Final answer:
To differentiate a homonym from polysemy, you can use context, pronunciation, spelling, and denotation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homonyms are words that sound the same and are spelled the same but have different meanings. On the other hand, polysemy refers to words or phrases that have multiple closely related meanings. So, to differentiate a homonym from polysemy, you can use the following methods:
- By context: Homonyms can often be distinguished by the context in which they are used. The surrounding words and the overall meaning of the sentence can help determine the intended meaning of the word. Polysemous words, on the other hand, have several related meanings that can be understood based on the context.
- By pronunciation: Homonyms have the same pronunciation, whereas polysemous words may have slightly different pronunciations for their different meanings.
- By spelling: Homonyms have the same spelling, whereas polysemous words may differ in spelling for their different meanings.
- By denotation: Denotation refers to the literal or dictionary meaning of a word. Homonyms often have different denotations, which can be used to differentiate them, while polysemous words have related denotations for their different meanings.