What term refers to the case where a single word has more than one related meaning?

• A. Polysemy
• B. Ellipsis
• C. Display Questions
• D. Face Validity

Answer: (A)

Polysemy is when one word carries several related meanings. These senses share a common idea and often come from a core concept that has broadened or extended over time. A classic example is mouth: it can mean the mouth of a person, the opening of a cave, or the mouth of a river — all involving an opening or entry, so the senses are linked. Context tells us which sense is meant in a sentence.

This differs from unrelated meanings that simply happen to share the same form, which would be a case often discussed as homonymy. The other options aren’t about word meanings: ellipsis is omission in language, display questions are a type of exam item, and face validity concerns whether a test seems to measure what it’s supposed to measure.