Under those circumstances, and under the plain language of paragraph 2(a) of the Collateral Assignment, the assignee is entitled to the cash surrender value up to the amount of the premiums paid. “An insurance contract, like any other contract, is to be construed according to the sense or meaning of the words that are used in the contract.” Andersen v. Standard Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 149 N.W.2d 378, 380 (N.D.1967) (citing Schmitt v. Paramount Fire Ins. Co., 92 N.W.2d 177 (N.D.1958)). Accordingly, Bala's argument—that the estate's right to receive its interest under paragraph 2 of the Collateral Assignment never arose because Bala never surrendered the policy—is simply incorrect.