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Multiple Meaning Words (Polysemy)

Introduction

कई English शब्दों के एक से अधिक meanings होते हैं, जो sentence में उनके use पर निर्भर करते हैं। इसे polysemy कहा जाता है। उदाहरण के लिए, “right” का अर्थ context के हिसाब से correct, direction या privilege हो सकता है। Polysemous words को समझना confusion से बचाता है और context के अनुसार सबसे accurate synonym या antonym चुनने में मदद करता है।

यह pattern उन exams में बहुत common है जहाँ vocabulary-in-context test होती है, जैसे SSC, Bank PO और CAT verbal sections.

Pattern: Multiple Meaning Words (Polysemy)

Pattern

मुख्य concept यह है: एक ही शब्द के कई meanings हो सकते हैं - सही synonym या antonym उसके sentence में use पर निर्भर करता है।

जैसे “light” का अर्थ “not heavy” (physical weight) भी हो सकता है और “illumination” (brightness) भी। इसलिए meaning context से बदल जाता है - “light” के सभी synonyms हर sentence में fit नहीं होते।

Step-by-Step Example

Question

Choose the synonym of “sound” in the sentence:
“He gave sound advice.”

Options: (A) Loud (B) Sensible (C) Clear (D) Vibrating

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify the word and its possible meanings

    “Sound” का अर्थ noise, vibration या reliable/strong हो सकता है - context के आधार पर।

  2. Step 2: Understand the contextual meaning

    यहाँ “sound advice” का अर्थ है reliable, reasonable या wise advice - न कि noise या hearing से जुड़ा अर्थ।

  3. Step 3: Match with the most appropriate synonym

    दिए गए options में “Sensible” logical या wise advice के लिए सबसे सही synonym है।

  4. Final Answer:

    Sensible → Option B

  5. Quick Check:

    Sentence में replace करके देखें → “He gave sensible advice.” → Sentence पूरी तरह सही लगता है ✅

Quick Variations

1. Part of speech के आधार पर शब्द के 2-3 meanings (जैसे, “train” - noun: vehicle; verb: teach)।

2. Same spelling लेकिन अलग senses (जैसे, “bank” - river bank vs. financial institution)।

3. Sentence में दिए गए context clues से meaning पहचानना।

4. Verbal sections में synonym/antonym या analogy questions में पूछा जाता है।

Trick to Always Use

  • Step 1: Sentence पूरा पढ़कर correct context समझें।
  • Step 2: उस शब्द के सभी possible meanings recall करें।
  • Step 3: जो meaning sentence में fit होता है, उसे चुनें - literal sense को ignore भी करना पड़े तो करें।
  • Step 4: ऐसे options eliminate करें जो शब्द के दूसरे meanings से जुड़े हों, लेकिन इस sentence में fit न हों।

Summary

Summary

Multiple Meaning Words (Polysemy) pattern में:

  • Context सही meaning तय करता है।
  • शब्द noun/verb/adjective जैसे अलग parts of speech के रूप में भी काम कर सकते हैं।
  • ध्यान रखें - familiar meaning हर बार sentence में fit नहीं होता।
  • Meaning को sentence में replace करके check करना सबसे reliable तरीका है।

Practice

(1/5)
1. Choose the correct meaning of the word 'bark' in the sentence: “The dog began to bark loudly.”
easy
A. Sound made by a dog
B. Outer covering of a tree
C. Command sharply
D. A loud knock

Solution

  1. Step 1: Recognize possible meanings

    The word ‘bark’ has multiple meanings - the sound a dog makes, or the outer layer of a tree.

  2. Step 2: Understand the context

    Here the subject is a dog and the verb describes a sound, so it refers to the animal noise.

  3. Step 3: Select the most fitting meaning

    Therefore the correct meaning is ‘Sound made by a dog’.

  4. Final Answer:

    Sound made by a dog → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    “The dog barked loudly.” → Clearly the animal sound meaning ✅
Hint: If the subject is an animal, prefer the animal-related meaning.
Common Mistakes: Picking the tree-covering meaning without checking the subject.
2. Identify the meaning of 'bank' in the sentence: “He went to the bank to withdraw money.”
easy
A. A financial institution
B. Edge of a river
C. To rely on something
D. A storage place for data

Solution

  1. Step 1: List all meanings of 'bank'

    ‘Bank’ can mean a financial institution, the edge of a river, or be used as a verb (to rely or tilt).

  2. Step 2: Analyze the sentence clue

    The phrase ‘withdraw money’ directly signals the financial sense.

  3. Step 3: Choose the correct sense

    So it refers to ‘a financial institution’.

  4. Final Answer:

    A financial institution → Option A

  5. Quick Check:

    “He withdrew money from the bank.” → Confirms the financial meaning ✅
Hint: Money-related verbs (withdraw, deposit) → financial bank.
Common Mistakes: Confusing with ‘river bank’ when not reading context.
3. Find the correct meaning of 'light' in the sentence: “She carried a light bag to school.”
easy
A. Brightness
B. Not heavy
C. To ignite
D. Source of energy

Solution

  1. Step 1: Identify word’s possible meanings

    ‘Light’ can mean illumination or refer to weight (not heavy).

  2. Step 2: Examine the context

    Because it modifies ‘bag’, the intended sense is about weight, not brightness.

  3. Step 3: Choose the appropriate meaning

    Thus, it means ‘Not heavy’.

  4. Final Answer:

    Not heavy → Option B

  5. Quick Check:

    “A light bag” = “a bag that is not heavy.” ✅
Hint: If adjective describes an object’s weight, choose the weight sense of 'light'.
Common Mistakes: Defaulting to brightness without checking the noun it describes.
4. Choose the correct meaning of 'right' in the sentence: “Everyone has the right to vote.”
medium
A. Correct
B. Opposite of left
C. Privilege
D. Direction

Solution

  1. Step 1: Recognize possible meanings

    ‘Right’ can mean correct, a direction, or a legal/moral entitlement.

  2. Step 2: Understand the phrase context

    In the phrase ‘the right to vote’, it clearly denotes an entitlement or privilege.

  3. Step 3: Determine the best fit

    Hence, the meaning is ‘Privilege’ or ‘Entitlement’.

  4. Final Answer:

    Privilege → Option C

  5. Quick Check:

    “Everyone has the entitlement to vote.” → Same sense ✅
Hint: If 'right' is followed by 'to' + verb, it's usually an entitlement.
Common Mistakes: Mistaking it for 'correct' without reading full phrase.
5. Identify the correct meaning of 'watch' in the sentence: “He bought a new watch yesterday.”
medium
A. To look at
B. To guard
C. To observe carefully
D. A timepiece

Solution

  1. Step 1: List multiple meanings

    The word ‘watch’ can be a verb (to look at/observe) or a noun (a timepiece).

  2. Step 2: Identify the grammatical clue

    The verb ‘bought’ implies ownership of an object, so the noun meaning fits.

  3. Step 3: Select the correct meaning

    Therefore, ‘watch’ here means ‘a timepiece’.

  4. Final Answer:

    A timepiece → Option D

  5. Quick Check:

    “He bought a new watch.” → Clearly refers to purchasing a timepiece. ✅
Hint: Buying/owning verbs → object sense (timepiece) for 'watch'.
Common Mistakes: Interpreting 'watch' as a verb without checking sentence structure.

Mock Test

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