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Many English words have more than one meaning. These are called polysemous words (from the Greek "poly" meaning many and "sema" meaning sign). The CEM 11+ exam loves to test whether you can identify the correct meaning of a word based on how it is used in a sentence. This lesson will help you master this important skill.
A word with multiple meanings looks and sounds the same in each use, but its meaning changes depending on the context.
| Word | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | Meaning 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | The side of a river | A place to keep money | To rely on someone |
| Light | Not heavy | Brightness | To set fire to |
| Bark | The sound a dog makes | The outer layer of a tree | A type of sailing ship |
| Bat | A flying mammal | A piece of sports equipment | To hit something |
| Crane | A large bird | A machine for lifting | To stretch your neck |
These three terms are often confused. Let us clear them up:
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Homonym | Same spelling AND same pronunciation, different meaning | "Bat" (animal) and "bat" (sports equipment) |
| Homophone | Same pronunciation, different spelling and meaning | "There" and "their" |
| Homograph | Same spelling, different pronunciation and meaning | "Lead" (to guide, rhymes with "seed") and "lead" (a metal, rhymes with "bed") |
For this lesson, we are focusing mainly on homonyms — words that look and sound the same but have different meanings.
Here are important words with multiple meanings that you should know:
| Word | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Bear | A large animal | To carry or endure |
| Change | To make different | Coins and small amounts of money |
| Current | Happening now | A flow of water or electricity |
| Date | A day of the year | A sweet fruit from a palm tree |
| Express | To communicate thoughts or feelings | Fast (as in "express train") |
| Fair | Just and reasonable | A funfair or market; light in colour |
| Grave | A burial place | Very serious |
| Match | A stick used to light a fire | A game or contest; something that goes well with |
| Novel | A long fictional book | New and original |
| Patient | A person receiving medical care | Able to wait calmly |
| Post | A long piece of wood or metal | To send a letter; a position or job |
| Ring | A circular piece of jewellery | To make a bell sound; a circular area |
| Season | A time of year | To add flavour to food |
| Trunk | The main stem of a tree | A large box for storage; an elephant's nose |
| Well | A deep hole for water | In good health; an adverb meaning satisfactorily |
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