English Words That Have Multiple Meanings (With Examples)
Have you ever noticed how one English word can mean several different things?
That’s because English is full of polysemous words (words with multiple related meanings) and homonyms (words that sound or look the same but have different meanings).
For example, the word “bill” can mean a restaurant check or a bird’s beak, while “set” can refer to a group of objects or the act of placing something down.
In this guide, we’ll explore English words with multiple meanings, show you how context changes their meaning, and share examples that help you sound more natural in real conversations.
Common English Words With Multiple Meanings
Here’s a list of 20 everyday English words that have more than one meaning.
Notice how the same word can be used in different contexts and still make perfect sense!
Word | Meaning | Example |
| Bat | Flying mammal | A bat sleeps during the day. |
| Sports stick | He hit the ball with a bat. | |
| Bank | A financial institution | I save money in the bank. |
| The side of a river | We had a picnic by the river bank. | |
| Bark | Sound a dog makes | The dog began to bark. |
| Outer layer of a tree | The tree’s bark is rough. | |
| Bear | An animal | A bear lives in the forest. |
| To tolerate or endure | I can’t bear the noise. | |
| Bill | A statement of money owed | Can I have the bill, please? |
| A bird’s beak | The duck has a flat bill. | |
| Book | Something you read | I love this book. |
| To reserve | I’ll book a table for dinner. | |
| Fly | Floating in the air | The eagle flies very high. |
| An insect | This fly is bothering my meal. | |
| Letter | A character in the alphabet | A has three letters. |
| A written message | He sent me a letter. | |
| Match | A competition | They won the football match. |
| Something that lights a fire | He lit a candle with a match. | |
| Nail | A metal pin | Hammer the nail into the wall. |
| Part of your finger | I painted my nails red. | |
| Park | A green public area | Let’s walk in the park. |
| To leave a vehicle | You can park here. | |
| Plane | An aircraft | We took a plane to London. |
| A flat surface | Draw a plane figure. | |
| Right | Correct | You’re right! |
| Opposite of left | Turn right at the corner. | |
| Ring | A piece of jewelry | She wears a gold ring. |
| The sound a bell makes | The phone is ringing. | |
| Spring | The season | Spring comes after winter. |
| To jump | The mattress has springs. | |
| Seal | A sea animal | We saw a seal at the zoo. |
| To close something tightly | Seal the envelope before mailing it. | |
| Tie | Worn around the neck. | This red tie goes well with a blazer. |
| The same score in a match | Today's game ended in a tie. | |
| Unite something with a rope | He tied his shoelaces before running. | |
| Rock | A stone | There’s a rock on the path. |
| Music genre | I love rock music. | |
| Watch | A timepiece | I bought a new watch. |
| To look carefully | Watch your step! | |
| Well | In good health | She feels well today. |
| A hole to get water | They found water in a well. |
Tip: When you learn a new English word, try to memorize at least two meanings, it helps you understand native speakers better!
Advanced or Interesting Examples
Some English words have so many meanings that they can surprise even advanced learners.
These are fun, tricky, and sometimes humorous examples of words with multiple meanings.
- Set: (1) To place something, (2) A collection of items, (3) To fix or adjust.
Fun fact: “Set” holds the world record for the English word with the most meanings over 400 definitions in the Oxford Dictionary!
- Buffalo: Can be used as a noun, a verb, and even a proper noun.
Example: Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. (This famous grammatical sentence means “Bison from Buffalo confuse other bison.”)
- Bow: (1) To bend forward, (2) A weapon for shooting arrows, (3) A decorative knot.
Example: She tied a bow on her dress. / He took a bow after his performance.
- Pad: (1) A soft cushion, (2) A notepad, (3) To walk softly.
Example: Write it down on your pad. / The cat padded across the floor.
These examples show the richness of English vocabulary, and why context is everything!
Curious about more unusual vocabulary?
Check out our article on weird words in English. You’ll discover rare, funny, and surprising terms that even native speakers find strange!
How Context Changes Meaning (and How to Learn Them)
The same English word can change meaning completely depending on the context.
That’s why understanding how a word is used in a sentence is key to fluency.
Example:
- Run: I run every morning. (move fast) / She runs a café. (manage a business)
- Light: The box is light. (not heavy) / Light the candle. (make it shine)
- Book: I’m reading a book. (noun) / Book a flight early. (verb)
The same thing happens with phrasal verbs, which, like single words, often change meaning based on context.
For example, take off, can means to remove clothing or departed (for a flight).
Mini Practice Activity
Choose the correct meaning of the underlined word based on the sentence.
- The bat flew out of the cave as the sun set.
a) A piece of sports equipment
b) A flying animal
- I need to go to the bank to withdraw some money.
a) The edge of a river
b) A financial institution
- Please book a table for two at the restaurant.
a) A written or printed work
b) To reserve something
- The soldiers will march through the city next week.
a) A month of the year
b) To walk in a formal, rhythmic way
- My new watch was a birthday gift from my parents.
a) A device for telling time
b) To look carefully
Learning Tip
When you encounter a word with several meanings, write down the sentence where you saw it.
Then, look for another example online or in a movie. Noticing patterns will help the meaning “stick” in your mind.
Conclusion
English is full of words that carry multiple meanings, making it both challenging and fascinating to learn.
By paying attention to context, tone, and sentence structure, you can easily understand and use them correctly.
Explore EZClass and the EZClass blog to continue expanding your vocabulary and sound more like a native speaker!
