What Words Have the Most Meanings?
Have you ever used a Swiss Army knife, the multifunctional device with as many as 87 tools and 141 functions? The linguistic equivalent is polysemy, the phenomenon by which one word has multiple related meanings, depending on context. Take the word “set” — it can function as a noun, an
adjective, or a verb with dozens of usages for each part of speech.These multiple meanings have utility in a variety of circumstances. You can set the table, set down an object, set your sights, and set a date. You might buy a set of colored pencils, straighten the set of...
