double meaning

A double entendre (, , ; ) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to be understood in either of two ways, having a double meaning. Typically one of the meanings is obvious, given the context whereas the other may require more thought. The innuendo may convey a message that would be socially awkward, sexually suggestive or offensive to state directly (the Oxford English Dictionary describes a double entendre as being used to "convey an indelicate meaning", whilst Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines it as "a word or phrase that may be understood in two different ways, one of which is often sexual").

The Rithian Terror (original title: "Double Meaning") is a science fiction novel by Damon Knight. The story is a psychological thriller that follows an Earth security officer in the future who is racing against time to locate an alien spy. First published in 1953, this is probably the first sci-fi book to feature a surveillance drone.