multiple meanings
More than one sense
Multiple meanings describes a word or phrase that carries more than one sense.
Most common words have multiple meanings—run alone has dozens.
Context typically clarifies which meaning applies: bank means something different in river bank than in bank account.
Linguists distinguish polysemy (related meanings from one source) from homonymy (unrelated meanings that happen to share spelling).
- polysemyWord having related meanings
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- double entendrePhrase with hidden lewdness
- doubleTwice the amount
- dualHaving two parts
play on words · sense · interpretation · layers · nuance · wordplay · figure of speech · wink wink · pun · context · lost in translation · homonym · versatile · flexible · rich · depth · connotation · shades
- ambiguityambiguity, ambivalence, vagueness, equivocation, uncertainty
- wordplaypun, puns, punning, punny, punster
multiple meaningsunambiguous
Allowing single interpretation only
unequivocal · literal meaning · clear · precise · definite
multiple, multiply, multiplication, multiplicity, multiplier, multiples, multiplied, mean, means