I think you're most likely referring to an oxymoron, which is a figure of speech that uses two contradictory words or terms to describe one thing. An example of this is the word "bittersweet," or the phrases "being cruel to be kind," "accidentally on purpose" and "organized chaos." Oxymoron is used to catch a reader's or listener's attention and draw it to the point being made, which at first seems to be contradictory but ultimately makes sense.
Another possibility is paradox, a literary device which juxtaposes two opposing ideas. A famous example is Charles Dickens' "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." Though statements like these seem to contradict themselves, they can be reasoned to make sense.
There are two meanings to copulation depending on how it is used in a sentence. These meanings include sexual intercourse and the act of coupling or joining.
There are two verbs in this compound sentence: call and make.Note: The subject of the sentence is inferred. The unwritten subject is "You call..." and "you make..."
There are two meanings to duty: It was his duty (responsibility) to stop the smuggling and collect the duty (taxes)
CONTRANYM
Menagerie has two meanings. The wild animal park was a virtual menagerie. My stepdaughter's bedroom is a menagerie of trash and antiques.
A sentence that can be read with two different meanings is called ambiguous. It can be interpreted in more than one way depending on how the words are understood.
There are two meanings to copulation depending on how it is used in a sentence. These meanings include sexual intercourse and the act of coupling or joining.
There are two verbs in this compound sentence: call and make.Note: The subject of the sentence is inferred. The unwritten subject is "You call..." and "you make..."
Yes, that type of statement has been known as a double entendre since the 1670s.
homograph. these are words which are written in the same way but have different meanings.
Sure! Here's a sentence with two different meanings: "He saw her duck." The first interpretation is "He watched her lower her body quickly to avoid something flying towards her." The second interpretation is "He saw a bird of the duck species."
There are two meanings to duty: It was his duty (responsibility) to stop the smuggling and collect the duty (taxes)
Two meanings for still would be peace and quiet.
Phone call is two words. Used in an example sentence "I am waiting for a phone call from my lawyer".
CONTRANYM
This is frequently call an "antonym".
Words that sound the same but have different meanings are called homophones. Examples include "to," "too," and "two."