15 Words With Multiple Meanings

The English language has a lot of words with double meanings, words with 3
meanings, and even more! Let's learn some of them.

Beginner Words
bark
The noun bark refers to the outer covering of a tree. The verb bark refers to the
sound a dog makes.

nails
The hard parts on your fingers and toes are your nails (you can also
say fingernails and toenails, more specifically). Nails are also thin, sharp metal
pieces used in construction.

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jam
The noun jam means a sweet paste made out of fruit.
It is also called jelly.

The verb jam means to put something into a space

that is too small for it. For example you would jam a
week's worth of clothes into a small backpack.

A traffic jam is when the cars on the road are very slow or stopped.

pool
A pool (or swimming pool) is a man-made area of water, for swimming. Pool also
refers to a game where you try to put the colored and numbered balls into the
holes around the edges of the table. It can also be called billiards.

mine
The word mine is a possessive adjective. For example, "The blue car is mine."

Mine is also a noun. It can refer to the place where

minerals are dug out of the earth (this activity is
called mining, and the people who do it are
called miners).

A mine or landmine also refers to a bomb that is buried

underground; it will explode when someone steps on it
or drives over it. These are used in war.

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Intermediate Words
bolt
A bolt is a type of metal fastener. The word bolt is also used for a single ray of
lightning (a lightning bolt). Finally, bolt is a verb meaning to run extremely fast.

season
A season (noun) is a period of the year with a particular climate/weather (spring,
summer, fall, winter).

The verb season means to apply spices or flavorings to food. These spices or
flavorings are called seasonings. For example, you might season a chicken before
roasting it in the oven.

novel
A novel (noun) is a fictional book of significant length.

The word novel can also be used as an adjective to

mean especially new, unusual, or different. For
example, a novel approach to solving a problem.

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draft
The noun draft refers to a current of air into an enclosed space. For example, if
there's a space under your front door, there will be a draft in the house and it
might get cold.

Draft as a noun also refers to a version of a document, plan, or

drawing. A rough draft is a version that has not yet been revised,
and the final draft is the final version of it.

If a country has a draft, it means the citizens must obligatorily

participate in the military. Draft can also be a verb in this case - a
person can be drafted to serve in the military.

squash
The word squash refers to a family of vegetables that have hard exterior shells,
and we eat the inside part. The picture shows just one type of squash; there are
many.

Squash is also an indoor sport played with rackets and a ball.

Finally, the verb squash means to crush something (compress/destroy it with

pressure). You would squash a spider if you saw it crawling across your kitchen
floor. If you put something heavy on top of your bread when loading your grocery
bags, the bread would get squashed.

EspressoEnglish.net © Shayna Oliveira 2023

Advanced Words

buckle
The word buckle refers to a metal clasp, such as one found
on a belt. Buckle is also a verb meaning to close/fasten such
a clasp. For example, you should buckle your seatbelt when
you get into the car. (The opposite is unbuckle).

The other meaning for the word buckle is to collapse, especially under a lot of
weight or pressure. For example, a person's legs might buckle if they faint
(become unconscious). If you buckle under the stress or your job, it means you
break down emotionally.

current
The adjective current describes something that is modern or happening now.

Current as a noun refers to the direction and

speed of flow of a liquid (such as water in
the ocean or in a river), gas, or electricity.

harbor
A harbor (noun) is a sheltered area of water that is deep enough so that ships can
anchor there.

The verb harbor means to provide shelter.

For example, it is a crime to harbor a
fugitive (a criminal who is running away
from the police or legal authorities).

You can also harbor negative feelings such

as resentment or a grudge, meaning to
keep those feelings alive inside you.

EspressoEnglish.net © Shayna Oliveira 2023

hatch
Hatch (verb) refers to the process of a baby bird coming out of its egg.

A hatch (noun) is an opening in the floor, ceiling, or wall of a ship or aircraft, often
having a door on hinges.

racket
A racket is a piece of sports equipment containing a round frame and netting -
used in tennis, squash, badminton, and other games.

The noun racket also means loud, often chaotic noise. For example, how can I
study when the party next door is making a racket?

More words with multiple meanings:

• Common English homonyms

• 25 different ways to use the word RUN
• List of homonyms, definitions and examples

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Want to increase your vocabulary & improve your fluency?

EspressoEnglish.net © Shayna Oliveira 2023

Quiz – Multiple Meaning Words
Complete each sentence with one of the words from the box. Many can be used
twice.

bark current hatch nails racket

bolt draft jam novel season
buckle harbor mine pool squash

1. A number of fishing boats are scattered around the ___________.

2. A soldier was killed when his car ran over a land ___________.
3. Careful - if you scare the horse, it might ___________.
4. Don't step on the flowers, you'll ___________ them.
5. Every time the doorbell rings, my dog starts to ___________.
6. Hold on - I need to ___________ the baby into the car seat.
7. I dropped my hat in the river and it was swept away by the ___________.
8. I wouldn't cross that old wooden bridge; it could ___________.
9. If you don't ___________ the meat, then it won't taste very good.
10.I'll send you the first ___________of the contract for your review.
11.My country doesn't have a ___________- serving in the military is entirely
voluntary.
12.My neighbors are remodeling their apartment, and the drills and hammers
are making a ___________.
13.My wife painted her ___________as she got ready for the party.
14.Roasted ___________is an excellent side dish for a turkey dinner.

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15.Everyone was impressed by her ___________ ideas for the marketing
campaign.
16.That company owns a copper ___________ in South Africa.
17.The author's latest ___________ was turned into a movie.
18.The bar has a few arcade games and ___________ tables.
19.The ___________ of this tree is excellent for starting fires.
20.The children had crackers with blueberry ___________ for their snack.
21.The country's ___________ president is not planning to seek re-election.
22.The photographer captured an amazing picture of a lightning ___________.
23.The sailor opened the ___________and climbed up onto the deck of the
ship.
24.We were late because we got stuck in a huge traffic ___________.
25.What's your favorite ___________? Mine is summer.
26.You shouldn't ___________anger against your spouse; it will destroy the
relationship.

EspressoEnglish.net © Shayna Oliveira 2023

Answers to Quiz
1. A number of fishing boats are scattered around the harbor.
2. A soldier was killed when his car ran over a land mine.
3. Careful - if you scare the horse, it might bolt.
4. Don't step on the flowers, you'll squash them.
5. Every time the doorbell rings, my dog starts to bark.
6. Hold on - I need to buckle the baby into the car seat.
7. I dropped my hat in the river and it was swept away by the current.
8. I wouldn't cross that old wooden bridge; it could buckle.
9. If you don't season the meat, then it won't taste very good.
10.I'll send you the first draft of the contract for your review.
11.My country doesn't have a draft - serving in the military is entirely
voluntary.
12.My neighbors are remodeling their apartment, and the drills and hammers
are making a racket.
13.My wife painted her nails as she got ready for the party.
14.Roasted squash is an excellent side dish for a turkey dinner.
15.Everyone was impressed by her novel ideas for the marketing campaign.
16.That company owns a copper mine in South Africa.
17.The author's latest novel was turned into a movie.
18.The bar has a few arcade games and pool tables.
19.The bark of this tree is excellent for starting fires.
20.The children had crackers with blueberry jam for their snack.
21.The country's current president is not planning to seek re-election.

EspressoEnglish.net © Shayna Oliveira 2023

22.The photographer captured an amazing picture of a lightning bolt.
23.The sailor opened the hatch and climbed up onto the deck of the ship.
24.We were late because we got stuck in a huge traffic jam.
25.What's your favorite season? Mine is summer.
26.You shouldn't harbor anger against your spouse; it will destroy the
relationship.

EspressoEnglish.net © Shayna Oliveira 2023