Words in Context

More Than One Meaning

Exercise 1

Many words have more than one meaning. If you have to explain the meaning of a word,
check that you give the meaning which fits the situation.

Briefly explain the meaning of each word in bold type below.

When she said this, the real reason for her visit struck me.

Be careful of him. He is a really smooth operator and will sell you things you do not need.

I watched a minute insect crawling up the wall.

She is an expert on the culture of mushrooms.

Companies which have a large land bank will benefit very much from the sharp increase in the
price of land, and will be able to develop large estates.

We stopped to admire the neatly stepped fields, which reached from the valley nearly to the top
of the hill.

I saw him raise his rifle. The report of the shot was deafening in such a small room.

I turned around and saw a familiar face in the crowd.

A doctor should not become too familiar with her patients.

Life in the bush is a placid affair in which very little happens.

According to village gossip, the doctor is having an affair with one of his patients.

We have discussed this problem for far too long. It is time for us to get down to work and find a
solution.

It is always more difficult to climb up a mountain than to get down again.

The man spoke too quickly that the reporter could not get down everything he said.

Mr. Brown hoped that he would be promoted manager, so he was rather put out when he
discovered that somebody else had got the post.

It took the fireman two hours to put out the fire at the paint factory.

Every morning we put out our rubbish and a man takes it away.
We pitched camp on a sandy bank by a small stream.

The plane pitched and rolled alarmingly as we went through the storm clouds.

Zak pitched so well in the last game that nobody was able to score a run.

Exercise 2

Each of these sentences is ambiguous. Discuss what each sentence could mean. Pay
attention to the words in bold type.

The last owner of the house moved to London a year ago.

No one had been the manager of the firm for a long time ago.

The result of a marathon was outstanding.

Mrs. Dell stood by her son when he was accused of theft.

Mary can only speak English.

As the lorry raced straight towards us, we jumped out of the way.

This is Mr. Brown. He is a late arrival.

Peter! What a fine thing to say! I’m really surprised.

I can’t afford to buy all these dresses.
I want you to put down the price.

Exercise 3
Choose five of the words below. In each case, write two sentences to illustrate the different
meanings which the word can have.
List, club, bracket, tender, post, conviction, with, late

Exercise 4
Choose five of the following. In each case, write two sentences to illustrate the different
meanings which the word or expression can have.
Quarry, comb, pay tribute to, take off, dead, fast, in time

Exercise 5
Give antonyms for each of the words in bold type. Use a single word in each case.
This is an extremely complex problem.
They acted in a barbarous way
Two of the men were found innocent of the charge.
Ruby felt quite nervous when she attended the interview.
We were able to swim with the current.
Most of the players felt exhausted after the game.
She made the cake with flour.
Maria is a rather innocent type of girl and knows little about bribery in business.
He had some difficulty in getting a suitable post but now I am sure he will do well in his new
job.
This is a novel remedy for toothache.

Exercise 6
Giver words or short phrases similar to the words in bold type below.
Some men have come to install the air-conditioner.
The men walked about with the sober dignity of kings.
When he was not invited to the wedding, he considered it a personal affront.
She was mischievous but not malicious.
After the accident, he was admonished to drive with greater care.
The game will begin forthwith.
Who planned such an audacious undertaking?
I should have been more careful, reflected Peter, and then the accident would not have
happened.
We discussed the hazardous journey ahead of us.
Then we made plans to meet any contingency which we could possibly foresee.
As the taxi went round the bend, it collided with an oncoming lorry.
As the advent to television has had a profound effect upon people’s lives.