The phenomenon where repeated words or phrases gain different meanings through changing contexts within a poem, demonstrating how context shapes interpretation. This occurs particularly with refrains where identical lines mean differently as surrounding content changes. Varied meaning shows that repetition need not be mere redundancy, as strategic placement makes the same words signify differently, revealing how context determines sense and building interpretive complexity through recursive return.

This term refers to how words or symbols in poetry can carry multiple simultaneous meanings or shift meaning across different contexts within a work. Poets deliberately exploit varied meaning through puns, ambiguity, polysemy, and context-dependent interpretations. William Empson's "Seven Types of Ambiguity" explores how multiplicity of meaning enriches poetry. Understanding varied meaning helps readers appreciate layered interpretations and recognize that poems often resist single definitive readings. Consider how a word might mean differently in various stanzas or how contextual shifts alter significance. This richness distinguishes poetry from purely denotative language.