Who doesn't love when one word has multiple definitions? It makes things so sophisticated...so subtle...so...confusing. Of course, those different definitions are often significant. Am I talking about the tree's leaves or am I sad when the gardener leaves? Am I going to ship my dog off to obedience school or am I taking a ship to Puerta Vallarta?

What about when a word has multiple meanings based on historical context? What about when that same word has a number of very specific variants? That's when you need to focus. You need to listen. You need to be on your guard. What is the actual topic of discussion?

What word am I thinking about? I'm thinking about liberalism. 21st century American? 19th century European? Classical? Economic? Social?

Words have very specific meanings, and when we conflate ideas, we create a mess. Make sure you are able to define exactly what you mean and make sure you don't allow others to trick you by playing on their knowledge of multiple meanings. Words are one of the greatest human inventions, like many tools, they can be used as a weapon as well.