Polysemy
What is polysemy?
One word with several related meanings.
What is homonymy?
Words with the same form but different, unrelated meanings.
What are homophones?
Words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings.
What are homographs?
Words that have the same spelling but different meanings
What is context?
The words or information around a word that help us understand its meaning.
Give two meanings of the word “head”.
The head of a person and the head of a company.
What are the two meanings of “bat”?
A flying animal and a sports tool.
What is the difference between “sun” and “son”?
“Sun” is the star that gives us light, while “son” means a male child.
What are the two meanings of “lead”?
To guide someone and a type of metal.
What does “bank” mean in “I deposited money in the bank”?
A financial institution.
What does “bright” mean in “a bright light” and “a bright student”?
A bright light gives a lot of light, while a bright student is intelligent.
Explain the two meanings of “bark”.
The sound a dog makes and the outer covering of a tree.
Complete the sentence: “I can ___ the ___.”
See, sea.
What does “tear” mean in these two examples: “a tear in her eye” and “tear the paper”?
A drop from the eye and to pull something apart.
What does “bank” mean in “We sat on the bank of the river”?
The land beside a river.
Give two meanings of the word “mouth” and explain their connection.
The mouth of a person and the mouth of a river. Both refer to an opening.
What are the two meanings of “match”?
A stick used to make fire and a sports competition.
Give two pairs of English homophones.
Right/write and hear/here
Do the two meanings of “lead” have the same pronunciation?
No. “Lead” meaning to guide is pronounced /liːd/, while the metal is pronounced /led/.
Explain two meanings of “run” in these sentences: “I run every morning” and “She runs a business.”
In the first sentence, “run” means to move quickly on foot. In the second, it means to manage a business.
Explain why “foot” in “the foot of a person” and “the foot of a mountain” is an example of polysemy.
Both meanings refer to the lower part or base of something, so they are related.
Explain why “bat” is an example of homonymy rather than polysemy.
“Bat” means a flying animal or a sports tool. These meanings are considered unrelated, so it is an example of homonymy.
Complete the sentence with two homophones: “Please ___ your name on the ___ side of the paper.”
Write, right.
Explain the difference between homophones and homographs. Give one example of each.
Homophones have the same pronunciation, such as sun/son. Homographs have the same spelling but different meanings, such as lead (to guide) and lead (the metal).
The word “head” has different meanings. Explain its meaning in these sentences: “My head hurts” and “She is the head of the department.”
In the first sentence, “head” is a part of the body. In the second, it means the person who leads the department.