General:
* Misinformed: This implies they have incorrect information about word meanings.
* Uninformed: This suggests they simply lack the knowledge about the words.
* Ignorant: This carries a stronger negative connotation, implying a lack of awareness and unwillingness to learn.
* Illiterate: This refers specifically to a lack of reading and writing skills, but can be extended to a broader lack of knowledge.
More specific:
* Semantically challenged: This is a humorous way of saying someone struggles with word meanings.
* Lexical misinterpreter: This is a more technical term highlighting the specific issue of misinterpreting words.
* Wordsmith in training: This is a sarcastic way to describe someone who thinks they are skilled with language but isn't.
Other possibilities:
* Pseudo-intellectual: This refers to someone who pretends to be knowledgeable but isn't.
* Pedant: This is someone who focuses on minor details and rules, often incorrectly.
* Pretentious: This describes someone who tries to appear more intelligent than they are.
Ultimately, the best word depends on the context and the specific way you want to characterize the person.