What is polysemy

Polysemy is a linguistic phenomenon where a single word has multiple related meanings. The different meanings of a polysemous word share a common origin or concept but are used in distinct contexts. For example:

- **"Bank"**: Can mean a financial institution where money is kept or the side of a river.

- **"Foot"**: Can refer to the body part or a unit of measurement.

The relatedness of meanings helps in understanding the word in various contexts, making polysemy a common feature in language.