1. Method or Way: This is the most common meaning of "means." It refers to the method, tool, or process used to achieve something.
* Example: "What's the best means of transportation to get to the airport?"
2. Money or Resources: "Means" can also refer to a person's financial resources or wealth.
* Example: "She's a woman of considerable means."
3. Average: This is less common, but "means" can also refer to the average value of a set of numbers.
* Example: "The mean temperature for this month was 25 degrees Celsius."
4. Means To An End: This is an idiom that means something is being used as a tool or method to achieve a desired outcome, even if it's not inherently good or desirable.
* Example: "He would lie and cheat, using any means to get ahead."
5. Plural of "Mean": While less common, "means" can also be the plural form of the word "mean," which refers to unkind or cruel behavior.
* Example: "His words were full of meanness."
It's important to look at the context to understand the correct meaning of "means" in a particular sentence.