Did you hear about the baker who went out of business? He just couldn’t make enough dough!
Or how about the young musician who failed his exam because he couldn’t find his notes?
Both these jokes can be hard to understand if you are a Spanish speaker learning English. That’s because they play on English words with multiple meanings.
In the first case, ‘dough’ refers to the mixture of flour and water that’s used to make bread. But ‘dough’ also means money in informal language.
In the case of the musician, similarly, ‘notes’ refers to tones made by a musical instrument. But ‘notes’ also means points written down during a class or lecture for later reference.
All jokes aside, English words can be wildly confusing at times, especially for non-native speakers!
There are hundreds, probably thousands, of words that mean one thing in a given context and something completely different in another.
To give you one example of the complex patterns of the English language, the commonplace word ‘set’ holds a Guinness World Record for the English word with the most meanings.
According to the 1989 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, it has a total of 430 different senses.
And we haven’t even started talking about English words that have directly opposite meanings.
To be fair, English is not the only language with words that have multiple meanings. Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and French have dozens of such words as well.
Take the Spanish word ‘banco’, for instance. Depending on the context, it can mean ‘bank’, ‘bench’, or a ‘school of fish’. The word Caña, likewise, can mean ‘sugar cane’, ‘fishing rod’, or a ‘glass of beer’.
What sets English apart from other languages in this regard is the sheer volume of words with multiple meanings.
That is mostly due to the historical willingness of English-speaking people to incorporate words from other languages like Latin, Greek, German, French, and Scandinavian, among others.
Over the centuries, the meanings and usage of these new words constantly changed, overlapped, and altered. Finally, some of those words evolved to resemble others despite having no initial relation.
For instance, the word ‘crane’ refers both to a bird and a lifting device. Similarly, ‘season’ can mean both a time of the year and the act of adding ingredients like salt and pepper to enhance the flavor of a dish.
The existence of words with many possible meanings is referred to as ‘polysemy’.
Here’s why it is a crucial aspect of the English language that non-native learners must understand:
A better understanding of English vocabulary is key to speaking confidently in both social and professional settings.
Please remember that each of these 10 words can have more meanings than we mention. Our selection of the words and meanings is based on how commonly they are used in everyday expressions.
1. Set.
To arrange something: Please set the table for dinner.
A collection of things: The mechanic got a new set of tools.
To become firm: The jelly will set in the fridge in minutes.
To prepare or arrange: We set the meeting for next Monday.
2. Run.
To move swiftly on foot: She runs 5 miles every morning.
To manage or operate: Andy runs a warehousing business.
To flow: The Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon.
To compete: Pete is going to run for mayor a second time.
3. Match.
Being equal: The pillows on the couch all match.
A firestarter: I need a match to light the candle.
To pair together: His shoes matched his sweater perfectly.
A competitive game: The football match ended in a draw.
4. Rock.
A large stone: He threw a rock into the lake.
To move back and forth: She rocked the baby gently to sleep. Something strong and reliable: I need to see rock-solid proof. A type of music: Led Zeppelin was an awesome rock band.
5. Spring.
A season of the year: We had an unusually cold spring last year.
A mechanical coil: A premium mattress has 2,000 springs.
A natural water source: A clear and cool mountain spring.
To leap or jump: He sprang out of his hiding place.
6. Fair.
Just or impartial: The judge handed down a fair decision.
A public event: We all went to the village fair last weekend.
Light in color or appearance: A fair-skinned blonde.
Reasonable: $2 is a fair price to pay for a slice of pizza.
7. Play.
To engage in a game: The children were busy playing.
To perform on a musical instrument: She plays the piano.
A theatrical performance: Macbeth is a play for the ages.
To act in a role: He plays the part of a villain in the movie.
8. Well.
In good health: Hope you’re doing well.
A source of water: The women chatted by the village well.
Satisfactory: He did quite well in her exams.
An expression of surprise: Well, that’s a surprise!
9. Right.
Correct: That is the right answer.
The direction opposite of left: Take the next right turn.
A legal entitlement: The right to free speech is guaranteed.
A privilege or claim: You have a right to express your opinion.
10. Face.
The front part of the head: She has a beautiful face.
To confront: You must face your fears to overcome them.
The surface of an object: A cube has six faces.
To be positioned in a particular direction: The couple wanted an East-facing house.
Find out more English words with multiple meanings to improve your vocabulary and overall articulation.
English words with two opposite meanings are called contronyms. This can sometimes be due to coincidence but more often as a result of words changing meaning over time, as discussed earlier.
Here are 8 English words that can trip you up if you don’t know their contradictory meanings:
1. Sanction.
To approve: The government approved plans for a new airport.
To penalize: The country was sanctioned for breaking international law.
2. Trim.
To cut down in size: He trimmed his hair before the interview.
To add to: They trimmed the Christmas tree with ornaments.
3. Off.
Turned down or not working: The lights were off.
Activated: The alarm went off in the middle of the night.
4. Weather.
To endure: This castle has weathered 300 years of storms.
To erode: The paint on the fences weathered in just a season.
5. Buckle.
To fasten: Buckle your seatbelt on.
To collapse: The horse buckled under the weight of the load.
6. Seed.
To plant: He seeded his farm with corn.
To remove seeds: You have to seed the lime before making lemonade.
7. Bound.
Headed somewhere: He was bound for home when the accident happened.
Tied up: The magician had his hands bound behind his back for the trick.
8. Ticket.
A permit for entry: We got front-row tickets to the concert.
A citation for a violation: He got two parking tickets last week.
English is a language with tremendous subtleties in its grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.
At Immigo, we know it can be difficult for Spanish speakers to pick up the nuances of English. That is why our immersive platform is designed to quickly familiarize you with the unique aspect of the language.
Whether it’s by engaging in lively conversations with peers or receiving real-time feedback from language experts, our approach is to help you learn faster and speak more confidently.
Reach out today if you’re keen to achieve native-level proficiency in English speaking.
