Unfortunately, there aren't many common English words that fit this exact description. Here are a few possibilities, but they stretch the definition a bit:
* Racecar: This is a classic palindrome, but the meaning is essentially the same forwards and backwards - a type of vehicle.
* Madam: While this is a palindrome, the meaning is slightly different depending on context. For example, "Madam, I'm Adam" uses it as a title of address, while "The madam of the house" refers to a female proprietor.
Near misses:
* Straw: "Straw" and "warts" are not true palindromes, but they are anagrams and have a somewhat humorous connection.
* Star: This is a palindrome, but the meaning is essentially the same forwards and backwards.
Challenges:
Finding words that are palindromes and have drastically different meanings is challenging because:
* Language limitations: Most words with reversed meanings are not palindromes. For example, "live" and "evil" are opposites but not spelled the same backwards.
* Limited vocabulary: Even if a palindrome is possible, it might not be a common or easily recognizable word.
Let me know if you'd like to explore other wordplay concepts!