What is a polysemous word?

• A. A word with several related meanings; context signals the intended sense.
• B. A word with a single meaning.
• C. A word borrowed from another language with multiple meanings.
• D. A word that rhymes with itself.

Answer: (A)

A polysemous word has several related meanings, and the context around it signals which sense is meant. Think of a word like “bank,” which can refer to a financial institution or the side of a river; the surrounding words make clear which meaning is intended. This idea contrasts with a word that has only a single meaning, which wouldn’t change with context. It’s not about a word borrowed from another language or about rhyming; those ideas don’t define polysemy. So the best description is: a word with several related meanings, with context guiding the intended sense.