What word has the most different meanings?

Answer 1

Originally, words had one very specific definition or usage. But language evolves. Meanings extend into new areas (this is an area of linguistics studies). Now, millions of words can have two or more definitions and meanings.

For example, take the word cat:

The Egyptian Queen honored her cat.

In the early to mid 1950s, "cat" took on a new human meaning,:

That cat was a fine musician. He could play drums, Saxophone, and bass and never dropped a beat.

Beef meant meat from cows. We even called these animals "beef cows" to distinguish them from "milking cows". In late 1980s advertising, an old woman quipped over a hamburger, "Where's the beef?", to show disgust over a smaller than expected burger patty.

But along the way, beef picked up a new definition and meaning, as a complaint.

I had a huge beef with him last year and we never talked since then.

Answer 2

I vote for "up" used as a preposition, adverb, adjective, noun, and verb with 81 definitions and 12 idioms (up with, up to).

Tied for second are "get" and "got":

Get is a verb and a noun with 31 definitions and 32 idioms and phrases (get going, get ahead).

Got is a verb and a noun with 31 definitions and 32 idioms and phrases (got going, got ahead).

The runner up might be "in" as a preposition, adverb, adjective, noun, and verb with 30 definitions listed.

Answer 3

This is usually given as a trick question, with the expected answer 'dictionary'.

Answer 4

I'm not sure but it is probably not the word 'plankton'.

Answer 5

run has more definitions than set

Answer 6

help

Answer 7

Set

Answer 8

set