LINGUISTIC AND COGNITIVE FEATURES OF POLYSEMOUS WORDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEARNERS' LEXICAL COMPETENCE

This article explores the linguistic and cognitive features of polysemous words and examines their role in the development of learners’ lexical competence. Polysemy, as a systematic semantic phenomenon, involves multiple related meanings associated with a single lexical form, which significantly influences vocabulary depth and language use. Drawing on linguistic and cognitive-linguistic frameworks, the study analyzes the semantic organization and contextual realization of selected polysemous words in authentic English discourse. The findings suggest that polysemous meanings are cognitively structured around core senses and extended through metaphorical and contextual mechanisms, enabling learners to interpret meaning variation more effectively. The study highlights that mastery of polysemous words enhances learners’ comprehension and productive skills by promoting flexible and context-sensitive vocabulary use. The article emphasizes the importance of cognitively informed and context-based approaches to teaching polysemous vocabulary in language education.