Which term means a word having several related meanings?

Which term means a word having several related meanings?

• A. Polysemy
• B. Phatic communication
• C. Preposition
• D. Prescriptive grammar

Answer: (A)

Polysemy is when one word carries several related meanings, sharing a common idea behind them. Think of mouth: it can mean the opening of the face, the opening of a bottle, or the mouth of a river—each sense extends from the core notion of an opening or entrance. Because these meanings are connected, they’re grouped under a single word’s polysemy rather than treated as completely separate words. The other terms describe functions or categories (like social use, parts of speech, or grammar approaches) rather than how a single word can have multiple related senses.

Polysemy is when one word carries several related meanings, sharing a common idea behind them. Think of mouth: it can mean the opening of the face, the opening of a bottle, or the mouth of a river—each sense extends from the core notion of an opening or entrance. Because these meanings are connected, they’re grouped under a single word’s polysemy rather than treated as completely separate words. The other terms describe functions or categories (like social use, parts of speech, or grammar approaches) rather than how a single word can have multiple related senses.