One example of polysemy is the word ‘sound’. This word has a very large number of meanings. It has 19 noun meanings, 12 adjective meanings, 12 verb meanings, 4 meanings in verb phrases, and 2 adverb meanings. A word with an even greater number of meanings is another example, ‘set’.
- Which one is an example of Polysemous words?
- What are Polysemous words?
- What are Polysemantic words?
- What is Homonymy and examples?
- What are homonyms give 5 examples?
- How do you use polysemy in a sentence?
- What is Oronyms?
- What are words with two meanings called?
- What is a word with two meanings called?
- What predetermines the meaning of a Polysemantic word?
- How does polysemy gain importance in enriching the vocabulary?
Which one is an example of Polysemous words?
English has many polysemous words. For example, the verb «to get» can mean «procure» (I’ll get the drinks), «become» (she got scared), «understand» (I get it) etc. In linear or vertical polysemy, one sense of a word is a subset of the other.
What are Polysemous words?
A polysemous word is a word that has different meanings that derive from a common origin; a homograph is a word that has different meanings with unrelated origins. Polysemous words and homographs constitute a known problem for language learners.
What are Polysemantic words?
Definitions of polysemantic word. noun. a word having more than one meaning.
What is Homonymy and examples?
A homonym is a word that is said or spelled the same way as another word but has a different meaning. «Write” and “right” is a good example of a pair of homonyms.
What are homonyms give 5 examples?
Homonym Examples
- Address — to speak to / location.
- Air — oxygen / a lilting tune.
- Arm — body part / division of a company.
- Band — a musical group / a ring.
- Bark — a tree’s out layer / the sound a dog makes.
- Bat — an implement used to hit a ball / a nocturnal flying mammal.
How do you use polysemy in a sentence?
4. As a pervasive semantic phenomenon across languages, polysemy has been given a systematic and extensive study, but there is not much attention shown to spatial polysemous words. 5. Its polysemy makes it a key concept articulating different fields such as new media technology, popular culture and media economy.
What is Oronyms?
A sequence of words (for example, «ice cream») that sounds the same as a different sequence of words («I scream»). The term oronym was coined by Gyles Brandreth in The Joy of Lex (1980).
What are words with two meanings called?
Homonyms, or multiple-meaning words, are words that have the same spelling and usually sound alike, but have different meanings (e.g. dog bark, tree bark).
What is a word with two meanings called?
A double entendre (plural double entendres) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to have a double meaning, of which one is typically obvious, whereas the other often conveys a message that would be too socially awkward, sexually suggestive, or offensive to state directly.
What predetermines the meaning of a Polysemantic word?
1. polysemantic word — a word having more than one meaning.
How does polysemy gain importance in enriching the vocabulary?
A well-developed polysemy is not a drawback but a great advantage in a language. … Therefore at a certain stage of language development the production of new words by morphological means becomes limited, and polysemy becomes increasingly important in providing the means for enriching the vocabulary.
Asked by: Ruben Marquardt
Score: 4.1/5
(16 votes)
Definitions of polysemantic word. a word having more than one meaning. synonyms: polysemant, polysemous word. type of: word. a unit of language that native speakers can identify.
What is polysemy and it Examples?
polysemy Add to list Share. When a symbol, word, or phrase means many different things, that’s called polysemy. The verb «get» is a good example of polysemy — it can mean «procure,» «become,» or «understand.»
How do you use Polysemantic in a sentence?
RhymeZone: Use polysemantic in a sentence. Significant mentions of polysemantic: His paintings have been noted for being polysemantic . …is explained as a misdirected and irrelevant SA as an outcome of the functional deficiency of the polysemantic right-hemispheric way of thinking.
When a word has multiple meanings?
Homonyms, or multiple-meaning words, are words that have the same spelling and usually sound alike, but have different meanings (e.g. dog bark, tree bark).
What are made words examples?
Made-up Words
- autoised.
- billocked.
- bloatware.
- custodied.
- impactful.
- incentivizing.
- jointery.
- mentee.
40 related questions found
What are some aesthetic words?
- elegant,
- exquisite,
- glorious,
- Junoesque,
- magnificent,
- resplendent,
- splendid,
- statuesque,
What are some fake words?
7 Fake Words That Ended Up in the Dictionary
- Dord. Dord is perhaps the most famous of the ghost words. …
- Abacot. Abacot made its debut in the second edition of Holinshed’s Chronicles, edited by Abraham Fleming and published in 1587. …
- 3. Morse. …
- Phantomnation. …
- Momblishness. …
- Cairbow. …
- Esquivalience.
What words have the most meanings?
According to Guinness World Records, the word that has the most meanings in the English language is the verb “set.” “Set” has 430 senses listed in the second edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, which was published in 1989.
When a sentence has two meanings?
A double entendre is a phrase or figure of speech that could have two meanings or that could be understood in two different ways.
What is the meaning of Polysemous?
: having multiple meanings. Other Words from polysemous Example Sentences Learn More About polysemous.
What is a word with two meanings called?
When words are spelled the same and sound the same but have different meanings, then they are called homonyms.
What is Homonymy and examples?
The word Homonymy (from the Greek—homos: same, onoma: name) is the relation between words with identical forms but different meanings—that is, the condition of being homonyms. A stock example is the word bank as it appears in «river bank» and «savings bank.»
What are the types of polysemy?
Types of polysemy
Linear polysemy accounts for a specialization-generalization relation between senses and, in turn, is divided into four types: autohyponymy, automeronymy, autosuperordination and autoholonymy.
What is the most complex word?
Why ‘Run’ Is The Most Complex Word in the English Language. English can be hard for other language speakers to learn. To use just one example, there are at least eight different ways of expressing events in the future, and conditional tenses are another matter entirely.
What 3 letter word has the most meanings?
So Far One three-letter word does much of the heavy lifting in the English language. The little word «run» — in its verb form alone — has 645 distinct meanings.
What is the longest word in English language?
The longest word in any of the major English language dictionaries is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a word that refers to a lung disease contracted from the inhalation of very fine silica particles, specifically from a volcano; medically, it is the same as silicosis.
What are 20 Homographs examples?
20 example of homograph
- Bear — To endure ; Bear — Animal.
- Close — Connected ; Close — Lock.
- Lean — Thin ; Lean — Rest against.
- Bow — Bend forward ; Bow — Front of a ship.
- Lead — Metal ; Lead — Start off in front.
- Skip — Jump ; Skip — Miss out.
- Fair — Appearance ; Fair — Reasonable.
How do you describe a fake person?
Phony is something or someone that is not as it seems, or a person who pretends to be something he is not. Counterfeit is defined as an imitation or forgery. … Counterfeit or fake; not genuine.
What are words that aren’t words?
5 Common Words That Aren’t Words At All
- Alot. “The alot is better than you at everything,” says online humor blog Hyperbole and a Half. …
- Sherbert. …
- Irregardless. …
- Misunderestimate. …
- Definately.
Is Wisdomous a real word?
When a person has more wisdom than a wise person.
What is unique word?
—used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else. : very special or unusual. : belonging to or connected with only one particular thing, place, or person. See the full definition for unique in the English Language Learners Dictionary. unique.
What are some cute aesthetic words?
cute
- adorable.
- beautiful.
- charming.
- delightful.
- pleasant.
- pretty.
- dainty.
Polysemous English words — Wall Street English. There are many English words that are pronounced and spelled exactly the same, but have completely different meanings. … But you get a double benefit, as marketers would say: several new English words at once to replenish the vocabulary for the price of one.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the English word with the most meanings is set. It has 430 values. Here we will look at common examples of the meanings of ambiguous English words.
What words in English have multiple meanings?
And in order to read articles in English on your own and not feel discomfort, come to study at Skyeng.
- Run: 645 values …
- Set: 430 values …
- Go: 368 values …
- Take: 343 values …
- Stand: 334 values …
- Get: 289 values …
- Turn: 288 values …
- Put: 268 values
Why does one word have many meanings in English?
The English language is notable for the fact that a large number of words are polysemous. The linguistic name for this phenomenon is ‘polysemy’: from the Greek words ‘poly’ — ‘many’ and ‘sema’ — ‘meaning’. This very polysemy leads to our mistakes, misunderstanding and misinterpretation. … Their different meanings do not surprise us at all.
What’s the longest word in the English language?
The longest word found in the main dictionaries of the English language is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, which means lung disease from the inhalation of very small silica particles of volcanic ash; from a medical point of view, the disease is similar to that of silicosis.
What are unambiguous example words?
In modern Russian, there are words that have the same lexical meaning: bandage, appendicitis, birch, felt-tip pen, satin, etc. Such words are called unambiguous or monosemantic (gr.
What word in Russian has the most meanings?
Polysemous words can be among words belonging to any part of speech, except for numbers. Most polysemous words are observed among verbs. The word «go» can be called «champion» in terms of ambiguity. It has more than 40 meanings, and the verb «pull» has more than 20.
How to determine the meaning of a polysemantic word?
A word that has several lexical meanings is polysemantic. One meaning is direct, the rest are portable. A striking example of a polysemantic word is a key (spanner, treble, spring, key from the lock). Any independent part of speech can be polysemantic: a noun, an adjective, a verb, etc.
What are words with two meanings called?
Words that have two or more meanings are called polysemous. Words that answer the same question and have a similar meaning are called synonyms. Words that answer the same question, but have the opposite meaning, are called antonyms.
What are grade 2 polysemous words?
Polysemous words are words that have two or more lexical meanings. Explanatory dictionary — a dictionary that provides an explanation of the lexical meaning of a word.
Why are there so many synonyms in English?
Why are there so many synonyms in English?
It’s one thing when synonyms convey the subtlest shades of moods, qualities, intentions. … Third, you can practice your English listening skills once again — a little exercise for those seeking to improve their skills.
How many English languages?
Living languages
| Language | A type |
|---|---|
| English | West Germanic languages |
| Welsh | Celtic languages (British languages) |
| Scottish (Germanic) | West Germanic languages |
| Irish | Celtic languages (Goidel languages) |
What words refer to Homonyms?
Homonyms are words that match in sound and spelling, but have different meanings:
- glasses in a beautiful frame;
- score points in the game.
How many letters are there in the largest English word?
The longest words in English The longest word that can be found in the English dictionary contains 45 letters and calls the disease silicosis: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.
What does the word tetrahydropyranylcyclopentyltetrahydropyridopyridine mean?
Tetrahydropyranylcyclopentyltetrahydropyridopyridine is a 55-letter word describing a substance according to the patent of the Russian Federation No. 2285004. The word denoting age includes a numeral, spelled together, and the basis «-years».
What does the longest word in the world look like?
In the Guinness Book of Records, the 1993 edition, the word «X-ray electrocardiographic» was named the longest. It consists of 33 letters. In 2003, the word changed — «high-level discerning.» There are already 35 letters in it.
Asked
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7 Answers
answered Jun 9, 2011 at 1:43
Kit Z. Fox♦Kit Z. Fox
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+1. This seems to be the clearest term for what the questioner requests — it doesn’t have the extraneous connotations that some others have (humour in the case of pun, deliberate deceit or evasiveness in the case of equivocation), and it also covers all examples, unlike homonym, homophone, etc., which are each rather more restrictive.
Jun 9, 2011 at 3:40
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Actually, we may need something like bi-/disemous or ambisimous.
Oct 14, 2012 at 14:43
A pun:
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect.
Wikipedia
Perhaps more specifically a homonymic pun, which relies on words that are both homographs (same spelling, different meaning) and homophones (sound alike), e.g., «Being in politics is just like playing golf:
. . . you are trapped in one bad lie after another.»
answered Jun 9, 2011 at 1:29
CallithumpianCallithumpian
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+1 Paronomasia is exactly the pun-itive measure I had in mind.
Jun 9, 2011 at 2:14
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Pun seems to imply humorous plays on words. Is there a word extending to all?
Jun 9, 2011 at 3:09
Equivocation could work.
Equivocation is classified as both a formal and informal logical fallacy. It is the misleading use of a term with more than one meaning or sense (by glossing over which meaning is intended at a particular time). It generally occurs with polysemic words.
Wikipedia
answered Jun 9, 2011 at 1:41
NRafNRaf
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Are you looking for :
Equivocation
There is also:
Double Entendre
answered Jun 9, 2011 at 1:59
ThursagenThursagen
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ambiguity (or ambiguous) and its associated figure of speech amphiboly capture the «multiple meanings at once». Both can apply to a single word or to an entire phrase or sentence.
answered Jun 9, 2011 at 17:38
MitchMitch
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I think this is the best, because it is not confined to words. A sentence might be ambiguous despite none of its words being so. For example, The boy saw the man with the telescope can mean either that the man had the telescope, and the boy saw him; alternatively, it can mean that the boy, by means of the telescope, saw the man. Both meanings arise from the same set of words, without changing the meanings of the words. It is how the words combine which determines which meaning ultimately arises.
Jun 10, 2011 at 1:05
Bisemous.
It really means «with two meanings».
RegDwigнt
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answered Oct 14, 2012 at 14:45
KrisKris
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you do it ostensibly
«So maybe there’s a legal convention
concerning how definitions such as
this are to be
circumscribed/overridden/whatever by
the common English meaning however
vague by comparison of the term
ostensibly being defined?» — The
Volokh Conspiracy » Hate Crimes and
Double Jeopardy:
I just realized that if your word has at least two meanings at the same time that you might be referring to something ironic
–adjective Both coincidental and contradictory in a humorous or poignant and extremely improbable way.It is ironic that Einstein, who was
such a revolutionary young man, was
reduced to irrational denial of
quantum mechanics in his later years.
answered Jun 9, 2011 at 3:41
6
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Is this a joke? If not, “ostensibly” here means as much as “allegedly”. As in, “it’s claimed that this term … is being defined (but it really isn’t)”.
Jun 9, 2011 at 10:45
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@Konrad the question was «How could one put, in a single word, language that has multiple meanings at once?» How would you do it? I’d do it … ostensibly
Jun 9, 2011 at 11:58
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@pageman: ‘ostensibly’ does imply that there is an alternative meaning, but it is primarily about the situation rather than the word or language.
Jun 9, 2011 at 17:34
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@Mitch the question was how «does one» do it, right?
Jun 10, 2011 at 15:34
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@pageman: that is a subtle reading of the intention of the OP that the OP probably didn’t intend. ‘Ostensible’ is about a surface meaning, but on reflection there is another meaning (It is not about the process of -inducing- the multiple meanings , the act of constructing the utterance with more than one meaning (which is what I think you’re getting at). In that case it would be prevaricating, equivocating, or dissembling, with the added connotation of ‘with the intent to deceive’ (which ‘ostensible’ doesn’t have).
Jun 10, 2011 at 16:25
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Once upon a time, there was a fair boy at the fair, and he was really fair!
There was also a bat flying around a bat, a friend of mine in a mine and a man with a bow bowing to an audience.
Welcome to the Polysemy (when a single word or phrase has multiple meanings) Fair where nothing is what it seems, and words get crazy different meanings just for the sake of fun.
But before you come in, you have to tell me what homophones, homographs and homonyms are.
If you do not know what they are (or even if you do!), you had better read this post before you enter the Fair unprepared and get lost forever!
Download:
This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you
can take anywhere.
Click here to get a copy. (Download)
What Are Homophones, Homographs and Homonyms?
They may sound dangerous and creepy, but homophones, homographs and homonyms are part of our daily life, regardless of what your mother language is.
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings.
When you say “I have only one eye,” however weird that sentence might sound, the words I and eye sound exactly the same, but they obviously have different meanings.
The same happens with words such as break and brake, here and hear or hour and our, just to give you a few examples.
On the other hand, homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different pronunciations.
Take the verb read as an example.
The infinitive is pronounced /ri:d/ (with a long i), but the past tense and the past participle are pronounced /red/, as in the color red. They are written in the exact same way, but their pronunciations are different.
Finally, we have homonyms. They are words that either sound or are spelled identically but have different meanings.
Homonyms can be homophones, homographs or both, so to make things easy for you, we will be calling this post’s words homonyms unless stated otherwise.
Every language has homonyms, and language learners tend to have a rough time when trying to learn them.
Let’s have a look at the title of this post: The fair boy at the fair is really fair.
If it is the first time you have seen the word fair, you are probably having a language heart attack right now.
If you have seen this word before, though, you most likely know its meaning as a noun (funfair, carnival). But what about the other two? Keep reading!
There are several methods to learn the different meanings of words. You can look them up (search) in a dictionary, check an online translator or even ask a friend if they are around and able to help you.
From Fairs to Novels: 21 Everyday English Words with Multiple Meanings
The following 21 words are common English words that have different meanings and/or pronunciations. They can be a little tricky sometimes, but thanks to this post, you will be able to master them in no time. So, let the fun begin!
1. Fair
As you have already seen in the introduction, this word can have different meanings depending on whether it is a noun or an adjective. You know its meaning as a noun, and you probably also know one of its meanings as an adjective, but I am sure you would have never thought a carnival and a hair/skin color were spelled the same in English.
Meaning #1: a carnival; a public event where there are games, competitions, rides and entertainment
Also, in the United States, a fair is an event where farm products and animals are shown and judged.
The boy showed his horse and his two pigs at the state fair.
Meaning #2: treating someone right or in a way that does not favor other people
The boy at the fair is very fair with his siblings when they play games together.
Meaning #3: having light skin and/or hair
The fair boy at the fair is very fair with his siblings.
Since her skin is so fair, she has to be careful when she goes in the sun.
2. Saw
You probably know this word as the past tense of the verb to see, but did you know it can also be a tool and the infinitive of another verb?
Saw comes from the Old English word saga (to cut), but also from the Middle English word sawen (knife), hence its different meanings nowadays.
Meaning #1: a device or tool with sharp teeth, typically made of metal
He used a saw to cut the branch of the tree.
Meaning #2: to saw, to cut with a saw
He is going to saw the tree down with a saw.
Meaning #3: past tense of the verb to see.
I saw the saw he used to saw the tree down.
3. Fell
Now this one’s tricky.
A lot of my beginner students think this is the past tense of to feel, but actually it is the past tense of the verb to fall. What not many non-native speakers know is that it can also be the infinitive form of a different verb, and also a formal adjective!
Meaning 1: past tense of the verb to fall
The girl fell on the floor and started crying.
Meaning #2: to fell, to knock or cut down, to cause to fall
He used an ax to fell the tree.
Meaning #3: (formal) fierce, cruel, savage
He was imprisoned by his fell enemy.
4. Found
This word is another example of the past tense of a verb that is also the infinitive of a different verb.
Meaning #1: past tense and past participle of the verb to find (to come upon by chance, to locate)
I found a lot of old books in the attic yesterday.
Meaning #2: to found, to set up or establish, to base on, to provide a basis for
We want to found a new translation company.
5. Bow
Bow is a word that can have several different meanings. It is a homograph because the pronunciation is slightly different between the noun and verb form. As a noun, for example, you can wear one around your neck or use one to attack someone. As a verb, you can use it to show respect.
Don’t you love English!
Meaning #1: to bow, to bend forward at the neck or waist in order to greet someone or show respect
We must all bow before the queen.
Meaning #2: a knot made by tying a ribbon into two or more loops, often referred to as bow tie
He is wearing a green bow tie.
Meaning #3: a weapon used for shooting arrows
The hunter had a bow and many arrows.
6. Crane
I still remember when I learned this word myself. I imagined a giant machine that transformed into a bird. I have never forgotten this word!
Meaning #1: a big machine with a long arm used by builders to lift or move big objects
I think we are going to need a crane to lift that statue.
Meaning #2: a tall bird that has a long neck and long legs; it lives near water
It is impossible to observe (see) a crane here. There is no water around.
7. Date
This is an easy one.
If you are a romantic person, this word will probably make you think of special occasions with a partner. If time is important for you, you will see a date as a day on a calendar. Both options are correct, but there is more!
Meaning #1: a specific day of a month or year
What is the date today?
Meaning #2: a situation where two people who have or want to have a romantic relationship do some activity together
I would love to go on a date with you.
Meaning #3: the person you go on a date with
Mary is my date for tonight.
Meaning #4: to date someone, to do some kind of activity with a person you have or want to have a romantic relationship with.
Mary and I are dating.
Meaning #5: to date something, to write the date on something
Please, do not forget to sign and date your exam.
8. Minute
Here we have a homograph. Minute is pronounced /minit/ when it refers to time. It can also refer to size, in which case it is pronounced /mai’niut/.
Meaning #1: a unit of time equal to 60 seconds
We have been waiting for 20 minutes.
Meaning #2: always in the plural (minutes), the official record of everything that is said and done during a meeting
Ms. Roche will be taking the minutes during the meeting.
Meaning #3: an adjective meaning tiny, very small
With this new device, we are able to see even the most minute particles.
9. Second
If you are interested in etymology (study of words), you will like this word!
Second has two main meanings, one referring to time and one referring to something or someone coming after first. I was surprised to find out both these meanings come from the same Latin word secundus (following, next in time or order).
Apart from being a noun, second can also be a verb.
In this case, the origin of the word is from the Latin word secundare (to assist, to make favorable).
Meaning #1: occupies the second position in a series, importance or rank
Soup is my second choice.
Meaning #2: (always plural) another serving of food taken after you have finished the first one
Do you want seconds?
Meaning #3: a unit of time equal to 1/60 of a minute
It took him 35 seconds to open the box.
Meaning #4: to second, to approve something, to agree with somebody
I am tired. Let’s go home.
I will second that.
10. Type
They say that everyone has a type, but what exactly does that mean?
You can type in different kinds of types, enjoy different types of food and have different types in reference to people. It all depends on the meaning of type you are referring to.
Meaning #1: a particular kind of thing or person
I do not like this type of food. It is too greasy.
Meaning #2: the kind of person someone likes
Bea is totally my type.
Meaning #3: the different kinds of printed letters
Please, do not use the italic type. Use bold.
Meaning #4: to type, to write with a typewriter or a computer keyboard
I can type 200 words per minute.
11. Nail
Every time I hear the word nail, I think about the program “Nailed it!,” which I really recommend you watch if you love cooking and comedy, and you want to listen to some American English to improve your language skills.
Meaning #1: a piece of metal that is sharp at one end and flat at the other, usually used to attach things to wood
I used the biggest nail I had to hang the picture frame.
Meaning #2: the hard covering at the end of our fingers and toes
Sarah gets her nails painted every Tuesday.
Meaning #3: to nail, to attach something with a nail
We need to nail those boards.
Meaning #4: (slang) to nail, to do something perfectly or in an impressive way
I nailed the final test. I am so proud of myself!
12. Bark
What do dogs and trees have in common? Dogs bark and trees have bark!
I find it very interesting that a tree’s bark and to bark come from different origin words.
The hard covering of plants probably comes from the Old Norse word börkr (bark, likely related to the word birch). The sound dogs make comes from the Old English word beorcan (to bark, to utter an abrupt, explosive cry).
Meaning #1: the outer covering of a tree
Some types of bark are very beautiful.
Meaning #2: the loud sound made by a dog
His dog gave a very loud bark.
Meaning #3: to bark (from a dog or a person), to make a short loud sound
If her dog does not stop barking, I will call the police.
Stop barking at me and try to calm down.
13. Mine
If I tell you I like to mine in this mine because it is mine, you may or may not understand what I am saying, but you will after you have a look at the following meanings of the word mine.
Meaning #1: that which belongs to me
I like to mine in this mine because it is mine.
The blue bike is mine.
Meaning #2: a tunnel from which minerals are taken
I like to mine in this mine because it is mine.
He works in a gold mine.
Meaning #3: to mine, to dig a mine or to take away from a mine
I like to mine in this mine because it is mine.
She likes to mine for crystals.
14. Season
Even though the two main meanings of the word season do not seem to be related, they have an almost common ancestor, and once you understand its origin, it totally makes sense.
Season comes from the Old French word seison (a period of the year, proper time).
To season comes from the Old French word assaisoner (to ripen, to improve the flavor of).
These two Old French words are related. When the time was right (seison), fruits and vegetables grew ripe (assaisoner), which made them more palatable (tasty). Neat!
Meaning #1: one of the four periods into which the year is divided; a particular period of time during the year.
My favorite season is winter.
It is flu season.
Meaning #2: to season, to add salt, pepper or other spices to give something more flavor
Season to taste and serve hot.
15. Bat
Did you know that Batman got his name from an animal? Have you ever seen Batman use a bat to bat someone? No, not the animal, the stick!
Notice how, similarly to nail with a nail, you can say to bat with a bat. Do you see a pattern already?
Meaning #1: a long rounded stick used to hit a ball
Mendoza gave me his baseball bat.
Meaning #2: to hit with a bat
I want to bat next.
Meaning #3: an animal with wings and a furry body
I am afraid of bats.
16. Row
The main meaning of this word is a line of people or things that are next to each other.
Additionally, row can also be a verb that means to move a boat through the water with the use of oars.
Meaning #1: a straight line of people or things that are next to each other; a row of seats (in a theater or stadium).
We are going to arrange the desks in five rows of six desks each.
Meaning #2: to row, to move a boat through water by using oars
I like to row my boat in the calm lake.
17. Water
I love looking at my students’ faces when I tell them that water can be a verb.
Indeed, as it happens with many words in English, nouns can be used as verbs. In this case, the noun water, which we all know, can be used to mean to pour water on something, as on a plant, for example.
Meaning #1: a clear liquid with no color, smell or taste that falls from clouds in the form of rain, forms seas and lakes and is used for drinking, bathing, washing, etc.
I love drinking water in the morning.
Meaning #2: to water, to pour water on something; to give an animal water to drink
Please, water my plants while I am in Spain.
18. Boot
Some of us know the verb to boot means to start a computer.
British people call the trunk of a car a boot, and Americans often use this word when talking about cowboy boots.
But there is more you can learn about this word.
Meaning #1: a covering for the foot normally made of leather or rubber
I cannot find my winter boots anywhere.
Meaning #2: the trunk of a car
They found the missing money in the boot of his car.
Meaning #3: to boot, to force to leave a place; to fire
They booted James yesterday!
Meaning #4: to boot, to lock a Denver boot onto the wheel of a car so that it cannot move.
The parking attendant booted my car.
19. Club
Club has several meanings, ranging from a group of people who participate in a specific activity to a place where you can listen to music, eat some food and drink alcohol.
Other meanings include a metal stick used in golf, a wooden stick used as a weapon and even a suit in a deck of cards! That is polysemy at its finest!
Meaning #1: a group of people who meet to participate in an activity
The chess club has 200 members already.
Meaning #2: the place where members of a club meet
I will meet you in front of the chess club at 7 p.m.
Meaning #3: a business that provides entertainment, music, food, drinks, etc.
They are opening a new dance club near your house next weekend.
Meaning #4: a metal stick used for hitting a golf ball
My daughter is using my golf clubs. Can I borrow yours?
Meaning #5: a heavy wooden stick that is used as a weapon
One of the attackers hit me with a club.
Meaning #6: (plural) one of the suits in a deck of playing cards
I got the ten of clubs.
Meaning #7: to club, to hit a person or an animal with a stick or object
He clubbed the poisonous snake in his bedroom.
20. Key
What if I told you that the main definition of the word key is just one of over a dozen?
Do not panic, I will not make you learn all the different meanings of key, but it would be awesome if you learned the main ones.
Meaning #1: a device you use to open a lock or start a car
I think I have lost my keys.
Meaning #2: something that is necessary to do or achieve something
The key to learning English is practicing every day.
Meaning #3: any of the buttons of a typewriter or computer
I love typing without looking at the keys.
Meaning #4: used as an adjective to mean extremely important
He is a key worker in our company.
Meaning #5: (informal) to key, to have the most important part in something
Marcus keyed the victory for the Eagles.
21. Novel
We normally think of books when we hear the word novel, but novel can also be used as an adjective to mean that something is new and different.
Meaning #1: a long written story, normally dealing with imaginary people and events
I have published five novels so far.
Meaning #2: new and different from what has been known before
His novel approach to the problem helped us find a solution.
Phew! There you have it, 21 everyday English words with multiple meanings!
My advice is that you learn all the different meanings of a word at once when you are acquiring (learning) new vocabulary (or expanding your word bank).
If a word is very polysemic, at least learn its main meanings. This will save you time when you come across that word again in the future.
As you have been able to see in this post, by learning just one of the meanings of a word you are leaving a lot of information behind. In order to avoid that, one of the best solutions is to spend a little more time with each word you learn.
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