This is the 2324th most frequent Japanese word.
たこ
Octopus.
Here, 'たこ' directly refers to the animal, the octopus, found in the ocean.
海でたこと一緒に泳ぎました。
I swam together with an octopus in the sea.
In this usage, 'たこ' refers metaphorically to 'kite,' which is a plaything flown in the air.
彼はたこあげが得意です。
He is skilled at kite flying.
In this sentence, 'たこ' refers to octopus, typically as an ingredient in 'たこ焼き' (octopus balls), which is a popular food item in Japan.