities of word meaning – denotative, figurative, metaphorical, and connotative – which will be described below.
Denotation – The definition of a word that we find in the dictionary, its literal or direct meaning, is known as its denotative meaning. Have a look at the following words, listed with their denotative meanings:
- bat : (noun) a small mammal with wings that sleeps during the day
- snake : (noun) a long, scaly reptile without legs that sometimes carries venom
- slim : (adj) slender or thin
Figurative meaning – When words are used metaphorically as “figures of speech,” they have figurative meaning. Figures of speech are widely used in English. Take a look at the following examples of figurative meaning:
- I told you a million times to stop doing that! (to tell many times)
- I’m so hungry I could eat a cow. (to be very hungry)
- That cost me an arm and a leg! (to be very expensive)
- He was as brave as a lion. (to be very brave)
- Sitting through that class was like watching paint dry. (class was very boring and slow)
Words with Multiple Meanings
How many times have you opened a dictionary to look up a word, and discovered that the word has only one meaning listed beside it? Essentially never, right? Almost every word in the English language has multiple meanings and may function as multiple parts of speech.
For example:
rose
- It’s time to prune the rose bush. (adjective)
- I gave the dancer a rose. (noun)
- I rose from the bench and walked home. (verb)
part
- I like to part my hair neatly. (verb)
- She only read one part of the book. (noun)
- My mom is Kenyan, so I am part Kenyan. (adjective)
Words with multiple meanings often fall into one of the two categories:
- Homonyms – Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but different meanings.
- Homographs – Words with the same spelling, but different pronunciation and different meanings.
Take a look at the lists of homonyms and homographs below.
Homonyms
crane:
- Cranes are beautiful birds. (noun – bird)
- The crane was used to lift the steel bars to the top of the building. (noun – machine)
- She had to crane her neck to see the movie. (verb – stretch out)
date:
- Dried dates are one of the most delicious snacks. (noun – fruit)
- Diego went out on a date last Saturday. (noun – social appointment)
- What date is Thanksgiving this year? (noun – day of the month)
engaged:
- My brother got engaged to his girlfriend this weekend. (adjective – agree to marry)
- The teacher chose very engaging topics to keep the students interested. (adjective – appealing)
leaves:
- The leaves change colors in autumn. (noun – from trees)
- My dad eats cereal every day before he leaves for work. (verb – present)
point:
- The knife has a sharp point. (noun – tip of an object)
- Can you point to the person you saw stealing? (verb – hand gesture)
right:
- You were right about the weather; it’s been pouring rain all day. (adjective – correct)
- Take a right at the next traffic light. (adjective – direction)
Homographs
read:
- I read books before I go to sleep. (present tense)
- He read a book last night before he went to sleep. (past tense)
minute:
- Our problems seem minute compared to those who face war and uncertainty on a daily basis. (adjective – small)
- Stir for a minute and then turn the heat down on the stove. (noun – 60 seconds)
learned:
- We learned how to use the present perfect continuous in class last week. (verb – past)
- My teacher is a very learned individual who went to Oxford. (adjective – educated)
does:
- He does his homework in the morning before school starts. (verb – present)
- The hunters were chasing does in the forest. (noun – female deer)
wind:
- The wind blew all the chairs over in the backyard. (noun – moving air)
- Make sure you wind up the clock after you put the turkey in the oven. (verb – present)
Connotations
Connotations are the feelings, associations, and ideas that certain words invoke beyond their literal or primary definition. These are often culturally based.
Connotations can be negative, positive, or neutral. For example:
- childish: The way he acted at dinner was childish and silly.
- woman: I know that woman over by the bar.
- stunning: The dress that she wore to the dinner party was stunning.
The first example, “childish,” has a negative connotation which implies that the person in question acted immaturely. Saying that an adult is acting “childishly” is not a compliment, but is rather insulting, connoting a lack of maturity, responsibility, and wisdom. If an adult is described as “childlike,” however, the connotation is positive.
The second example, “woman,” has a neutral connotation, implying nothing more than the fact that the person in question is female. The word does not imply that she is intelligent, unintelligent, good-hearted, mean-spirited, or anything else. In effect, neutral connotations are better thought of as not having connotation so much as simple, literal meaning.
The last example, “stunning,” has a positive connotation, implying that the dress is beautiful or gorgeous, which can only be interpreted as complimentary.
Here are some more examples of negative, positive, and neutral connotations:
- cheap – (negative) a person who does not like to spend money.
- thrifty – (positive) a person who is careful with money.
- young – (neutral) a person who is of a young age.
- youthful – (positive) a person who may not be young, but has all the good qualities of youth.
- childish – (negative) a person who behaves like a child in a negative way.
- thin – (neutral) a body size that is the opposite of fat.
- slim – (positive) a body size which is thin and also healthy and elegant.
- skinny – (negative) a body size which is so thin as to appear unhealthy.
- inactive – (neutral) doing nothing.
- laid-back – (positive) to have a relaxed attitude.
- lazy – (negative) avoiding work and effort
False Friends
False friends are pairs of words or phrases in two languages that look or sound alike but have significantly different meanings. These types of words present a problem for native speakers of Romance (Latin-based) languages such as French, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, and Portuguese.
There are numerous false friends which are broken into three wide-ranging categories:
- Words with a common root but which have evolved different meanings over time:
actuel (French for “current“) – actual (English for “true“)
- Words that appear similar but are entirely unrelated to each other:
pain (French for “bread“) – pain (English for “physical suffering“)
- Words with a common root, but alternate meanings :
porc (French for “pig” and “pig meat”) – pork (English for only “pig meat”)
These similarities result in students using words they assume to be the similar to words in their native language, but which might be quite different. This leads to errors in speaking and writing, and confusion in listening and reading.
Take a look at some common “false friend” confusions by Spanish, French, and Finnish EFL students:
- asistir (Spanish for “to attend/be present“) – assist (English for “to help“)
- avertissement (French for “warning/caution“) – advertisement (English for “public announcement“)
- harmonikka (Finnish for “accordion“) – harmonica (English for “harmonica“)
My brother and sister-in-law are arguing about whether «train» meaning locomotive and «train» meaning teach constitutes one word with two different meanings or if it’s two different words. I said that the etymology appears to be the same, so it would be one word with two different meanings … but the more I think about it, the less sure I am that this is correct. One’s a noun, the other is a verb, so … does that make it two different words?
Help!
herisson
76.9k9 gold badges196 silver badges339 bronze badges
asked Feb 4, 2014 at 5:31
5
This is a question that is discussed by eminent British linguist David Crystal in his article How many words?, in which he attempts to come up with a reasonably accurate count of the number of words in the English language. Basically, he says that no accurate number is possible because there is no universally-agreed definition of what constitutes a word. Here is an extract that addresses your question, but provides no definitive answer:
Is the lock on a door the same basic meaning as the lock on a canal?
Should ring (the shape) be kept separate from ring (the sound)? Are
such cases ‘the same word with different meanings’ or ‘different
words’? These are the daily decisions that any word-counter (or
dictionary compiler) must make.
The article is here (pdf): www.davidcrystal.com/?fileid=-4890
answered Feb 4, 2014 at 6:14
ShoeShoe
32k4 gold badges51 silver badges105 bronze badges
Both possibilities are can be found. A word can get a new meaning simply by semantic change. That is, a word can take on meanings that are closely related as for instance the consequence of a thing or an act. There are a lot of possibilities how a word can develop new meanings.
The second possibility is two words have become identical in the course of time due to historical sound change or drop of syllables and other reasons. An example is the adjective fresh in the sense «fresh from the press/the oven». Most dictionaries have the meaning «insolent» in the entry of fresh. But that is actually a second word and it would need a second entry. «fresh» number 2, mostly in AmE, as in «Don’t get fresh» must have been invented by German-American speakers who anglisized German frech (insolent) as «fresh». It is not seldom that one finds similar things, I mean that in a dictionary entry two different words are contained.
answered Feb 4, 2014 at 10:27
rogermuerogermue
13.7k6 gold badges22 silver badges56 bronze badges
Actually, I didn’t answer your question exactly, Laura. You asked whether train (noun, on railroads) and the verb to train someone (to teach) are the same word. The question is reasonable. But as in English dictionaries noun and verb and other word classes are treated in one entry one should say it is one word, especially as the etymological source is the same: Latin trah-ere to pull and according to etymonline from Vulgar Latin *traginare.
A locomotive pulls the wagons/carriages a train consists of. A coach training his team pulls them towards an efficient state of achievement.
But my personal view is that a noun is one word class and a verb another word class. So I would prefer the formuluation «a train» and «to train» are two different word classes from the same historical source.
answered Feb 4, 2014 at 14:11
rogermuerogermue
13.7k6 gold badges22 silver badges56 bronze badges
2
It can be argued that the word «word» actually means a string of letters, so every meaning of train in every language is actually the same word.
In fact, Google defines «word» as «a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed.» This meaning also implies that having different meanings doesn’t make it multiple words.
answered Feb 4, 2014 at 17:56
YpnypnYpnypn
3522 silver badges9 bronze badges
1
Homonyms are two words with the same name but different meanings. If they were two meanings for the same word, we would refer to them as something like polynotations.
So train and train are two different words, not two meanings for the same word.
answered Feb 4, 2014 at 20:36
jejorda2jejorda2
5,76725 silver badges33 bronze badges
5
This word set can be confusing, even for word geeks. Let’s start with the basics. A homograph is a word that has the same spelling as another word but has a different sound and a different meaning:
lead (to go in front of)/lead (a metal)
wind (to follow a course that is not straight)/wind (a gust of air)
bass (low, deep sound)/bass (a type of fish)
A homophone is a word that has the same sound as another word but has a different meaning. Homophones may or may not have the same spelling. Here are some examples:
to/two/too
there/their/they’re
pray/prey
Not so bad, right? The ending –graph means drawn or written, so a homograph has the same spelling. The –phone ending means sound or voice, so a homophone has the same pronunciation. But here’s where it gets tricky. Depending on whom you talk to, homonym means either:
A word that is spelled like another but has a different sound and meaning (homograph); a word that sounds like another but has a different spelling and meaning (homophone)
OR
A word that is spelled and pronounced like another but has a different meaning (homograph and homophone)
So does a homonym have to be both a homograph and a homophone, or can it be just one or the other? As with most things in life, it depends on whom you ask.
In the strictest sense, a homonym must be both a homograph and a homophone. So say many dictionaries. However, other dictionaries allow that a homonym can be a homograph or a homophone.
With so many notable resources pointing to the contrary, are we losing this strict meaning? What then will we call a word that is spelled and pronounced the same as another but has a different meaning? If homonym retains all these meanings, how will readers know what is actually meant?
The careful writer would do well to follow the strict sense, ensuring his meaning is understood immediately.
homograph
Use the noun homograph to talk about two words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and are sometimes pronounced differently — like sow, meaning «female pig,» and sow, «to plant seeds.» Continue reading…
homonym
Can you spot the homonyms in the sentence «The baseball pitcher drank a pitcher of water»? A homonym is a word that is said or spelled the same way as another word but has a different meaning. «Write” and “right” is a good example of a pair of homonyms. Continue reading…
homophone
A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and/or spelling. “Flower” and “flour” are homophones because they are pronounced the same but you certainly can’t bake a cake using daffodils. Continue reading…
By
Last updated:
January 31, 2022
Once upon a time, there was a fair boy at the fair, and he was really fair!
There was also a bat flying around a bat, a friend of mine in a mine and a man with a bow bowing to an audience.
Welcome to the Polysemy (when a single word or phrase has multiple meanings) Fair where nothing is what it seems, and words get crazy different meanings just for the sake of fun.
But before you come in, you have to tell me what homophones, homographs and homonyms are.
If you do not know what they are (or even if you do!), you had better read this post before you enter the Fair unprepared and get lost forever!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
What Are Homophones, Homographs and Homonyms?
They may sound dangerous and creepy, but homophones, homographs and homonyms are part of our daily life, regardless of what your mother language is.
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings.
When you say “I have only one eye,” however weird that sentence might sound, the words I and eye sound exactly the same, but they obviously have different meanings.
The same happens with words such as break and brake, here and hear or hour and our, just to give you a few examples.
On the other hand, homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations.
Take the verb read as an example.
The infinitive is pronounced /ri:d/ (with a long i), but the past tense and the past participle are pronounced /red/, as in the color red. They are written in the exact same way, but their pronunciations are different.
Finally, we have homonyms. They are words that either sound or are spelled identically but have different meanings.
Homonyms can be homophones, homographs or both, so to make things easy for you, we will be calling this post’s words homonyms unless stated otherwise.
Every language has homonyms, and language learners tend to have a rough time when trying to learn them.
Let’s have a look at the title of this post: The fair boy at the fair is really fair.
If it is the first time you have seen the word fair, you are probably having a language heart attack right now.
If you have seen this word before, though, you most likely know its meaning as a noun (funfair, carnival). But what about the other two? Keep reading!
There are several methods to learn the different meanings of words. You can look them up (search) in a dictionary, check an online translator or even ask a friend if they are around and able to help you.
From Fairs to Novels: 21 Everyday English Words with Multiple Meanings
The following 21 words are common English words that have different meanings and/or pronunciations. They can be a little tricky sometimes, but thanks to this post, you will be able to master them in no time. So, let the fun begin!
1. Fair
As you have already seen in the introduction, this word can have different meanings depending on whether it is a noun or an adjective. You know its meaning as a noun, and you probably also know one of its meanings as an adjective, but I am sure you would have never thought a carnival and a hair/skin color were spelled the same in English.
Meaning #1: a carnival; a public event where there are games, competitions, rides and entertainment
Also, in the United States, a fair is an event where farm products and animals are shown and judged.
The boy showed his horse and his two pigs at the state fair.
Meaning #2: treating someone right or in a way that does not favor other people
The boy at the fair is very fair with his siblings when they play games together.
Meaning #3: having light skin and/or hair
The fair boy at the fair is very fair with his siblings.
Since her skin is so fair, she has to be careful when she goes in the sun.
2. Saw
You probably know this word as the past tense of the verb to see, but did you know it can also be a tool and the infinitive of another verb?
Saw comes from the Old English word saga (to cut), but also from the Middle English word sawen (knife), hence its different meanings nowadays.
Meaning #1: a device or tool with sharp teeth, typically made of metal
He used a saw to cut the branch of the tree.
Meaning #2: to saw, to cut with a saw
He is going to saw the tree down with a saw.
Meaning #3: past tense of the verb to see.
I saw the saw he used to saw the tree down.
3. Fell
Now this one’s tricky.
A lot of my beginner students think this is the past tense of to feel, but actually it is the past tense of the verb to fall. What not many non-native speakers know is that it can also be the infinitive form of a different verb, and also a formal adjective!
Meaning 1: past tense of the verb to fall
The girl fell on the floor and started crying.
Meaning #2: to fell, to knock or cut down, to cause to fall
He used an ax to fell the tree.
Meaning #3: (formal) fierce, cruel, savage
He was imprisoned by his fell enemy.
4. Found
This word is another example of the past tense of a verb that is also the infinitive of a different verb.
Meaning #1: past tense and past participle of the verb to find (to come upon by chance, to locate)
I found a lot of old books in the attic yesterday.
Meaning #2: to found, to set up or establish, to base on, to provide a basis for
We want to found a new translation company.
5. Bow
Bow is a word that can have several different meanings. It is a homograph because the pronunciation is slightly different between the noun and verb form. As a noun, for example, you can wear one around your neck or use one to attack someone. As a verb, you can use it to show respect.
Don’t you love English!
Meaning #1: to bow, to bend forward at the neck or waist in order to greet someone or show respect
We must all bow before the queen.
Meaning #2: a knot made by tying a ribbon into two or more loops, often referred to as bow tie
He is wearing a green bow tie.
Meaning #3: a weapon used for shooting arrows
The hunter had a bow and many arrows.
6. Crane
I still remember when I learned this word myself. I imagined a giant machine that transformed into a bird. I have never forgotten this word!
Meaning #1: a big machine with a long arm used by builders to lift or move big objects
I think we are going to need a crane to lift that statue.
Meaning #2: a tall bird that has a long neck and long legs; it lives near water
It is impossible to observe (see) a crane here. There is no water around.
7. Date
This is an easy one.
If you are a romantic person, this word will probably make you think of special occasions with a partner. If time is important for you, you will see a date as a day on a calendar. Both options are correct, but there is more!
Meaning #1: a specific day of a month or year
What is the date today?
Meaning #2: a situation where two people who have or want to have a romantic relationship do some activity together
I would love to go on a date with you.
Meaning #3: the person you go on a date with
Mary is my date for tonight.
Meaning #4: to date someone, to do some kind of activity with a person you have or want to have a romantic relationship with.
Mary and I are dating.
Meaning #5: to date something, to write the date on something
Please, do not forget to sign and date your exam.
8. Minute
Here we have a homograph. Minute is pronounced /minit/ when it refers to time. It can also refer to size, in which case it is pronounced /mai’niut/.
Meaning #1: a unit of time equal to 60 seconds
We have been waiting for 20 minutes.
Meaning #2: always in the plural (minutes), the official record of everything that is said and done during a meeting
Ms. Roche will be taking the minutes during the meeting.
Meaning #3: an adjective meaning tiny, very small
With this new device, we are able to see even the most minute particles.
9. Second
If you are interested in etymology (study of words), you will like this word!
Second has two main meanings, one referring to time and one referring to something or someone coming after first. I was surprised to find out both these meanings come from the same Latin word secundus (following, next in time or order).
Apart from being a noun, second can also be a verb.
In this case, the origin of the word is from the Latin word secundare (to assist, to make favorable).
Meaning #1: occupies the second position in a series, importance or rank
Soup is my second choice.
Meaning #2: (always plural) another serving of food taken after you have finished the first one
Do you want seconds?
Meaning #3: a unit of time equal to 1/60 of a minute
It took him 35 seconds to open the box.
Meaning #4: to second, to approve something, to agree with somebody
I am tired. Let’s go home.
I will second that.
10. Type
They say that everyone has a type, but what exactly does that mean?
You can type in different kinds of types, enjoy different types of food and have different types in reference to people. It all depends on the meaning of type you are referring to.
Meaning #1: a particular kind of thing or person
I do not like this type of food. It is too greasy.
Meaning #2: the kind of person someone likes
Bea is totally my type.
Meaning #3: the different kinds of printed letters
Please, do not use the italic type. Use bold.
Meaning #4: to type, to write with a typewriter or a computer keyboard
I can type 200 words per minute.
11. Nail
Every time I hear the word nail, I think about the program “Nailed it!,” which I really recommend you watch if you love cooking and comedy, and you want to listen to some American English to improve your language skills.
Meaning #1: a piece of metal that is sharp at one end and flat at the other, usually used to attach things to wood
I used the biggest nail I had to hang the picture frame.
Meaning #2: the hard covering at the end of our fingers and toes
Sarah gets her nails painted every Tuesday.
Meaning #3: to nail, to attach something with a nail
We need to nail those boards.
Meaning #4: (slang) to nail, to do something perfectly or in an impressive way
I nailed the final test. I am so proud of myself!
12. Bark
What do dogs and trees have in common? Dogs bark and trees have bark!
I find it very interesting that a tree’s bark and to bark come from different origin words.
The hard covering of plants probably comes from the Old Norse word börkr (bark, likely related to the word birch). The sound dogs make comes from the Old English word beorcan (to bark, to utter an abrupt, explosive cry).
Meaning #1: the outer covering of a tree
Some types of bark are very beautiful.
Meaning #2: the loud sound made by a dog
His dog gave a very loud bark.
Meaning #3: to bark (from a dog or a person), to make a short loud sound
If her dog does not stop barking, I will call the police.
Stop barking at me and try to calm down.
13. Mine
If I tell you I like to mine in this mine because it is mine, you may or may not understand what I am saying, but you will after you have a look at the following meanings of the word mine.
Meaning #1: that which belongs to me
I like to mine in this mine because it is mine.
The blue bike is mine.
Meaning #2: a tunnel from which minerals are taken
I like to mine in this mine because it is mine.
He works in a gold mine.
Meaning #3: to mine, to dig a mine or to take away from a mine
I like to mine in this mine because it is mine.
She likes to mine for crystals.
14. Season
Even though the two main meanings of the word season do not seem to be related, they have an almost common ancestor, and once you understand its origin, it totally makes sense.
Season comes from the Old French word seison (a period of the year, proper time).
To season comes from the Old French word assaisoner (to ripen, to improve the flavor of).
These two Old French words are related. When the time was right (seison), fruits and vegetables grew ripe (assaisoner), which made them more palatable (tasty). Neat!
Meaning #1: one of the four periods into which the year is divided; a particular period of time during the year.
My favorite season is winter.
It is flu season.
Meaning #2: to season, to add salt, pepper or other spices to give something more flavor
Season to taste and serve hot.
15. Bat
Did you know that Batman got his name from an animal? Have you ever seen Batman use a bat to bat someone? No, not the animal, the stick!
Notice how, similarly to nail with a nail, you can say to bat with a bat. Do you see a pattern already?
Meaning #1: a long rounded stick used to hit a ball
Mendoza gave me his baseball bat.
Meaning #2: to hit with a bat
I want to bat next.
Meaning #3: an animal with wings and a furry body
I am afraid of bats.
16. Row
The main meaning of this word is a line of people or things that are next to each other.
Additionally, row can also be a verb that means to move a boat through the water with the use of oars.
Meaning #1: a straight line of people or things that are next to each other; a row of seats (in a theater or stadium).
We are going to arrange the desks in five rows of six desks each.
Meaning #2: to row, to move a boat through water by using oars
I like to row my boat in the calm lake.
17. Water
I love looking at my students’ faces when I tell them that water can be a verb.
Indeed, as it happens with many words in English, nouns can be used as verbs. In this case, the noun water, which we all know, can be used to mean to pour water on something, as on a plant, for example.
Meaning #1: a clear liquid with no color, smell or taste that falls from clouds in the form of rain, forms seas and lakes and is used for drinking, bathing, washing, etc.
I love drinking water in the morning.
Meaning #2: to water, to pour water on something; to give an animal water to drink
Please, water my plants while I am in Spain.
18. Boot
Some of us know the verb to boot means to start a computer.
British people call the trunk of a car a boot, and Americans often use this word when talking about cowboy boots.
But there is more you can learn about this word.
Meaning #1: a covering for the foot normally made of leather or rubber
I cannot find my winter boots anywhere.
Meaning #2: the trunk of a car
They found the missing money in the boot of his car.
Meaning #3: to boot, to force to leave a place; to fire
They booted James yesterday!
Meaning #4: to boot, to lock a Denver boot onto the wheel of a car so that it cannot move.
The parking attendant booted my car.
19. Club
Club has several meanings, ranging from a group of people who participate in a specific activity to a place where you can listen to music, eat some food and drink alcohol.
Other meanings include a metal stick used in golf, a wooden stick used as a weapon and even a suit in a deck of cards! That is polysemy at its finest!
Meaning #1: a group of people who meet to participate in an activity
The chess club has 200 members already.
Meaning #2: the place where members of a club meet
I will meet you in front of the chess club at 7 p.m.
Meaning #3: a business that provides entertainment, music, food, drinks, etc.
They are opening a new dance club near your house next weekend.
Meaning #4: a metal stick used for hitting a golf ball
My daughter is using my golf clubs. Can I borrow yours?
Meaning #5: a heavy wooden stick that is used as a weapon
One of the attackers hit me with a club.
Meaning #6: (plural) one of the suits in a deck of playing cards
I got the ten of clubs.
Meaning #7: to club, to hit a person or an animal with a stick or object
He clubbed the poisonous snake in his bedroom.
20. Key
What if I told you that the main definition of the word key is just one of over a dozen?
Do not panic, I will not make you learn all the different meanings of key, but it would be awesome if you learned the main ones.
Meaning #1: a device you use to open a lock or start a car
I think I have lost my keys.
Meaning #2: something that is necessary to do or achieve something
The key to learning English is practicing every day.
Meaning #3: any of the buttons of a typewriter or computer
I love typing without looking at the keys.
Meaning #4: used as an adjective to mean extremely important
He is a key worker in our company.
Meaning #5: (informal) to key, to have the most important part in something
Marcus keyed the victory for the Eagles.
21. Novel
We normally think of books when we hear the word novel, but novel can also be used as an adjective to mean that something is new and different.
Meaning #1: a long written story, normally dealing with imaginary people and events
I have published five novels so far.
Meaning #2: new and different from what has been known before
His novel approach to the problem helped us find a solution.
Phew! There you have it, 21 everyday English words with multiple meanings!
My advice is that you learn all the different meanings of a word at once when you are acquiring (learning) new vocabulary (or expanding your word bank).
If a word is very polysemic, at least learn its main meanings. This will save you time when you come across that word again in the future.
As you have been able to see in this post, by learning just one of the meanings of a word you are leaving a lot of information behind. In order to avoid that, one of the best solutions is to spend a little more time with each word you learn.
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
In the children’s book series, Amelia Bedelia, Amelia is often asked to complete tasks in which she takes the instructions literally. For example, she’s asked to dress the chicken. What does she do? Amelia literally puts a little green pair of shorts and a pink top on the chicken.
Was that what her instructions meant? Of course not! She was supposed to prepare the chicken for cooking. But that’s just it: The English language is complex because sometimes the same word can be used in a different context and have a whole new meaning. This is what’s referred to as a homonym or homophone. Let’s dive into the most frequently used English words that have double or multiple meanings.
- What are homonyms?
- What are homophones?
Start your journey to reach fluency
Most frequently used English words with multiple meanings
It’s vital to understand and recognize homophones and homonyms when in conversation with someone because you wouldn’t want to mistakenly dress a chicken up in clothing, would you?
Exactly!
Let’s first analyze homonyms.
What are Homonyms?
Homonyms are words that are spelled the same and sound the same but mean something different. We’ve compiled a list of common homonyms below.
1. Jam
When used as a noun, jam means the sweet Smucker strawberry jelly you smudge on your PB&J sandwich.
The verb jam could also have numerous meanings. For one, it could be used to refer to playing music. Here’s an example, “I got my drums and he’s got his guitar… it’s time to jam”.
2. Pool
Pool can mean the body of water in a backyard that’s used to swim in.
For example: “After a long day at work, I relaxed in my pool.”
The other version is the game of billiards or using a stick to push a ball into a specific corner of the playing table. When you play pool, you’re competing against another person to get as many of your color balls into the hole first as possible.
3. Season
The smell of freshly cut grass and distant giggles of kids splashing about in their pool are all sounds of summer. Summer is a season just like winter, fall and spring. Because the Sun and Earth are constantly moving, the sun shines differently across different areas on Earth. This creates different temperatures during the time periods we call seasons.
But “season” is a word with a double meaning: Indeed, you can season your food with salt and pepper to give it a bit of spice and pizazz!
4. Read
This word is special because it means the same thing in context but the way you say it indicates either past tense or present. The present tense version of “read” means to utter aloud, as in “I am going to read you this story right now”.
The other option, “read”, is pronounced like the color red. It means to have already studied or read aloud.
5. Letter
A letter can be a written note typically delivered via email or the symbols we use to make up words. To illustrate, “I wrote a letter to my brother while he was away at war”.
6. Nail
A nail is a protective layer of hard skin on your fingers and on most other mammals such as gorillas or cats. Some prefer to paint their nails to give them some spunk!
On the other hand, a nail could be a piece of metal used to keep two objects together. Nails are used to secure paintings to the wall or piece together bits of furniture.
7. Bat
A bat is a nocturnal bird-like animal, while the other type of bat is a wooden object used to hit a baseball.
8. Fly
In the sentence, “I will fly a plane someday” the word “fly” is used as a verb. Whereas, if I say “That tiny buzzing fly landed on my fresh food while I was eating”, I’m using the word fly as a noun.
These are only some of the most frequently used homonyms out of many.
What are homophones?
Homophones are words that are spelled differently and have different meanings but sound the same. Below are some of the most common ones:
1. One vs won
You might have one single pet or you may have won your last basketball game. One is a single unit of something and won is a victory.
2. Aloud vs allowed
Do you have kids? If so, let’s say you’ve put this rule into place: you aren’t allowed to eat chocolate ice cream before bed. The word allowed in this sentence means not permitted.
In contrast, the word aloud means to be audible. For instance, “the teacher assigned Juliet to read chapter 8 of Charlotte’s Web aloud”.
3. Affect vs effect
Affect means to make a difference. Effect on the other hand is a result. These words go hand in hand because to be affected means to have an effect. Let me clarify with an example.
Amanda wondered if Crest White Strips would affect her teeth.
Crest White Strips had the promised effect on Amanda’s teeth.
4. Here vs hear
Can you guess the difference between the meaning given these two sentences?
- Can you come over here and help me fix this sink?
- I can’t hear what you said because I’m too far away.
In the first sentence, “here” suggests a location, and the person who needs help is in a different place than the person they need help from.
You’ll notice in the second statement, “hear” suggests he or she cannot perceive what is being said because of the distance.
5. Buy vs by vs bye
Did you just sing the “Bye Bye Bye” NSYNC song in your head? Yeah, me too. The “bye” used in that song implies a farewell greeting and is short for goodbye. Use the word “buy” when you need to purchase something and the word “by” to refer to a location. Let me further explain with a couple of sample sentences:
- I got back on the plane and said bye to my boyfriend after a lovely trip together.
- I had to buy some fresh oranges from the store.
- Can you get her purse? It’s right by the door.
6. Your vs you’re
“You’re” is a contraction of the words “you are”. A contraction is a select group of words that are shortened and replaced with an apostrophe. A good way to see if you should use your or you’re is to revert to “you are” instead of “you’re” and see if it makes sense in the sentence.
For example, which sentence sounds correct:
- Is that your coat over there?
- Is that you are (you’re) coat over there?
The first one, right!? The one your in the first sentence symbolizes belonging. What belonged to the person? The coat belonged to the person.
7. Ate vs eight
I ate pizza for dinner. Here, the word ate means to consume and is the past tense version of eat. The other version, eight, is the number after seven and before nine.
8. Eye vs I
An eye is the body part you use to see the world, while “I” is a pronoun that’s used when you’re talking about yourself. Here are some examples:
- I was running late for my date because there was a traffic jam.
- I saw the magic trick with my very own eyes.
Start your journey to reach fluency
CHECK YOUR ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR FCE
4. CONFUSING PAIRS AND FALSE FRIENDS
Confusing pairs are two words which have a similar meaning to each other, but are used
in a
different way.
or Are related to the same topic, but have a different meaning.
or Look similar,
but have a different meaning
False friends are words in English which have a similar-looking word in another
language but
which have a different meaning.
Complete
the following sentences with the appropriate word.
|
1 |
actually / now Please can we go home ________ ? It looks quite small, but ________ it |
|
2 |
advice / advise My grandfather gave me a very useful I ________ you to put all your money |
|
3 |
affect / effect The cuts in spending will have a The strike will seriously ________ the |
|
4 |
already / yet I haven’t seen her ________ this I’ve ________ done my shopping. |
|
5 |
afraid I am ________ snakes. She’s ________ the baby; he doesn’t |
|
6 |
avoid / prevent The police will ________ anyone from You should travel early to ________ the |
|
7 |
beside / besides Come and sit down ________ me. ________ managing the shop, he also |
|
8 |
bring / fetch It’s your turn to ________ the children Don’t forget to ________ the books to |
|
9 |
chance / possibility Our team has a good ________ of winning There is always the ________ that the |
|
10 |
channel / canal You can take a boat trip around the Can you switch the television to England and France are separated by the |
|
11 |
conduct / direct Von Karajan will ________ the Berlin It took two policemen to ________ the |
|
12 |
continuous / continual She has been in ________ pain for three I am getting fed up with her ________ |
|
13 |
driver / chauffeur The ________ brought the Rolls Royce to He’s got a job as a bus ________ . |
|
14 |
formidable / wonderful They had a ________ holiday by a lake The castle is surrounded by ________ |
|
15 |
fun / funny I didn’t have much ________ on my He made ________ faces and made the |
|
16 |
go / play Shall we ________ jogging or swimming? Neither. Let’s ________ tennis. |
|
17 |
come Would you like to ________ me to the Make sure the dog doesn’t ________ me |
|
18 |
harm / damage Don’t ________ my sunglasses if you He didn’t mean to ________ your little |
|
19 |
invent / discover Did Alexander Fleming ________ When did she ________ the new computer |
|
20 |
job / work He goes to ________ every day on his She’s got a ________ in the |
|
21 |
kind / sympathetic You should always be ________ to little I’m very ________ to her problems. |
|
22 |
lay / lie I’m very tired; I’ll just go and My father is going to ________ a new |
|
23 |
lend / borrow Can I ________ you car to go to the He asked me if I would ________ him £5 |
|
24 |
nature / countryside We must try to protect ________ and the The English ________ is beautiful in |
|
25 |
pass / take She had to ________ her driving test |
|
26 |
practice / practise You need more ________ before you’re Don’t forget to ________ your phrasal |
|
27 |
priceless / valueless Be very careful with that painting; Her jewels were all imitations; they |
|
28 |
principal / principle She refuses to eat meat on ________ . The ________ wants to see you in her The country’s ________ products are We talked about the ________s of |
|
29 |
raise / rise Does the sun ________ in the east or the The airline are going to ________ their |
|
30 |
recipe / receipt Goods cannot be exchanged unless a I gave her an Indian ________ book for |
|
31 |
remember / remind Would you ________ me to finish early Did you ________ to switch off the |
|
32 |
scenery / view I adore the beautiful ________ in the You can get a good ________ of the sea |
|
33 |
sensible / sensitive She’s very ________ and is easily Staying indoors was a ________ thing to |
|
34 |
take / bring Can you ________ this cheque to the Can I ________ my girlfriend here for |
ANSWER KEY