Polysemy

Objective

To understand how polysemy applies to different word classes.

Activity 1

Some words may have only one meaning, but most tend to have more.

Let's take for example the words football and mouse.

How many meanings can you think of for each? 

football can mean:

1. a large, round ball that is kicked in games 
2. the game with two teams that use this ball 

mouse can mean: 

1. a small rodent 
2. a piece of computer equipment 

Activity 2

Look at this list of adjectives. They each have a general meaning related to temperature. What concrete nouns could these adjectives describe? E.g. a hot cup of coffee.

• hot
• warm
• lukewarm
• cool
• cold
• icy

We could also use these adjectives to describe people. 

• hot
• warm
• lukewarm
• cool
• cold
• icy

How does the temperature relate to the description of emotions?

In each sentence, is the adjective used to mean temperature or emotion?

Answers

Activity 3

Here's another list of adjectives. They each have a general meaning, related to how an object looks or feels. What kinds of things could these adjectives describe? E.g. a deep valley.

• deep
• narrow
• hazy
• hard
• shallow

We could also use these adjectives to describe people. 

How does the description of physical qualities relate to aspects of people? 

When we use these adjectives to describe the physical quality of an object or place, we are using it in a literal sense, e.g. a deep valley.

When we use these adjectives to describe a person or idea, we are using it in a metaphorical sense, e.g. a deep thinker.

In each sentence, is the adjective used with a literal or metaphorical meaning?

Answers

Choose five adjectives from this lesson. Write a sentence for each, with some using the adjective in a literal and others in a metaphorical sense.

Swap your sentences with a partner and ask them to work out the sense of each adjective.

Extension:

Can you think of any other adjectives that we can use in both senses?

Try to come up with at least three. Write two sentences for each and explain both uses. 

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