At what developmental stage do children start to comprehend that words can convey multiple meanings?

Children typically start to comprehend that words can convey multiple meanings around the age of 6 or 7. This stage aligns with their cognitive development, where they enhance their understanding of language nuances and context. As they engage in more complex conversations and are exposed to richer language experiences, they begin to grasp that many words can have different meanings depending on the situation. When children reach this age, they also become more adept at playing with language, including understanding humor or puns that involve multiple meanings, which is indicative of their growing cognitive and linguistic skills.

Prior to this age, while toddlers may start recognizing some basic vocabulary and associating words with singular meanings, their understanding remains quite literal. Development beyond this age, such as during puberty or age 10, usually involves further refinement and sophistication in language use rather than the initial comprehension of multiple meanings.