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People seek out tattoos for a wide variety of reasons, but almost all of them have something in common: they are connected to meaning. I divide the concept of meaning into three separate interpretations, which I call reference, communication, and narrative significance, and I argue that on each of these interpretations, tattoos are polysemous: they have multiple, interrelated meanings. The polysemy of tattoos helps illuminate both the unique type of cultural value they offer, and some potential downsides, such as tattoo regret.