1. Average: This is the most common meaning of "mean" in mathematics and statistics. For example, "The mean temperature for this month was 20 degrees Celsius."
2. Unkind or cruel: This is the most common meaning of "mean" in everyday language. For example, "That was a mean thing to say."
3. Significant or important: This meaning is less common than the others. For example, "It means a lot to me that you came."
4. To signify or intend: This meaning is often used in conjunction with another word. For example, "The red light means stop."
5. A low or inferior person: This meaning is outdated and considered offensive.
To understand the meaning of "mean" in a particular context, it's important to pay attention to the surrounding words and the overall sentence.