What is it called when a word has multiple meanings?

Polysemy (/pəˈlɪsɪmi/ or /ˈpɒlɪsiːmi/; from Greek: πολύ-, polý-, “many” and σῆμα, sêma, “sign”) is the capacity for a word or phrase to have multiple related meanings.

What is the word for something that 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.

Are homophones multiple meaning words?

A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and/or spelling.

Are multiple meaning words and homographs the same?

Multi-meaning words are single words that can be used for multiple meanings (and are both spelt and pronounced in the same way). Homographs, on the other hand, are not single words that can be used for multiple meanings. They are pairs or groups of entirely different words that happen to share the same spelling.

What is the difference between multiple meaning words and homophones?

Other such Multiple Meaning Words Homographs (literally meaning “same writing”) are usually defined as words that share the same spelling, regardless of how they are pronounced. Homophones (literally “same sound”) are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

Can multiple meaning words be spelled differently?

homonyms
When words are spelled the same and sound the same but have different meanings, then they are called homonyms.

Are multiple meaning words Homographs?

What words are spelled the same but different meaning?

Homophones
Homophones are a type of homonym that also sound alike and have different meanings, but have different spellings. HOMOGRAPHS are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. Heteronyms are a type of homograph that are also spelled the same and have different meanings, but sound different.

What are 100 homographs examples?

Homograph Examples

agape – with mouth open OR love.
bass – type of fish OR low, deep voice.
bat – piece of sports equipment OR an animal.
bow – type of knot OR to incline.
down – a lower place OR soft fluff on a bird.
entrance – the way in OR to delight.
evening – smoothing out OR after sunset.
fine – of good quality OR a levy.

What are some examples of multiple meaning words?

Multiple Meaning Answers. Here are some examples of each of the multiple meaning words used as a noun and a verb. Click on any word to go back to the “Multiple Meaning” page. crash: I had a car crash. Tom will try not to crash into the pole. pet: I have a golden lab for a pet.

What words have more than one meaning?

“Multiple-meaning words” are words that have more than one definition. English has a lot of multiple-meaning words such as “crane”: Which is a type of bird, a large machine used to lift and move heavy objects, as well as the way we describe stretching ones neck out or around something in order to see.

What words have different meanings?

Words that sound alike but have different meanings are called homonyms. For example, pear (fruit) and pair (a set of two things). Homonyms may either be homophones or homographs: Homophones: Words that sound the same but have different meanings and different spellings.