An ambiguity similar to that which dissatisfied John of Salisbury with Latin legere is also to be found in medieval vernaculars. Thus, MHG lesen can be used of reading a text aloud to someone else, as in Gottfried's Tristan (230: wan swâ man noch gehoeret lesen / ir triuwe, ir triuwen reinekeit), but can also denote an individual reading alone, as in Gottfried's work again (243: Ein hêrre in Parmenîe was, / der jâre ein kint, als ich ez las), so early in the narrative that Gottfried cannot refer to what he has already read out to his listeners. Instead, the context alludes to what he learned from his source (245f.) and we learn that Gottfried found this with Thomas (326ff.), who had learned it by reading his own sources. The verb lesen is therefore used of two complementary activities: an author reciting his text to an audience, but also the reader's reception of a text.

In addition, a third meaning has for long been recognised, summed up by Benecke, Müller and Zarncke: ‘ich lise ist nicht selten vollkommen gleichbedeutend mit unserem “ich sage, erzähle und ähnlichen wörtern” und darf daher durchaus nicht durch “lesen” übersetzt werden’. Lexer therefore registers three usages for MHG lesen: ‘lesen’, ‘vorlesen’, ‘sagen, erzählen, berichten‘, and is followed by Scholz: ‘lesen’, ‘vorlesen’, ‘sagen, erzählen‘.