爱华网'It's your call.'说的不是打电话，而是做决定；
'I need some company.'跟公司没有半点关系，而是要人陪；
'You're so mean.'指某人很刻薄，但是'To do a mean job.'则是夸一个人有能力。
英语里很多常用词，不同情况下，意思完全不一样！不知道其中的区别，日常交流、读书看报，很可能造成误会、闹出笑话。
今天，我们就说说最常用的英语多义词！
相同的词在不同的句子里，意思可能完全不一样！
“多义词”顾名思义是一个词有多个意思，但在老外看来，每个不同的意思都是不同的词。这也算是文化差异吧。
Every language has words with many meanings: 每种语言都有自己的多义词
Today, we’re going to talk about English words with multiple meanings that seem entirelyunrelated to each other: 今天我们要说的这些英语多义词，它们的多个意思相差甚远
These words have a primary meaning that's well-known to all, but they also have one common lesser-known meaning: 这些词最主要的意思大家都知道，但它们另外至少还有一个你可能不知道的意思
Words with multiple meanings: 多义词 (比较常见的“多义词”在英语中的表达)
Many native speakers think of it as two different words: 很多英语母语者会把多义词看成完全不同的词
But for many English learners, they are the same word since the spelling and the pronunciation are the same: 但对很多英语学习者来说，多义词的拼法一样，读音也一样，明明就是一个词啊
“Title”
刚打完的NBA总决赛、激战正酣的欧洲杯，都会用到'title'这个词。
Title最常见的三个意思：
1. name of a book, article and so forth: 书名、文章标题等
2. description of a position, rank, status: 职称、头衔
3. championship: 冠军
Job title: 工作职位、头衔
Title of a book or article: 书名或文章的题目
In the context of sports, title means championship: 在体育相关的文本中，title指的是总冠军
You can think of championship as something like a job title: 你也可以把总冠军看作一个像工作职位一样的头衔
A person can be the president of a company while a team can be the champion of a competition: 一个人可以是公司的老总；一个球队可以是比赛的冠军（两者都是头衔）
This year, Spain is defending their Euro Cup title: 今年西班牙是欧洲杯的卫冕球队
“Conference”
Conference:
1. meeting: 会议、大会
2. an association of sports teams that play each other: 体育联合会、赛区，只有NBA和NHL(全美冰球联赛)等一些赛事才分conference
You can also see a conference as a meeting of teams : 你可以把体育赛事中的conference看作是一场球队的集会
Eastern and Western Conference: 东部赛区、西部赛区
说完体育，再说说口语中最容易造成误解的多义词！
“Fine”
Fine有两个截然不同的意思:
1. good, great: 好、棒
2. money one has to pay as punishment: 罚款、罚金 (亦可作动词，表示对...处以罚款)
'Fine' is one of the very first English words that people learn: Fine算是大家最先学的英语词之一了
One meaning of “fine” is “good”: “Fine”的一个意思就是“好、不错”
Right now, in Shanghai, there’re so many police on the street, stopping people on their motorcycles and scooters and giving them a fine: 现在上海路上警察不少，专拦那些违反交规的骑摩托车、骑电动车的人，然后开罚款
I got fined today: 我今天被罚款了
Singaporeans often say that Singapore is a very “fine” country: 新加坡人喜欢说自己的国家是一个很“fine”的国家，一语双关，一来说国家好，二来表示这个国家各种罚款很多
'Mean'
Mean的几个不同含义：
intent to convey or refer to: 意思 (动词)
unkind: 不友好的、刻薄的、凶凶的 (形容词）
excellent: 出色的，口语中使用，形容技术、技巧高超， (形容词）
The word “mean” used to confuse the hell out of me: Mean这个词以前我真是搞不清
What does the word 'mean' mean?: 这个词什么意思？
Mean Girls: 一部美国电影，讲的是一群很刻薄的高中女欺负其他同学
My mom makes a mean Lasagna: 我妈做的千层面特别好吃
He plays a mean guitar: 他吉他弹得特别棒
When talking about a person’s skills, “mean” is a compliment that suggests he or she is high-skilled: 如果mean形容的是一个人的技巧、技能，那这个时候mean其实是说这个人做得特别好、特别棒
Jenny records a mean podcast: Jenny的播客做的特别好
When referring to skills, “mean” is good; when referring to personalities, “mean” is bad:讲一个人的技能、能力，用mean是褒义的；但用于形容人的性格时，mean就是个贬义词了
'Neat'
Neat的意思：
1. clean and tidy: 干净整洁
2. very good, cool: 极好的
For a lot of you who have learned the word “neat”, you might know it means “clean and tidy”: 学过neat这个词的人都应该知道neat有干净整洁的意思
But it also means 'cool' in everyday spoken English: 在日常口语中，neat也有cool的意思，指特别好、特别酷
'That’s neat!': 好的，不错，真棒
You can also replace “good” with “neat”: 也可以用neat来代替good
'Correct'
Correct的不同含义:
1. right: 正确的 （形容词）
2. put right; make right: 修正、纠正 （动词）
I often get confused when I see this word on the screen of a bank machine: 我每次在ATM屏幕上看到这个词都搞不清它的意思
Does it mean 'correct' as in there's no mistake? 是正确的意思？
Or does it mean since you made a mistake, you need to correct it: 还是按错了，要纠正的意思？
Have you figured it out?: 你最后搞清楚了吗？
I just use the Chinese. It’s much easier: 我就直接看中文，反而比看英语轻松
＊根据语境来分辨多义词的意思是关键！
比如截图中，写着“correct'和'cancel'这两个词，既然cancel的意思是取消，那correct在这里应该就是正确的意思。＊
'Note'
note作为名词的主要两个意思：
1. a piece of paper with information written on it: 纸条
2. banknote, paper money: 纸币
to write someone a note: 给某人写纸条、留便条
Some students take notes in class while some pass notes to each other: 上课的时候，有些同学记笔记，有些同学互相传小纸条
banknote: 纸币
coins and notes: 硬币和纸币
In monetary terms, notes refer to paper money: 讲货币的时候，notes指的就是纸币
This machine can only provide five-dollar notes: 本机只提供面值5美元的纸币
＊说到纸币，note在英式英语里更常用；而美国人更习惯用bill这个词。也是多义词，除了账单，还有一个意思是纸币。如: five-dollar bills五元纸币'
'Company'
Company的主要两种意思：
1. a firm or business: 公司
2. the state of being with someone: 他人的陪伴
I’m very lonely. I could use some company: 我好孤单，要有人陪陪我就好了
Adam, you are great company: Adam, 有你陪伴真好/跟你在一起真开心
to keep somebody company: 陪某人
'You’re the company you keep': 近朱者赤，近墨者黑
Party
Party的意思:
1. a social event: 派对
2. a group of people: 一群人，一个团体
As you go into restaurant, the waiter/waitress might ask you “How many people in your party?”: 进餐厅的时候，服务员会问你“请问几位?”
The bride, bridegroom, groomsmen and bridesmaids are collectively known as the wedding party: 新郎新娘伴郎伴娘一行人统称wedding party
The party after the wedding is actually called the wedding reception: 婚礼后的宴会不叫wedding party，叫做wedding reception
'Call'
Call的两个意思：
1. a telephone call or to make a telephone call: 电话、打电话
2. decision: 决定
You make the call／Your call: 你拿主意，由你决定
That’s a good call／Good call: 好主意！
That was a terrible call: 吹得太烂了 (在看足球、篮球赛的时候经常说)
Where are we going for dinner tonight?: 今晚去哪吃?
It’s your call: 你来决定
今天节目就到这儿。欢迎大家留言，把你的问题、反馈告诉我们！
