Elementary to Pre-Intermediate
Many English words have more than one meaning. If you only know one meaning, it is easy to get confused!
For example: Sweet.
1 - "Sarah is such a sweet little girl, she’s always looking after her brother." - kind and friendly.
2 - "This tea is too sweet for me to drink! How much sugar is in it?" - a taste similar to sugar.
The words below all have more than one meaning – write two sentences that show the different meanings. Use a dictionary to help you.
Play
Ring
Train
Flat
Can
Mean
Kind
Book
Watch
Mouse
Example Answers >>Hide Answers
Play: I'm going to see a play tonight.
The children are playing outside.
Ring: Look at my beautiful wedding ring.
The telephone is ringing!
Train: I train daily to get fit.
I take the train to work.
Flat: I live in a small flat in London.
This table is not flat!
Can: I'll have a hamburger and a can of coke, please.
Can I see your passport?
Mean: What does "genuine" mean?
What a mean little girl, she is so selfish.
Kind: What kind of shop is Tesco?
When I broke my arm he was very kind.
Book: I'm reading a good book.
I need to book my flight to Japan soon.
Watch: Where's my watch? I think I'm late!
I'm going to watch a film at the cinema.
Mouse: Is that a mouse on the floor? How awful!
The mouse for my computer isn't working. I'll have to buy a new one.
Lesson by Amanda Pooley, EC Cape Town English language school
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Comments
more than one meaning
*lilly said to her daughter " hey! maria...go check out who's at the door ,i guess somebody rang the doorbell (ring)
*Katty and john is goin' to tie the knot tommorrow and john bought an expensive ring for her(ring)
*i got a sapphire watch on my birthday(watch)
*me on a phone call :have you heard bout X movie, i've been watching that on television since last hour,it's really interesting (watch )
*Judges comments on shayne's singing :you need to work on your tone ,it was completely flat and i think that could have been better(flat)
*we're looking forward to buying a flat near seashore (flat)
*hey !!! look the train is in motion(train)
*i've been getting a training under experts supervision since last year coz i really want to pick my singing up (train)
*all the books of that author are really so fascinating,i always enjoy reading his books(book)
*i've just booked my ticket for jay sean's concert going to be held in london (book)
*hey!! could you please get me a can o' pepsi ,i'm very thirsty (can)
* John:i can write make a nice cup o' tea / coffee(can)
* i'm not gonna tell you the mean of five digits ,you've to find yourself (mean )
*i didn't mean that i said all the stuff for sake but how mean you are,you kicked me (mean)
* my mouse isn't workin' ..i think i have to get it repair (mouse)
*tom is cat and jerry is a mouse and morever i hate mouse (mouse)
*Chris is a kind person and doing a wonderful job(kind)
*what kind of person he is ?? i don't get it ,he's always exaggerate (kind)
*let's play a game a love and gamble (play)
*A magician turned a rabbit into a snake and what's more he palyed a trick on me(play)
I really enjoyed writing these sentences,but let me know if there's any mistake
Nice task !!! thanx
Ok, I had a quick check of
Ok, I had a quick check of what you wrote. Please compare.
lilly said to her daughter " hey! maria...go check out who's at the door ,i guess somebody rang the doorbell (ring)
Katty and john are goin' to tie the knot tommorrow and john bought an expensive ring for her(ring)
I got a sapphire watch on my birthday (watch)
me on a phone call: have you heard bout X movie, i've been watching it on television for an hour, it's really interesting (watch )
Judges comments on shayne's singing: you need to work on your tone, it was completely flat and i think that it could have been better(flat)
we're looking forward to buying a flat near the seashore (flat)
hey !!! look the train is in motion(train)
i've been getting training under expert supervision since last year coz i really want to pick my singing up (train)
all the books by that author are really fascinating,i always enjoy reading his books(book)
i've just booked my ticket for jay sean's concert that's going to be held in london (book)
hey!! could you please get me a can o' pepsi ,i'm very thirsty (can)
John: i can write 'make a nice cup o' tea' / coffee(can)
i'm not gonna tell you the five digits ,you've to find out for yourself (mean )
- i didn't mean that i said all the stuff for sake but how mean you are,you kicked me (mean) please try this sentence again, I couldn't undertstand the meaning.
my mouse isn't workin' ..i think i have to get it repaired (mouse)
tom is cat and jerry is a mouse and morever i hate mice (mouse)
Chris is a kind person and doing a wonderful job(kind)
what kind of person he is ?? i don't get it, he always exaggerates (kind)
let's play a game a love and gamble (play) please try this sentence again, I couldn't undertstand the meaning.
A magician turned a rabbit into a snake and what's more he palyed a trick on me (play)
Thanks,
Chris M.
mistakes
omg!! i made so many mistakes
* (Mean) i'm sorry caroline for whatever i said about your friend last night,actually i was in a mean mood
*(Mean) It is mean to tell lies
*(mean) he's very mean
*(Play)shakespear wrote many great plays
*(play) i realy like playing piano
Next time i'll be careful while writing and try not to make any mistake
Thanx chris for checking, it really helps to know where we are standing right now
More than One Meaning
They played in the yard yesterday/The play was beautiful.
The Lord of the Rings is my favourite film/ Ring My Bells is my favourite song.
The train was late/ He trains every day.
My flat is small/ This area is flat.
The can was full of water/ He can drink this can of Coca-Cola.
What do you mean/He has mean abilities
She is a kind, helpful person/What kind of book is it?
This book is interesting/ I booked the tickets to the theatre.
My watch is wrong/ I like watching TV.
I am afraid of mice/ My mouse is nice.
Thank you for the Lesson!:)
All perfect! No
All perfect! No mistakes...not even a typo!!
Chris M.
An attempt to write sentences
No doubt India is a cricket mad nation, This game is widespread as you can see boys play the game in every nook and corner
To-day's paper flashes the murder of youg woman in our town. Police suspects foul play of some young outsiders.
Table clocks are quite useful to have alarm facility.However i used to get up early morning before alarm rings.
There is a practice in every engagement function, a boy slips a ring to his would be bride as a mark of confirmation.
Police academy is meant to train young officers before inducting into regular service.
Indian Railways is the biggest train network in the world.but Japan'sbullet train is the fastest in the world.
Nowadays it's become a normal practice in big stores which offer a flat 50% reduction in out of fashion materials.
Tea and Coffee couldn't be grown in flat terrain as they need slopes for a good drainage.which is the main part of its suitability.
Can I help you with huge sum as a loan to get you out of the worst situation? please don't hesitate to callme back.
Haj pilgrims are allowed to carry a can with holy water when they return after performing the ceremony
Two and two are sure to make four, I mean if you add or multiply. Is it not unique?
In olden days some of the people were mean as they practised racism against our own human beings.
Donations to common cause especially to eradicate poverty is a kind gesture. Many good hearted people follow without great fuss.
Last year I lent an amount to a farmer to take up cultivation of his barren land.It turned out to be a good prospect to the farmer and he promptly returnedthe worth in kind(produce)
The latest award winning book is under sales now. People are buying that as hot cakes.
Famous Magician has progammed to conduct shows in India this month and as expected all the shows have been booked in advance.
At the age of six or sevenmost of the childrenare averse to watch horror films but they enjoy watching cartoons.
Round the clock watch is provided in the Parliament as a security measure against the attack of terrorists.
In a family brothers and sisters love each other but it's not a surprise they have cat and mouse relationship in few matters.
Mouse is an integral part of the computer system in table top cmputers.
I am sure Chris will help me to refine my sentences. Thanks
Excellent sentences. Here
Excellent sentences. Here are a few minor corrections
Thanks,
Chris
No doubt India is a cricket mad nation, This game is widespread as you can see boys No doubt India is a cricket mad nation, This game is widespread as you can see boys playing the game in every nook and corner
Today's paper flashes the murder of youg woman in our town. Police suspect foul play of some young outsiders.
Table clocks are quite useful to have for the alarm facility.However i used to get up early morning before the alarm rang.
There is a practice in every engagement function, a boy slips a ring to his would be bride as a mark of confirmation.
The Police academy is meant to train young officers before inducting them into regular service.
Indian Railways is the biggest train network in the world.but Japan's bullet train is the fastest in the world.
Nowadays it's become normal practice in big stores to offer a flat 50% reduction in out-of- fashion materials.
Tea and Coffee cannot be grown on flat terrain as they need slopes for a good drainage, which is the main part of its suitability.
Can I help you with a huge sum as a loan to get you out of the worst situation? please don't hesitate to call me back.
Haj pilgrims are allowed to carry a can with holy water when they return after performing the ceremony
Two and two are sure to make four, I mean if you add or multiply. Is it not unique?
In olden times some of the people were mean as they practiced racism against other human beings.
Donations to common causes especially to eradicate poverty are a kind gesture. Many good hearted people follow without great fuss.
Last year I lent an amount to a farmer to take up cultivation of his barren land. It turned out to be a good prospect to the farmer and he promptly returned the worth in kind (produce)
The latest award winning book is on sale now. People are buying it like hot cakes.
A famous magician has contracted to conducting shows in India this month and as expected all the shows have been fully-booked in advance.
At the age of six or seven most children are averse to watching horror films but they enjoy watching cartoons.
Round the clock watch is provided in Parliament as a security measure against the attack of terrorists.
In a family, brothers and sisters love each other but it's not a surprise they have cat and mouse relationship in a few matters.
The/A mouse is an integral part of the computer system in table top computers.
please check my sentenses
PLAY
i founD maria playing with her dog in the garden yesterday
i watched sarina's play ,she acts so gud .
RING
please pick up the phone its ringing since10mins.
raj gifted me a diamond ring.
TRAIN
jaipur -chennai train is late .
raj is getting training from HCL
FLAT
we are looking for some good flats.
i didnt like her song because she tone is flat
CAN
i can improve my english.
plz brink me coco cola can .
MEAN
please be beware of nisha she is so mean.
my intensions didnt mean to hurt you
KIND
she is very kind hearted
she is not that kind of person
BOOK
arjun has booked our tickets
i want to read that book
WATCH
i like watching movies
my bro gifted me a nice watch
MOUSE
ria is very much afraid of mouse.
its not easy for children to move cursor with the help of mouse
Hi, take a look at these
Hi, take a look at these changes.
PLAY
i found maria playing with her dog in the garden yesterday
i watched sarina's play ,she acts well .
RING
please pick up the phone its been ringing for 10mins.
raj gave me a diamond ring.
TRAIN
jaipur -chennai train is late .
raj is getting training from HCL
FLAT
we are looking for some good flats.
i didnt like her song because her tone is flat
CAN
i can improve my english.
plz bring me a can of coca-cola.
MEAN
please be beware of nisha she is so mean.
my intensions didnt mean to hurt you
KIND
she is very kind hearted
she is not that kind of person
BOOK
arjun has booked our tickets
i want to read that book
WATCH
i like watching movies
my bro gave me a nice watch
MOUSE
ria is very much afraid of mice.
it's not easy for children to move the cursor with the help of a mouse
thanks for help
ohh so many mistakes ..... :( i ll b careful next time ......
i have one doubt ......u used "gave " in place of "gifted"....... why can't we use gifted ???
gave vs gifted
It's not at all common to use 'gifted'. The usual verb in these sitautions is 'gave'.
Thanks,
Chris
thanks
thanks for the help :)
1. My granddaughter plays
1. My granddaughter plays tennis and plays piano. With tennis everything goes well, but she sometimes plays that she has trained on piano an hour while she did this only for couple of minutes.
2. Julia rang me yesterday. She was extremely excited - her boyfriend at last had made a proposal and bought her a diamond ring.
3. Usually I go by train to my gym class, but today we are going to train in the new gymnasium near my house. How I'm lucky now!
4. I’ve heard you are going to move to a new flat out of the boonies. I understand your idea to live close to a nature, but this place so flat. I’m afraid you will be disappointed
5. He can't spend his break time without a can of beer. .
6. What do you mean by saying that he is mean? I know this guy and have been never heard one boorish word from him.
7. What kind of person she is? Oh, she is very kind.
8. In this book you could find all types of ski holiday and book it by telephone flat out.
9. We were going to watch a football game together at 10, but my watch has gone haywire and when it dawned on me it was too late.
10. I've bought a comp mouse in a mouse shape for my son. He loved it!
I had a look at your
I had a look at your sentences and made some small changes. Your vocabulary is great!
1. My granddaughter plays tennis and plays piano. With tennis everything goes well, but she sometimes pretends that she has trained on piano an hour while she did this only for couple of minutes.
2. Julia rang me yesterday. She was extremely excited - her boyfriend proposed at last and bought her a diamond ring.
3. Usually I go by train to my gym class, but today we are going to train in the new gymnasium near my house. How lucky I am now!
4. I’ve heard you are going to move to a new flat out of the boonies. I understand your idea to live close to a nature, but this place is so flat. I’m afraid you will be disappointed
5. He can’t spend his break time without a can of beer. .
6. What do you mean by saying that he is mean? I know this guy and have been never heard one boorish word from him.
7. What kind of person is she? Oh, she is very kind.
8. In this book you could find all types of ski holidays and book them by telephone.
9. We were going to watch a football game together at 10, but my watch has gone haywire and when it dawned on me it was too late.
10. I’ve bought a comp mouse in the shape of a mouse for my son. He loved it!
aabc
This is agood exercise which gives knowledge and entertainment too.
English improvement
new meaning
thanks a lot
i didn't know that (mean) has another meaning
but can you please tell me about( such ) i don't know when to use it and how
when i used the dictionary it gave me alot of explain without any e.g
so i couldn't understand ....
maybe you can help me ....^_^
thanks again
" Preferable meaning"
Tagging the description of the appropriate figures is quite acceptable, and preferable to generating empty tags
In the above sentence, after this sentence "Tagging the description of the appropriate figures is quite acceptable" they put "comma" after that they are saying "and preferable to generating empty tags". My doubt is
whether "Tagging the description of the appropriate figures" are preferred? or
"generating empty tags" are preferred.
My friends are saying that after "Tagging the description of the appropriate figures is quite acceptable" comma is present na so "generating empty tags" is preferred.
please clarify this doubt
Thanking You
Dwarakesh M