When a word has multiple meanings, which approach helps determine the intended sense in context?

• A. Choose the most common meaning in general usage
• B. Rely on the surrounding sentence and overall topic
• C. Look up every sense in a dictionary
• D. Guess based on tone of the paragraph

Answer: (B)

Rely on the surrounding sentence and the overall topic to determine which sense of a word is meant. The words around the ambiguous term, along with what the passage is about, signal which meaning fits. For example, if the sentence discusses saving money, loans, or banks, the financial meaning is intended. If it mentions the edge of land along a river or a shoreline, the riverbank meaning is likely. These context clues help you pick the sense that makes the most sense within that specific passage.

Other strategies can mislead. The most common meaning isn’t guaranteed to fit the context, and looking up every possible sense is time-consuming and impractical in ongoing reading. Tone might suggest mood, but it doesn’t reliably tell you which particular meaning of a word is intended.