Word with multiple meanings exercises

Words can have many meanings

Many words can have more than one meaning; in these vocabulary worksheets, students match different definitions of the same word to the word’s usage in different sentences.

The number of words in the English language is estimated to be 170,000. Nearly 75 percent of those words, including slang, have several meanings. Look it up in a dictionary and you will realize that finding a word with just one meaning is challenging. The majority of these terms only slightly differ from their root definitions in meaning, however, some words can also signify the opposite. Many words have various meanings depending on the situation in which they are used. For those learning a new language, it is a little frustrating. So, even though this may seem unclear, mastering it is a crucial ability. We shall examine these terms with numerous personalities in our multiple-meaning words worksheets. You can learn how to handle terms that might seem awkward when you first read them by taking an eye on our printable worksheets.

By highlighting terms that can be used in various contexts, our worksheets for multiple-meaning words help students increase their vocabulary. Being able to master vocabulary words will improve your writing’s capacity to convey yourself and hold the attention of the reader. You can explore more vocabulary worksheets on this website!

On WorksheetZone, we have millions of free printable worksheets ready for you to use. Let’s get started!

L6-L11 Identifying multiple meanings. Practice with conversations. Matching words. TIME, QUANTITY, AND COMPARISONS. Listen to the spoken statement

Exercise L6 Identifying multiple meanings

Practice with statements

 

2. strike = attack
3. note = take notice of
4. spring = jump suddenly
5. exercise = make use of

PAUSE
Practice with conversations
In your book is a list of words and one of their meanings. Listen to the two spoken conversations. Write the letter of the conversation that uses the meaning given in your book.
Example You will hear: (A) (woman) Can you lend me five dollars?
                                     (man) Are you short of money again? *
                               (B) (woman) Why does this light keep going off?
                                    (man) There’s a short in it.
You will read: short = fault in electrical wiring
You should write “B” in the space because “short” means “a fault in the electrical wiring” in conversation (B).
START
6. hot = spicy
7. mount = get on
8. blow = hit
9. cast — throw
10. cross = annoyed
Answers to Exercise L6 

1.    (A) “Light” in sentence (B) means “not heavy.”

2.    (A) “Strike” in sentence (B) means to “ignite.”

3.    (A) “Note” in sentence (B) means “a musical tone.”

4.    (B) A “spring” in sentence (A) is a “place where water comes up from the ground.”

5.    (A) “Exercise” in sentence (B) means “do physical activities.”

6.    (A) “Hot” in sentence (B) means “high temperature.”

7.     (B) “Mount” in sentence (A) means “frame.”

8.     (A) “Blow” in sentence (B) means “sound.”

9.    (A) “A cast” in sentence (B) is “a rigid dressing for a broken bone.”

10.  (A) “Cross” in sentence (B) means “traverse.”

Exercise L 7 Matching words

Practice with statements
In your book is a list of sentences with an underlined word in each. You will hear two spoken sentences. Write the letter of the sentence that uses the underlined word in the same way as the sentence in your book.
Example You will hear: (A) Peter’s dog heels very well on command.
(B) The horse kicked up its heels as it crossed the pasture.
You will read: £ I’ve got painful blisters on my heels.
You should write “B” in the space because “heels” in the sentence “The horse kicked up its heels as it crossed the pasture” has the same meaning as “heels” in the sentence “I’ve got painful blisters on my heels.”

1. The llamas were sure-footed along the steep pass.
2. Mr. Turner is a just man and can give you good advice.
3 . Ron caused the boat to tip over.
4. The children filed out calmly during the fire drill.
5. The incorrect answers have a check by them.
 PAUSE

Practice with conversations
In your book is a list of conversations with an underlined word in each. Listen to two spoken conversations and identify the one that uses the underlined word in the same way as the conversation in your book. You may want to pause the recording between conversations.
Example You will hear: (A) (woman) How was your tennis match?
                                     (man) We won!
                                 (B) (man) Mary’s shoes and hat don’t match.
                                      (woman) I think they look fine.
You will read: (man) Would these curtains match our carpet?
                   (woman) Why don’t we ask for a sample to take home?
You should write “B” in the space because “match” in conversation (B) means the same
as “match” in the conversation in your book.

START
6. (man) Do you prefer bridge or canasta?
   (woman) Actually, I don’t care for card games in general.
7. (man) How do you make such a rich fruitcake?
   (woman) I use lots of butter and eggs.
8. (man) A baked potato is better for your body than fried potatoes.
   (woman) I don’t care. I prefer fried potatoes.
9. (man) How many application forms did you receive today?
   (woman) Six. But none of the applicants is qualified for the job.
10. (man) I sure am tired of studying.
    (woman) Me too. We could use a break after midterm exams.
Answers to Exercise L7 

1. A    3. A     5. В     7. A     9. В
2. В    4. A    6. В    8. A     10. В

 

PRACTICE WITH TIME, QUANTITY, AND COMPARISONS

Many items are difficult because of confusions in time, quantity, or comparisons. Use Listening Exercises L8-L11 to develop your skills in understanding the meanings of certain time, quantity, and comparison statements. Study the following examples.

1. Time
M: Do you know when Mary will finish the project?
W: She said she would be finished within the week. (Mary will be finished sometime during the week.)
Although the tense “would be finished” may appear to be an action occurring in the past, it was Mary’s statement concerning an action in the future that was said in the past.

2. Quantity
W: I would say we’re even.
M: Good. I want no more and no less than you have. (I want an equal amount.) The quantity “no more and no less” is an equal amount.

3. Comparisons
M: I thought Tom was tall.
W: No, he isn’t much taller than Jane. (Tom is taller than Jane, but not by very much.)
The comparison “not much taller” means that the difference in height is small.

Exercise L8 Listening for time

Practice with statements
Listen to the spoken statement. Circle the letter of the sentence that is true based on the information you heard.
Example You will hear: I will have graduated before I’m married.
You will read: (A) I’m married.
                  ((B)) I’m not married.
The tense “will have graduated” refers to a future action. The graduation will take place sometime in the future, and then the marriage will take place sometime after that. Therefore, you should circle (B) because the speaker is not married yet.
START
1. (A) You’re coming tomorrow.
   (B) You’re telling me tomorrow.

2. (A) Jane should arrive around 1:45.
   (B) Jane should arrive after 2:00.

3. (A) Connie’s father is in the hospital.
   (B) Connie’s father was in the hospital.

4. (A) Jeff is leaving next week.
   (B) Jeff is leaving in two weeks.

5. (A) Tom stopped studying at midnight.
   (B) Tom started studying at midnight.

PAUSE

Practice with conversations
Listen to the spoken conversation. Circle the letter of the sentence that is true based on the information you heard.
Example You will hear: (man) Are you going to the library today?
                                (woman) Not until after lunch.
You will read: ((A)) The woman is going to the library later.
                    (B) The woman isn’t going to the library today.
You should circle (A) because the woman means that she isn’t going to the library now but that she is going to the library after lunch.
START
6. (A) It’s been less than three years since the woman saw Mary.
   (B) It’s been more than three years since the woman saw Mary.

7. (A) The woman told Tom about the book he ordered.
   (B) The woman will tell Tom about the book he ordered.

8. (A) The dog show is next week.
   (B) The dog show is the week after next.

9. (A) Mr. Green’s grocery store closes at 9:00 on Fridays.
   (B) Mr. Green’s grocery store doesn’t open until 9:00 on Fridays.

10. (A) The man stopped taking lessons six years ago.
    (B) The man has been taking lessons for six years.

 PAUSE

Practice with TOEFL-like conversations
Listen to the spoken conversation. Circle the letter of the sentence that answers the question.
Example You will hear: (woman) Every time I come to the snack bar, it’s always so crowded.
                                (man) Well, what do you expect? You always come by at noon.
                                (narrator) What does the man mean?
You will read: (A) The woman should expect lunch to be served.
                  ((B)) Most students go to the snack bar at 12:00.
                   (C) The snack bar always opens at noon.
                   (D) The woman should avoid crowds in the snack bar.
You should circle (B) because the man means that she always sees so many people because she comes by at noon, a time when most students are not in class and can have lunch.

START

11. (A) She has a report to write tomorrow.
    (B) She’ll attend tomorrow’s concert.
    (C) She doesn’t plan to go to the concert.
    (D) She’ll come after she turns in her report.

12. (A) He won’t be able to tour the state on Wednesday.
    (B) He has a conflict with his schedule.
    (C) He’ll have to reschedule the band workshop.
    (D) He was supposed to attend the ceramics class next week.

13. (A) She can’t take the man to the game.
    (B) Patty is taking her to the game.
    (C) The man can choose who he wants to go with.
    (D) Patty might be leaving earlier than she is.

14. (A) She would prefer to know earlier if the man is coming.
    (B) She thinks that the man might get held up by the meeting.
    (C) She believes that the man will get to her house by 5 o’clock.
    (D) She plans on coming to the meeting even though it’s late.

15. (A) The man couldn’t have been mistaken.
    (B) Sue got back last Monday.
    (C) Sue’s roommate was at the bookstore.
    (D) The man probably didn’t see Sue.

Answers to Exercise L8 

1. (B) The speaker wants to know if the person is coming. This information is needed tomorrow at the latest. When the person is coming cannot be inferred.
2. (A) A quarter to two is fifteen minutes before two, or one forty-five (1:45).
3. (A) The word “still” indicates that Connie’s father is in the hospital now.
4. (B) The expression “the week after next” means “one week after the coming week.”
5. (B) “Until” indicates that Tom was not studying and at midnight he began to study.
6. (B) The expression “at least three years” means “three years or more.”
7. (B) The woman’s statement “when I see him” indicates that she has not seen him, but will be seeing him in the future.
8. (B) The woman’s answer «the following week” means «the week following next week” (the week after next week).
9. (A) According to the woman, Mr. Green’s store is open until 9:00 (it closes at 9:00).
10. (A) The man took piano lessons from sometime in the past until six years ago, at which time he stopped taking lessons.
11. (C) The woman’s stating that she has an assignment due the following day suggests that she doesn’t intend to go to the afternoon concert.
12. (B) The rescheduling of the ceramics class on the following Wednesday has caused a conflict because that week the man is going to be out of town.
13. (C) The woman must leave early. A mutual friend may leave later. The man can decide who he wants to go with.
14. (A) The man can’t tell the woman until 5 o’clock if he is coming. She says that it is better to know this information late than to not know it at all.
15. (D) The woman is certain that Sue is not back yet and therefore, the man could not have seen her.

Exercise L9 Listening for quantity

Practice with statements
Listen to the spoken statement. Circle the letter of the sentence that is true based on the information you heard.
Example You will hear: The workload has doubled.
You will read: ((A)) There is twice as much work to do.
                    (B) There is half as much work to do.

The term “double” means “two times the amount” or “twice as much.” Therefore, you should circle (A) because the amount of work is two times as much as it was.

START

1. (A) Alice needs about two credits to graduate.
   (B) Alice doesn’t need more credits to graduate.

2. (A) Dick sold one dictionary.
   (B) Dick didn’t sell any dictionaries.

3. (A) Professor Merrill has written thirty or more articles on art history.
   (B) Professor Merrill has not written more than thirty articles on art history.

4. (A) The coin collection is more valuable.
   (B) The coin collection is less valuable.

5. (A) Twelve eggs are needed to make the cake.
   (B) Six eggs are needed to make the cake.
PAUSE

6. (A) The man bought one cassette tape.
   (B) The man bought more than one cassette tape.

7. (A) Sam’s completed more than 60 credit hours.
   (B) Sam’s completed fewer than 60 credit hours.

8. (A) The people don’t understand an example.
   (B) The people don’t understand two examples.

9. (A) A few students couldn’t get loans.
   (B) A lot of students couldn’t get loans.

10. (A) The woman has one brother.
    (B) The woman has two brothers.

PAUSE

Practice with TOEFL-like conversations
Listen to the spoken conversation. Circle the letter of the sentence that answers the question.
Example You will hear: (woman) There was a large crowd at the bake sale. You must have collected a lot of money for your fund-raiser.

                                (man) Not as much as we would have liked.
                                (narrator) What does the man mean?
You will read: (A) He didn’t have much fun at the bake sale.
                   (B) A lot of people sold more baked goods than he did.
                   (C) He didn’t collect as much money as the woman.
                  ((D)) They didn’t make as much money as they had hoped.
You should circle (D) because the man is talking about the money they collected when he uses the words “not as much” and is comparing the quantity to how much they had hoped to collect.

START

11. (A) There are four issues per year.
    (B) The magazine comes out four times a month.
    (C) There are only four issues left for this year.
    (D) Only four issues have come out so far this year.

12. (A) The three puzzles are difficult to solve.
    (B) One of the two puzzles has no solution.
    (C) The most difficult puzzle is on page 3.
    (D) One puzzle is harder than the other.

13. (A) The man can take up to 8 tablets a day.
    (B) The man can take tablets up to 8 times a day.
    (C) The man cannot take the tablets for more than one day.
    (D) The man cannot take more than 24 tablets in 8 days.

14. (A) Tony ate a couple of pizzas.
    (B) Tony worked extra hours.
    (C) Tony put two pizzas in the oven.
    (D) Tony’s been late over three times.

15. (A) At least 25 students voted.
    (B) Club participation has increased.
    (C) Over 100 students took part in the last elections.
    (D) More than half the students have joined clubs.

Answers to Exercise L9

1.    (A) “A couple” means “two.”

2.     (B) “A single” means “one,” but Dick hasn’t sold one (a dictionary) yet.

3.     (B) “Up to thirty” can mean thirty or nearly thirty, but not more than thirty.

4.     (A) “Tripled in value” means “become three times as valuable.”

5.     (B) “A dozen” is twelve, and “half a dozen” is six.

6.     (В) “Several” means “more than two, but not many more than two.”

7.     (A) The woman means that Sam has completed at least 60 credit hours. Here, “at least” means 60 is the minimum number and that the actual number is 60 or more.

8.    (B) The use of “either” implies that there are two examples. The people cannot understand either one of the two examples.

9.     (B) “Quite a few” means “a large number,” whereas “a few” means “not many.”

10.    (B) “Both” indicates “two.”

11.    (A) The man answers “quarterly” which means “four times” to the woman’s question of how many issues come out in a year.

12.    (D) The statement “If you think that one is hard, look at this one” implies a comparison between two puzzles in which the latter (“this one”) is more difficult.

13.    (A) The phrase “no more than 8 in 24 hours” means the same as “up to 8 tablets a day.”

14.    (B) The phrase “to put in a couple of hours overtime” means “to work two hours more than the regular workload.”

15.    (B) The man’s saying that more than twice as many students voted indicates that the student participation in the club has increased.

.

Listening for comparisons

Practice with statements

Listen to the spoken statement. Circle the letter of the sentence that is true based on the information you heard.
Example You will hear: The fog is heavier than usual tonight.
You will read: (A) The fog is usually heavier than it is tonight.
                   ((B) There is more fog tonight than there usually is.
The comparison is between the amount of fog tonight and the usual amount of fog. You should circle (B) because tonight the fog is heavier than it usually is.

START

1. (A) I haven’t eaten any cookies.
   (B) I’ve eaten as many cookies as you.

2. (A) The other staff members don’t have as many responsibilities as Tim.
   (B) The other staff members have as many responsibilities as Tim.

3. (A) The bus is more expensive than the train.
   (B) The train is more expensive than the bus.

4. (A) Frank’s salary is higher than Emma’s.
   (B) Emma’s salary is higher than Frank’s.

5. (A) Irene makes fewer mistakes when she types quickly than when she types slowly.
   (B) Irene makes more mistakes when she types quickly than when she types slowly.

PAUSE

Practice with conversations

Listen to the spoken conversation. Circle the letter of the sentence that is true based on the information you heard.
Example You will hear: (man) Are the roads icy tonight?
                                (woman) Yes, but no more than last night.
You will read: (A) The roads were icier last night.
                   (B) The roads are just as icy tonight.
You should circle (B). The woman’s statement means that the roads are just as icy tonight as they were last night.

 START

6. (A) The man is having more difficulty with geology than with calculus.
   (B) The man is having more difficulty with calculus than with geology.

7. (A) The woman would prefer a big box.
   (B) The woman would prefer a better box.

8. (A) The people agree that schedules should be more flexible.
   (B) The people agree that there should be fewer working hours.

9. (A) The woman intended to write half as much as she did.
   (B) The woman intended to write more than she did.

10. (A) Interstate 90 is faster.
    (B) Interstate 90 is more interesting.
PAUSE

Listen to the spoken conversation. Circle the letter of the sentence that answers the question.
Example You will hear: (man) Anna certainly is a very talented actress.
                                (woman) Yes. If only she’d spend as much time developing her skills as she spends with her friends.
                                 (narrator) What does the woman imply about Anna?
You will read: (A) She doesn’t spend much time with her friends.
                   (B) She’s developing her talent as much as possible.
                   (C) She spends more time acting than her friends do.
                   ((D)) She’s not very motivated in developing her talent.
You should circle (D) because the woman is comparing the amount of time Anna spends with friends (a lot) to the amount of time spent developing her skills (a small amount). This implies a lack of motivation.

START

11. (A) She would prefer to attend the regular semesters.
    (B) She has never taken a class during the summer.
    (C) She would rather relax than do intensive work in the summer.
    (D) She enjoys shorter, more intensive studies held in a relaxed atmosphere.
12. (A) Toblers’s buffet lunch is too noisy.
    (B) He doesn’t want to go to Toblers.
    (C) The best lunch is served at the student union.
    (D) Toblers is too far to go for lunch.
13. (A) The woman should stop working for a while.
    (B) The woman should work on the fifth problem.
    (C) The woman should not let the problem get her down.
    (D) The woman should let the man sort it out for her.

14. (A) She thought the man should help her anyway.
    (B) She thought the man helped with computer programs
    (C) She thought the man should give up computer programming.
    (D) She thought the man knew a lot about computer programming

15. (A) She doesn’t like the changes she’s seen.
    (B) She has seen more changes than the man has.
    (C) She has studied local history.
    (D) She can remember a lot about the old city center.

PAUSE

Answers to Exercise LIO 

  1.    (B) “Not any more than” implies the same amount or less than.

2.    (A) “Far more” means “a lot more” or “many more.” Since Tim has many more responsibilities than the other staff members, they don’t have as many responsibilities as Tim.

3.     (B) “Much cheaper” means “less expensive.” Since the bus is less expensive, it is more expensive to go by train.

4.     (B) “Even” is used to emphasize how high Emma’s salary is in comparison to Frank’s. Emma’s salary is higher than Frank’s, which is already very high.

5.     (A) When Irene types fast, she doesn’t make as many mistakes as she does when she types slowly.

6.   (A) If the man has studied more for geology than for calculus and is still not passing geology, he is probably having more difficulty understanding geology than calculus.

7.     (A) The woman is not discussing the quality of the box, but the size of the box. She means that a big box is a better box for her purposes.

8.     (A) Both people give reasons why schedules with more flexible hours are beneficial.

9.     (B) The woman didn’t write as much as she intended to write. She wrote less than half of what she intended to write.

10.    (A) The scenic route is more interesting, but it takes longer. Therefore, Interstate 90 is less interesting but takes less time (in other words, is faster).

11.    (D) The woman describes the summer sessions as more intensive, but shorter and more relaxed.

12.    (B) The man’s countering the woman’s comparison of the lunch by comparing the music suggests that he doesn’t want to go to Toblers.

13.    (A) The expression “take five” means “take a five-minute break.” He thinks that she could work better after taking a rest.

14.    (D) The woman’s statement indicates that she thought he had enough experience in computer programming to help her.

15.    (C) The woman’s stating that her knowledge is based more on research than on memories indicates that she has studied the changes.

Exercise Lll More practice with time, quantity, and comparisons
Practice with statements
Listen to the spoken statement. Circle the letter of the sentence that is true based on the information you heard.
Example You will hear: The more Ned studies his geology lessons, the worse he does on the quizzes.
You will read: (A) Ned is doing well in geology.
                  ((B))Ned isn’t doing well in geology.
You should circle (B) because Ned has been doing more poorly on his geology quizzes since he’s begun studying more.

 START
1. (A) It’s too late to tell me tomorrow.
   (B) It’s too late to tell me after tomorrow.
2. (A) Steve has taken more hours than Linda.
   (B) Steve and Linda have taken the same number of hours.
3. (A) We expected more members to come.
   (B) We expected fewer members to come.
4. (A) Carol doesn’t like that class.
   (B) Carol likes that class.
5. (A) After the new regulation goes into effect, extensions will be given.
   (B) After the new regulation goes into effect, extensions will not be given.
 PAUSE

Practice with conversations
Listen to the spoken conversation. Circle the letter of the sentence that is true based on the information you heard.
Example You will hear: (man) Are you still going to Aspen?
                                (woman) I don’t know. The more we discuss the trip, the less we agree on it.
You will read: (A) They agree on the trip.
                   ((B))They don’t agree on the trip.
You should circle (B) because the more they discuss the trip, the more they do not agree on it (“the less we agree on it”). 

START
11. (A) She doesn’t think Larry can find any chairs.
    (B) She would be pleased if Larry brought extra chairs.
    (C) She’s annoyed with Jack about the folding chairs.
    (D) She would rather have Larry’s folding chairs than Jack’s.
12. (A) The woman shouldn’t take Tom seriously.
    (B) The woman should learn how to cook better.
    (C) The woman shouldn’t cook for Tom anymore.
    (D) The woman should cook more of Tom’s favorite foods.
13. (A) They didn’t attend the concert.
    (B) The music started too soon.
    (C) They didn’t see the man.
    (D) They arrived just in time.
14. (A) She needs a minimum of 12 folders to get organized.
    (B) The organization will take care of the project’s expenses.
    (C) They’ve tried a dozen times to get the project started.
    (D) The number of files needed for the organization has increased.
15. (A) She has a computer exam to finish.
    (B) She has finished two programs.
    (C) She’s trying to finish her work.
    (D) She’s too busy to study for her finals

PAUSE

Answers to Exercise Lll 

1.    (B) “No later than tomorrow” means “not after tomorrow.”

2.     (A) “As many as” means “the same amount,” and “and then some” means “more”; in other words, more than the same amount.

3.     (A) Only half the number expected showed up.

4.     (B) Every time Carol goes to class, she likes it more.

5.     (B) The new regulation will go into effect. At that time, no more extensions will be given.

6.    (A) “A lot more books this semester” means the man bought fewer books last semester; in other words, he didn’t buy as many last semester.

7.     (B) “A couple of hours at least” means “a minimum of two, but probably more than two.”

8.    (A) The man bought two boxes of candy.

9.    (A) “A full week” is one complete week.

10.    (B) The man’s question indicates that he is surprised that 1,500 students are employed. His response to the woman’s comment about the number having doubled indicates that he must have known that there were 750 employed students before.

11.    (B) “Could you?” means “Is it possible for you to bring over some extra chairs?” The woman’s response, which is a polite way of accepting his offer, is used because she wants more chairs.

12.    (A) “Lighten up” means “relax.” The man’s statement suggests that Tom jokes a lot and should not be taken too seriously.

13.    (D) The music started immediately after the people arrived.

14.    (A) “At least a dozen” means “no fewer than a dozen (twelve) and maybe more than a dozen.”

15.    (C) The man disagrees with the woman about Kathy’s spending “too much time” because he knows that Kathy has to meet a deadline.

Script

Exercise L6 Identifying multiple meanings
1. (A) New evidence came to light after the investigation.
  (B) Because of the heat, she wore a light summer dress.

2. (A) Did you read about the military strike in the newspaper?
   (B) These matches are damp and won’t light when you strike them.

3. (A) Please note that the times for the concert have been changed.
   (B) Fred can sing the lowest note of anybody in the choir.

4. (A) There’s a freshwater spring near the park.
   (B) The cat waited patiently to spring on the mouse.

5. (A) If you don’t agree with the decision, you can exercise your rights to a new trial.
   (B) The doctor has advised me to exercise more and eat less.

6. (A) M: I recommend the curried rice.
       W: Oh, that’s too hot for me. I can’t eat it.
   (B) W: I’ve just made coffee. Would you like some? M: A nice hot cup of coffee sounds great.

7. (A) M: I want to mount this oil painting.
       W: Why don’t you ask Amy to do it? She does excellent work.
   (B) W: What did you learn in your first riding class?

       M: How to mount a horse properly.

8. (A) M: How did your sister get a concussion?
        W: She got a blow on the head when she fell off her bicycle.
   (В) M: I live near the railroad station.
       W: Do you wake up at night when the train whistles blow?

9. (A) M: If you want to catch any fish, you’ll have to cast the line out further.
       W: Will I? Thanks for the tip.
   (B) W: The doctor will take off my cast tomorrow.
        M: Great. Just make sure you take it easy for a while.
10. (A) W: Why were you so cross with Sue?
         M: Because she forgot to return my cassette player again.
    (B) W: That man was driving too fast.
        M: I know. We hardly had time to cross the street.

Exercise L7 Matching words
1. (A) The pass through those mountains is treacherous.

   (B) Do you need a pass to get into the conference?
2. (A) Patty’s just an ordinary-looking girl.
   (B) She was famous for being a just leader.
3. (A) Those chairs tip easily, so be careful.
   (B) She left the waiter a large tip.
4. (A) The angry protesters filed past the armed guards.

   (В) I filed down the rough edges of the wood.
5. (A) I wrote a check to pay for the furniture.
   (B) Put a check in front of the items you wish to order.
6. (A) M: Did you get a birthday card for Susan?
        W: Oh, I’m sorry. I completely forgot.
   (B) W: Jack invited us over to play cards next Friday.

       M: Great. We haven’t done that for a long time.
7. (A) W: This food is so rich, I can’t eat very much.
       M: Hmm. I’m really enjoying it.
   (В) M: When I’m rich, I’ll buy a cattle ranch in Colorado.
       W: You’d better start saving your money now.
8. (A) W: Why are you doing all those exercises?
        M: I want my body to be in good shape for the ski season.
   (В) M: Is Lake Tahoe a good recreation area?
        W: Yes. It’s a very large body of water with good boating facilities.
9. (A) M: Jane isn’t in good form for the race tomorrow. W: Does she plan on participating anyway?
   (В) M: I really hate filling out these tax forms.
       W: Let me help you. I like to do them.
10. (A) W: How did you break your arm?
         M: I tripped on the stairs and fell against the railing.
     (В) M: Are you going anywhere special for spring break?
         W: Yes. We’re going to take a cruise to the Virgin Islands.
 

Exercise L8 Listening for time
1. Let me know by tomorrow if you’re coming.
2. Jane’s due at a quarter to two.
3. Connie just told me that her father was still in the hospital.
4. Jeff’s leaving the week after next.
5. Tom didn’t start studying until midnight.
6. W: I haven’t seen Mary for at least three years.
   M: Did you know that she’s head of a big engineering firm?
7. W: What did you want me to tell Tom when I see him? 
   M: That the book he ordered has arrived.
8. M: Is the dog show next week?
   W: It’s the following week.
9. W: Mr. Green’s grocery store stays open until nine o’clock on Fridays.
   M: Oh, good. I forgot to buy cheese for the pizzas.
10. M: It’s been six years since I took piano lessons.
    W: You still play very well.
11. M: You’re going to the concert in the park this afternoon, aren’t you?
    W: I have that science report to write up for tomorrow.
What does the woman mean?
12. W: The workshop on ceramics that was supposed to be held this Wednesday has been rescheduled for Wednesday of next week.
    M: Oh, no! That’s the week we’re going on the state tour with the band.
What does the man mean?
13. M: Could you give me a lift to the ball game tonight?

    W: I have to be there by 6:00 to set up the concession stands. If that’s too early for you, I think Patty might be going around 7:30.
What does the woman mean?
14. M: I might get held up in that afternoon meeting, but I’ll let you know by 5 o’clock if I’m coming to your get-together.
     W: That’s a bit late, but I guess it’s better than not knowing.
What does the woman mean?
15. M: I thought I saw Sue in the bookstore.
    W: It couldn’t have been. Her roommate told me she wasn’t due back until Monday.
What does the woman mean?

Exercise L9 Listening for quantity
1. Alice needs only a couple more credits to graduate.
2. Dick hasn’t sold a single dictionary.
3. Professor Merrill has written up to thirty articles on art history.
4. My coin collection has tripled in value since I started it.
5. This cake recipe calls for half a dozen eggs.
6. W: Did you buy a cassette tape?
   M: Yes. In fact, I bought several.
7. M: Sam’s completed sixty credit hours, hasn’t he?
   W: At least.
8. M: I don’t understand either example.
   W: Neither do I.
9. W: I couldn’t get a student loan this semester.
   M: Quite a few students haven’t been able to get loans.
10. M: Your brother is a lawyer, isn’t he?
    W: Both are lawyers.
11. W: How many issues do you get for a yearly subscription to The Art Worldl

    M: It only comes out quarterly.
What does the man mean?
12. W: I just can’t solve the puzzle on page 3.
    M: If you think that one is hard, just take a look at this one.
What does the man mean?
13. M: It says I can take two tablets every three hours.
W: But no more than eight in twenty-four hours. What does the woman mean?
14. M: Tony didn’t get back to the dorm until after 3:00 a. m. last night.
    W: I know. He put in a couple of hours’ overtime at that all-night pizza place where he works.
What does the woman mean?
15. W: Fifty students voted in the club elections at the meeting last night.
    M: It’s more than doubled since last elections.
What does the man imply?

Exercise L10 Listening for comparisons
1. I haven’t eaten any more cookies than you have.
2. Tim has far more responsibilities than the other staff members.
3. It’s much cheaper to go by bus than train.
4. Frank’s salary is high, but Emma’s is even higher.
5. The faster Irene types, the fewer mistakes she makes.
6. M: I’ve studied harder in that geology class than for my calculus class, and I’m still not passing.
   W: Why don’t you discuss it with the professor?
7. M: What size box do you need for all those books?

   W: The bigger the better.
8. W: Schedules with more flexible hours would be beneficial for working parents.
   M: Also, there would be fewer traffic problems if people were commuting at different hours of the day.
9. W: I didn’t get half as much written as I intended.
   M: Well, maybe you can write more later.
10. M: The scenic route takes longer, but it’s more interesting than Interstate 90.
    W: Let’s take it.
11. M: You’ve been attending summer sessions every year, haven’t you?
    W: Yes. There’s a more relaxed atmosphere and even though the course work is more intensive, it doesn’t drag on the way the regular semesters do.

What does the woman mean?
12. W: Although Toblers is off campus, it serves a nicer buffet lunch.
    M: Maybe, but the live music at the student union is better.
What does the man imply?
13. W: The more time I spend trying to sort out this problem, the more confused I get.
    M: Take five. Come back with a clearer head.
What does the man mean?
14. M: Someone with more experience in computer programming could help you.
    W: Oh, I thought you did have lots of experience. What does the woman mean?
15. M: You know so much about the old city center. You must have seen a lot of changes since you were a kid.
    W: My knowledge is based more on research than actual memories.
What can be inferred about the woman?

Exercise Lll More practice with time, quantity, and comparisons
1. Can you let me know no later than tomorrow?
2. Steve has taken as many semester hours as Linda has, and then some.
3. Half the members we expected showed up at the last meeting.
4. The more Carol attends that class, the better she likes it.
5. When the new regulation goes into effect, no more extensions will be given.
6. M: I had to buy a lot more books this semester.
   W: You should have gone to the used-book store.
7. W: How much time did you spend preparing that speech?
   M: A couple of hours at least.
8. W: Did you buy the box of candy I asked for?
   M: I did better than that. I bought you two boxes.
9. M: When is the last day I can drop a class?
   W: Thursday. You have a full week.
10. W: The number of students working part time has doubled.
    M: You mean fifteen hundred students on this campus have jobs?
11. M: I heard that Jack wasn’t able to lend you any chairs. Would you like me to bring over my folding ones?
    W: Oh, could you, Larry?
What does the woman mean?

12. W: If Tom says one more thing about my cooking. I’ll let him have it.
    M: Lighten up. You know how Tom likes to kid you. What does the man mean?
13. M: I didn’t see you before the concert. I hope you didn’t miss the beginning.
    W: No sooner did we arrive than the music started. What does the woman imply?
14. M: It’s going to take a lot of organization to get this project off the ground.
    W: Right. I think I need to buy at least a dozen file folders.
What does the woman mean?
15. W: I think Kathy has spent too much time in the computer lab.
    M: She has to finish that program before finals week. What does the man say about Kathy?

 К урокам L1-L5

Used material: Cambridge Preporation for the TOEFL Test, Second Edition 1996, Jolene Gear, Robert Gear, Cambridge University Press.

CHECK YOUR
ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR MEDICINE

MULTIPLE MEANINGS

Some words have more than one meaning. For example,
the word pulse means the pressure wave in an artery when the heart
beats, but it also refers to a certain type of vegetable: beans and peas. In
the table below 19 meanings appear in the column on the left. Match each
meaning to one of the seven words across the top. The first one has been done
for you as an example.

	cold	fit	focus	light	notice	patient	turn
1	A person who is in hospital or who is being treated by a doctor.
2	To attach an appliance correctly.
3	The point where light rays converge through a lens.
4	To see or be aware of something.
5	To change into something different.
6	Weighing a comparatively small amount.
7	An illness, with inflammation of the nasal passages, in which someone sneezes and coughs and has a blocked and running nose.
8	The centre of an infection.
9	To move the head or body to face in another direction.
10	Being able to wait a long time without getting annoyed.
11	A piece of writing giving information, usually put in a place where everyone can see it.
12	To have convulsions.
13	A slight illness or attack of dizziness.
14	A sudden attack of a disorder, especially convulsions and epilepsy.
15	The energy that makes things bright and helps a person to see.
16	To adjust a lens until an image is clear and sharp.
17	Strong and physically healthy.
18	Not warm or hot.
19	Referring to hair or skin which is very pale.

ANSWER KEY

continued from No.
1,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9

Strategies for Building Vocabulary

UNIT 9: LEARN ABOUT WORDS WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS

Many words in my Word Box have multiple meanings. Multiple means “more than one.”
So, words with multiple meanings have more than one meaning.

Example
Fido made paw prints in the mud.
Carmela prints her name neatly.

Activity 1. Study each picture and read each word meaning.

A train is a line of railroad cars. You can train a dog to sit up and beg for food.

Flowers grow in the spring. You can spring out of bed.

A pilot can land a plane. A farm may have a lot of land for planting crops.

A cook makes a meal. Your dad can cook hamburgers.

Now finish each sentence below with a boldfaced word.

1. On our trip we traveled over ________ and across the sea.

2. On my birthday Mom will __________ my favorite meal.

3. Grandpa took us on a _______ ride to the big city.

4. Birds build their nests in the __________.

5. We watched a helicopter _________ on the roof of a tall building.

6. Matthew says he can _________ his puppy to roll over.

7. The __________ served us eggs.

8. I turn off the alarm clock and _______ out of bed.

Answer: 1. land; 2. cook; 3. train; 4. spring; 5. land;
6. train; 7. cook; 8. spring

LEARN MORE WORDS WITH MULTIPLE MEANINGS

Activity 2. In the sentences below there are words with multiple meanings.
Read the sentences. Read the words below each sentence. Then underline the meaning for the
boldfaced word in each sentence.

1. The children rode the bus to school.
a place where students learn
a large number of fish

2. Through the glass-bottomed boat we could see a school of fish.
a place where students learn
a large number of fish

3. Mother served the cake on her new plate.
the home base in baseball
a flat dish for food

4. Jodi threw the ball to the plate.
the home base in baseball
a flat dish for food

5. It took a lot of paint to finish the poster.
a large amount
a piece of land

6. The kids played ball in the empty lot.
a large amount
a piece of land

7. Dad gave Mom a pretty ring.
the sound of a bell
something worn on the finger

8. The ring of the telephone woke me up.
the sound of a bell
something worn on the finger

9. We climbed to the top of the hill.
a cover
the highest part

10. Mom put the top on the jelly jar.
a cover
the highest part

Answer: 1. a place where students learn; 2. a large number of fish;
3. a flat dish for food; 4. the home base in baseball; 5. a large amount;
6. a piece of land; 7. something worn on the finger; 8. the sound of a
bell; 9. the highest part; 10. a cover

Activity 3. The words below are from the last two units. Number each list
of words in ABC (alphabetical) order.

A ring _______ spring _______ plate _______ prints _______ lot _______

В train _______ school _______ cook _______ plane _______ top _______

Answer: A – 5; 3; 4; 1; 2; B – 3; 4; 2; 5; 1

Using a Dictionary

Sometimes you can’t figure out the meaning of an unknown word from the words that
come before or after it. Then you should look up the word in a dictionary.
You have already had some practice listing words in ABC (alphabetical) order. Words in a
dictionary are listed in ABC order too. First find the word. Then read all the meanings
for that word. Decide which meaning fits the word as it is used in the sentence you just
read.

Activity 4. Below is part of a dictionary page. Study the page.

Now finish each sentence with a word from the sample dictionary
page. If a word has two meanings, write the number of the meaning you chose in the box at
the end of the sentence. The first one is done for you.

1. Farmer Gray feeds his hog corncobs and potato peels.

2. Grandpa loosened the soil with a ________.

3. Bruce was stung when he stepped on a ______ of bees.

4. Jennifer’s __________ is sewing.

5. The __________ team skated onto the ice.

6. Sometimes Pete eats like a ___________.

7. Martie wanted to raise bees, so Dad built her a ________.

Answer: 2. hoe; 3. hive (2); 4. hobby; 5. hockey;
6. hog (2); 7. hive (1)

Test: Show All You Know

About Words With Multiple Meanings

Draw lines to match each word to its meaning.

school spring land cook	leap a group of fish bake soil
train spring land cook plate	a time of year chef locomotive set down an airplane a piece of land
lot hive hobby ring	flat dish something done for fun a box for bees to live in sound of a bell

Answer: school – a group of fish; spring – leap; land – soil; cook –
bake; train – locomotive; spring – a time of year; land – set down an airplane;
plate – flat dish; hive – a box for bees to live in; ring – sound of a bell 

List the words below in the order they would be found in a dictionary.

hoe _______
top _______
school _______
hog _______
lot _______

Answer: 1; 4; 5; 3; 2

Write one meaning for the word school.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

Write a sentence for that meaning of school.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

Write one meaning for ring.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

Write a sentence for that meaning of ring.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

Write one meaning for hog.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

Write a sentence for that meaning of hog.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

Compiled by Erin Bouma

to be continued