Crossed meanings

Be careful! These 12 words with double meaning might get you in trouble

English is full of surprises, especially the kind that makes you read twice. You’ve probably said or read a word one way your whole life, only to find out it’s got a sneaky second meaning (or even a totally different pronunciation). These words, called homographs, look the same on paper but have two or more meanings. Some even change how they are pronounced depending on what they’re doing in a sentence. Here are 12 classic examples that are sure to amuse, confuse, and maybe even make you question everything you thought you knew.

Here’s one that trips people up in both speech and spelling. "Lead" (rhyming with "reed") means to guide someone or something, like when you lead a group on a walk. But spelled the same, "lead" (rhyming with "red") is a heavy metal once used in pipes and paint.

Same letters, completely different use. One makes you feel like a confident icon, the other is banned from gas and drinking water.

Have you ever cried watching an old movie and then torn up a tissue in frustration? Then, you touched on both of these homographs.

"Tear" (like "tare") means to rip something apart, which is pretty straightforward. But "tear" (like "teer") is also what falls from your eyes when emotions run high. The two meanings couldn’t be more different; one is physical destruction, the other is an emotional outpouring.

Picture this: you’re fishing and catch a bass, then head home and crank up the bass on your stereo. Same word, wildly different scenes.

One refers to a popular fish, often fried and served with hushpuppies. The other is all about that low-end thump in music that rattles your windows. Oddly enough, they’re pronounced completely differently: "base" for the sound, "bass" (like "class") for the fish.

English really takes a turn with "wind." When you feel the wind blowing through your hair, it’s that breezy force of nature. But when you wind your old alarm clock or a jack-in-the-box, you’re giving it a spin.

In this case, the pronunciation changes, and so does the meaning, but only one gets leaves stuck in your teeth.

Few words are as fashionably confusing as "bow." Take a bow on stage after a performance, or tie a bow on a birthday present. In one case, you’re bending forward graciously; in the other, you’re accessorizing.

It’s worth noting there's a third "bow," as in the curved weapon that shoots arrows, just to keep you on your toes.

In America, "row" often brings up images of gently paddling down a stream, singing songs, and enjoying nature. In Britain, however, a "row" (rhymes with "cow") is a noisy argument, like the kind couples have in rom-coms. Add to that the line of chairs in a movie theater or a "row" of houses, and now you’ve got three meanings from one tidy little word. How’s that for polysemy?

Talk about small surprises: "minute" (as in time) is what you watch tick away. But "minute" (rhyming with "my newt") means something tiny, like a minute crack in your favorite mug.

You’d never guess they’re related, but both come from Latin roots about measurement.

You wouldn't want to desert your friend in the desert, but English seems fine with doing just that. "Desert" (DEH-zurt) is a dry, sandy place full of cacti and tumbleweeds. But "desert" (dih-ZURT) means to abandon someone.

It’s a real twist when the same word covers both literal emptiness and emotional betrayal. It also explains why spellcheck can’t always save you.

You might refuse to take out the refuse, and honestly, who can blame you? "Refuse" (reh-FYOOZ) means to decline something, like offers of leftovers or unsolicited advice. "Refuse" (REH-fyoos) is the garbage you’re probably avoiding.

It’s the kind of word pair that hides in plain sight; in any case, both might lead to stinky situations.

There’s something magical about a word that can give a gift and deliver a speech. "Present" as a noun is something you give wrapped with a bow and possibly a gift receipt. "Present" as a verb, and with the accent on the last syllable, means to introduce or showcase something, like an award or a slideshow.

The meanings actually share a root: both involve offering something. But one gets applause, the other gets unwrapped.

A grocery-store homograph; when you produce something, you’re creating that thing. But when you shop for produce (accent on the first syllable), you’re looking for fresh fruits and veggies.

Both meanings involve growth, but one is from a creative mind, the other from soil and sunshine.

Be careful with this one: you can sign a CON-tract… or con-TRACT the flu. The first one, a noun, is a legal document you agree to. The second one, a verb, means to shrink or to catch something unpleasant, like having a virus or a muscle cramp. Again, pronunciation changes, but spelling is the same. So whether you’re dealing with paperwork or pathogens, just know this word has range. And maybe wash your hands either way.

Deathbed statements

Beyond the grave: Take a look at the last words of 12 famous people

Image: Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Throughout history, hundreds of historical figures have left their mark on the world through their marvelous achievements. When their lives came to an end, their last words were often a reflection of their lives and ideals. From George Washington and Mark Twain to Frank Sinatra and Leonardo Da Vinci, in this article, we will reveal 12 final words of memorable personalities.

Image: The New York Public Library

After serving two terms as the United State's first president, George Washington retired to his Virginia plantation. In mid-December 1799, he developed a cold and a severe sore throat. Despite doctors' efforts to cure him, the end was imminent.

His long-time secretary, Tobias Lear, was at his side during his last days and documented all the events that transpired, including the former president's last words. According to his account, shortly before he took his last breath George Washington said "Tis well" —an old-fashioned way of saying "everything is okay."

Image: Signal Corps Archive from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Noir icon of perpetual elegance and rebellious charisma, Humphrey Bogart is an undisputed legend in cinema history. A Hollywood Golden Age star, Bogart is still remembered today for his scar on his upper lip, his everlasting cigarette, and his perfect portrayal of gangsters and detectives.

At the age of 57 Bogart was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, for which he was hospitalized for several months. According to lore, the legendary star's last words were "I should never have switched from scotch to martinis." However, his wife Lauren Bacall confirmed that the last thing he actually said was "Goodbye Kid. Hurry back," before she left his bedside to get their children.

Image: Miscellaneous Items in High Demand, PPOC, Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As one of the greatest American writers of all time, Mark Twain is usually credited with all sorts of great quotes that he often didn't say. For that reason, there are different versions of what his last words were before he died in 1910 at the age of 74.

The most plausible theory can be found in an article published one day after his death. According to this chronicle, Samuel Langhorne Clemens' last words were not spoken aloud but written. The famous humorist and essayist reportedly wrote to his daughter Clara, who accompanied him on his bedside, "Give me my glasses."

Image: MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Joan Crawford, the Oscar winner for Mildred Pierce and one of the greatest stars of Hollywood's golden age, died in 1977 of a heart attack.

The actress, who had a complicated personality, was true to her nature until her last breath. She was so ill that her doctor felt it wasn’t worth taking her to the hospital. One of her nurses began to pray aloud in desperation. Losing her patience, Crawford snapped for the last time and said, "Damn it... Don't you dare ask God to help me."

Image: Municipal Library of Trento, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The year 2024 marked the 700th anniversary of the death of the man who better described remote lands. Marco Polo was a merchant who spent more than 20 years of his life traveling through the Orient and wrote about his adventures in a book that became a bestseller when the printing press wasn’t even invented.

Marco Polo was, and still is, a legend. When, on his deathbed, his wife and friends begged the brave explorer to confess if what he had told in the book was true, he barely whispered: "I have not told the half of what I saw and did."

Image: MGM, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Julius Henry Marx, better known as Groucho Marx, is considered one of the most influential comedians of all time. The man with the bushy black mustache was one of the Marx Brothers. Together they made 13 films, including the classic Duck Soup. After a long and prominent career, Groucho passed away in Los Angeles in 1977 at the age of 86.

His brilliant one-liners are still remembered and replayed to this day, so it is not surprising that not one but several final words are attributed to him. A few close friends have suggested that his last line was "This is no way to live!", while most suggest that his last words were in fact dedicated to his wife: "Die, my dear? Why, that's the last thing I'll do!"

Image: Nicolas de Largillière, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Voltaire, the French writer, philosopher, historian, and lawyer, one of the major figures of the Enlightenment, died in 1778 at the age of 83. Different accounts of his deathbed make it impossible to determine exactly what his last days were like.

One of these stories, however, is consistent with his ideas about God and his well-known criticism of the Church. According to this version, when the priest asked him if he wanted to renounce Satan before he died, Voltaire replied, "This is no time to make new enemies."

Image: William Wallace Denslow, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

L. Frank Baum was a prolific American author. He wrote 55 novels, 82 short stories, and more than 200 poems. However, his most memorable work is his series of children's fantasy books The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

On May 5, 1919, Baum suffered a heart attack. He died the next day, shortly before his 63rd birthday. Disturbed by the imminence of death, he whispered to his wife: "Now we can cross the Shifting Sands," a clear reference to the Land of Oz.

Image: National Archaeological Museum of Athens, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Augustus, the first Roman emperor, is often attributed with the phrase: "Behold, I found Rome of clay, and leave her to you of marble," alluding to the great infrastructural works carried out during his prosperous 40 years of rule.

However, according to other historical accounts, his last words were addressed to the friends who stayed with him on his deathbed: "Have I played the part well? Then applaud, as I exit."

Image: English: Distributed by NBC. Photographer unknown., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

"Darling, you've gone through worse and you can beat this too. You have to fight," implored Barbara Marx, Frank Sinatra's fourth wife, to her beloved on his deathbed. "I'm losing," The Voice whispered through teary eyes.

Barbara recounted the last hours of the singer of such hits as My Way and New York, New York in her memoir Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank. Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular entertainers of the mid-20th century, pronounced his last words in 1998 at the age of 82.

Image: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite being one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci was very hard on himself. All his life he challenged his own limits, evident in his paintings and sculptures as well as in his inventions, some of which were truly revolutionary.

Even after a lifetime of success, he wasn’t quite satisfied. When he suffered a stroke at the age of 67, he sent for a priest to receive the Holy Sacrament and, according to historians, his greatest regret was that he hadn’t achieved excellence with his work. In that sense, it is said that his last words were: "I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have."

Image: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Yankee Clipper was one of the greatest baseball players of all time but he is also known for having been married to the iconic American actress Marilyn Monroe. Joe and Marilyn were together for less than three years. In 1955 the actress left him for American playwright Arthur Miller.

DiMaggio was devastated. He never married again, and never got over his one true love. His last words before he died in 1999 at the age of 84 were: "I'll finally get to see Marilyn."