Homonymy and Polysemy - Simple Lesson for English Learners

Part 1: HOMONYMS (Words That Sound the Same)

What are Homonyms?

Homonyms = Different words that sound the same (and sometimes look the same)
Important: These words have NO CONNECTION in meaning!

Simple Rule:

Same sound + Different meaning = Homonym

Example 1: "Bank"
- Bank = Place where you keep money
- Bank = Side of a river

Example 2: "Bark"
- Bark = Sound a dog makes
- Bark = Skin of a tree

Types of Homonyms

• Same Spelling, Same Sound: fair (just) / fair (event)
• Same Sound, Different Spelling: to / too / two

Practice Time!

What do these homonyms mean?

• Right (correct) vs Right (opposite of left)
• Sea (ocean) vs See (look)
• Flower (plant) vs Flour (for baking)

Part 2: POLYSEMY (One Word, Many Connected Meanings)

What is Polysemy?

Polysemy = One word with many meanings that are related or connected

Simple Rule:

One word + Many connected meanings = Polysemy

Example 1: "Head"
- Head = part of body
- Head = leader of group
- Head = top of something

Example 2: "Run"
- Run = move fast
- Run = manage
- Run = operate/work

Example 3: "Bright"
- Bright = has light
- Bright = smart
- Bright = cheerful

More Simple Examples:

• Cold = temperature / unfriendly / no emotion
• Light = not dark / not heavy / not much

How to Tell the Difference

Ask Yourself: "Are the meanings connected?"

• If NO → Homonyms
  Example: Bank (money) and Bank (river)
• If YES → Polysemy
  Example: Head (body) and Head (leader)

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Homonym or Polysemy?

Write "H" for Homonym or "P" for Polysemy:

1. Bat (animal) vs Bat (sports equipment) = H
2. Sharp (cut) vs Sharp (smart) = P
3. Flower vs Flour = H
4. Deep (distance) vs Deep (thinking) = P

Exercise 2: Find the Connection

• Fire = flames / Fire = dismiss → Both involve removing or ending
• Sweet = good taste / Sweet = kind → Both mean "pleasant"

Exercise 3: Context Practice

1. "I run to school." = move fast
2. "She runs a bakery." = manage/operate
3. "The movie runs for two hours." = continues/lasts

Tips for English Learners

• Read the whole sentence
• Think about the context
• Don’t assume the meaning
• Look at surrounding words

When Learning New Words:

• Learn one meaning first
• Then explore other connected meanings
• Use real examples

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Thinking all same-sounding words are related
• Always using only one meaning of a word
• Not reading the sentence properly

Quick Review

• Homonyms = same sound, different and unrelated meanings
• Polysemy = one word, many connected meanings
• Key: Are the meanings related? Yes = Polysemy, No = Homonym

Final Practice

1. "Please bank the fire." = b) Cover with dirt to control
2. "She has a sharp mind." = b) Very intelligent
3. "The head waiter took our order." = b) Main/chief waiter

You now understand the difference between homonyms and polysemy! Keep practicing and learning through context and real-life examples!