SEMANTICS, Fall 2021/2022 Dr.

Najib Ismail Jarad

3.6 Homonymy and Polysemy

In Homonymy: the root “homo”, means same, while “nym”, means name. [Same name].
In Polysemy: the root “Poly”, means many, while “sem”, means meaning. [Many meanings].

Homonymy refers to lexemes that have the same spelling and pronunciation but different
meanings.

a. The kids are going to watch TV tonight. = [The act of watching]

b. I have bought a new watch. = [Tracking time object].

a. Which page is the homework on? = [Sheet of paper]

b. Please page the doctor if you need help. = [Call]

a. My rabbits are in a pen outside. = [Enclosed area]

b. Please sign this form with a black pen. = [Writing instrument]

Homonyms give rise to Lexical Ambiguity:

a. I am going to the bank. = [Riverbank, side of the river OR financial institution]

Homographs are lexemes that have the same spelling but different pronunciations and meanings.

a. The wind is blowing hard. Wound = [air]

b. I have to wind my clock. wound = [Verb, to turn the stem of the clock].

a. All the students are present today. = [Adj, are there]

b. The boss will present the award at 10:00. [Verb, show]

Homophones are lexemes that have the same pronunciation but different spelling and meanings.
Ex: (to, too, two)

o This is my favorite (pair, pare, pear) of jeans.

o I have (sent, scent, cent) a letter to my aunt.
o The school (principle, principal) spoke to a group of parents.

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SEMANTICS, Fall 2021/2022 Dr. Najib Ismail Jarad

Semanticists and lexicographers [guys who pile dictionaries, compilers], sometimes have to
decide whether a form with a wide range of meanings is an instance of polysemy or homonymy.

A polysemous (polysemic) lexeme has several (apparently) related meanings.

o Head: [of a person, of state, of school, of a company, of cabbage, of lettuce].

Dictionaries recognize the distinction between polysemy and homonymy by making a polysemous
item a single dictionary entry and making two or more homophonous lexemes separate entries.

o Date 1: [Homonymy].
a. Fruit.

o Date 2: [Polysemic words].

a. point in time.
b. appointment, meeting.
c. lover.

o The noun ‘pupil’: has two different senses = [part of the eye], [school child], they’re
semantically unrelated.
o Flower, flour: these were originally the same word, but now they have different meanings
that are far apart, and they’re treated as homonyms.

Clear cases of homonymy:

a. Sarah climbed down the ladder. = [Adv, movement of the person]

b. Sarah bought a down blanket. = [N, feather of birds]

a. My dog would always bark at the milkman. = [Dog barking]

b. The tree’s bark was rusty brown. = [Tree’s bark]