Lexical Ambiguity
Lexical ambiguity occurs when a word has multiple meanings, leading to confusion in interpretation. For example, the word “bat” can refer to a flying mammal or a piece of sports equipment used in baseball. This duality can create misunderstandings in communication if the context is not clear.
Context plays a crucial role in resolving lexical ambiguity. By providing additional information or using surrounding words, speakers and writers can clarify which meaning they intend. For instance, saying “I saw a bat flying at dusk” clearly indicates the animal, while “I hit the ball with my bat” refers to the sports equipment.