The context in which an ambiguous word is used often makes it clearer which of the meanings is intended.
ðə kˈɑːntɛkst ɪnwˌɪtʃ ɐn æmbˈɪɡjuːəs wˈɜːd ɪz jˈuːzd ˈɔfən mˌeɪks ɪt klˈɪɹɚ wˌɪtʃ ʌvðə mˈiːnɪŋz ɪz ɪntˈɛndᵻd.