Multiple-Meaning Words
Common words like table, current, and bear carry several meanings, and on Word Knowledge the sentence tells you which one the question wants.
Formula Reference
- When a word has more than one meaning, the surrounding sentence is the deciding clue, not the word's most common meaning
- Match part of speech first: 'bear' the noun (animal) and 'bear' the verb (to carry or endure) are different meanings
- Plug each candidate meaning back into the sentence and keep the one that makes the sentence true and sensible
- For 'use it the same way' items, find the choice where the word plays the identical role and meaning, not just the same spelling
Why one word can trip you up
Some of the most common words in English carry several unrelated meanings. "Bank" can be the side of a river or a place that holds money. "Light" can mean not heavy, not dark, or to ignite. "Run" has dozens of senses. Word Knowledge uses these words on purpose, because the test wants to know whether you can pick the meaning that fits a specific sentence, not just the meaning you reach for most often.
The trap is automatic habit. If you see "current" and your brain says "electricity" before you read the sentence, you will miss the question that means "up to date."
The sentence is the answer key
When a multiple-meaning word appears in a sentence, that sentence disambiguates it. Every other word around the target is there to point you to one meaning and rule out the rest.
"The compound was surrounded by a high fence and guarded gates."
Compound can mean a chemical combination, to make worse ("compound the problem"), or an enclosed group of buildings. "Surrounded by a fence and gates" only fits the enclosed-buildings meaning.
"Adding more debt will only compound the problem."
Same word, different sentence, different meaning: here compound is a verb meaning to make worse or increase.
Read the whole sentence before you decide. The clue is rarely the target word itself.
Part of speech splits the meanings
Many multiple-meaning words change meaning when they change part of speech. Spotting whether the word is a noun, verb, or adjective in the sentence narrows the field fast.
- table: noun (furniture, or a chart) vs. verb (to set a proposal aside)
- bear: noun (the animal) vs. verb (to carry, to endure, to produce, to veer)
- current: noun (a flow of water or electricity) vs. adjective (present, up to date)
- present: noun (a gift), adjective (here, not absent), or verb (to give or show)
- object: noun (a thing, or a goal) vs. verb (to oppose)
Find the word's job in the sentence first. If it is acting as a verb, the noun meanings are off the table.
How to work a multiple-meaning question
- Read the full sentence, not just the capitalized word
- Decide the word's part of speech in that sentence
- List the meanings you know, then cross out any that are the wrong part of speech
- Plug each remaining meaning back into the sentence
- Keep the one that makes the sentence true and natural
"After the long shift, her feet could no longer BEAR her weight."
Bear is a verb here, so drop the animal. Test the verb senses: support fits ("hold up her weight"), endure is close but support is the precise fit for holding weight. Answer: to support or hold up.
The "used the same way" format
Some items give you a sentence and ask which other sentence uses the word in the same way. Same spelling is not enough, you need the same meaning and the same part of speech.
Prompt: "He had to RUN the entire department alone." Which sentence uses RUN the same way? (A) "They run three miles every morning." (B) "She will run the new factory." (C) "The river runs past the school." (D) "The dye began to run in the wash."
In the prompt, run means to manage or operate. Choice A means to jog, C means to flow, D means to bleed or spread. Only B, "run the new factory," means to manage. Answer: B.
Define the meaning in the prompt first, then find the choice that carries that exact sense. Sentences that merely reuse the word with a different meaning are the distractors.
High-frequency multiple-meaning words
These come up often. For each, notice how the sentence would have to change to switch meanings:
- table: furniture / data chart / to postpone a motion
- current: flow of water or electricity / present, up to date
- bear: the animal / to carry or support / to endure / to produce / to veer ("bear right")
- compound: a chemical mixture / an enclosed set of buildings / to make worse
- check: a bank draft / a pattern of squares / to stop or restrain / to examine
- light: not heavy / not dark / to set on fire
- bank: a financial institution / the side of a river / to tilt in flight / to rely on ("bank on it")
- fair: just and even / a public event / light in color / acceptable but not great
- present: a gift / here, not absent / to give or display
- object: a thing or goal / to oppose or protest
Common Pitfalls
- ⚠Defaulting to a word's most familiar meaning instead of the one the sentence sets up (reading 'current' as electricity when the sentence means up to date)
- ⚠Ignoring part of speech, which often separates two meanings of the same word
- ⚠Picking a choice because it repeats the word, even though the meaning is different
- ⚠Stopping at the first meaning that fits loosely instead of testing it against the whole sentence
Worked Examples
Q1: In 'The senator moved to TABLE the motion until next session,' TABLE most nearly means: (A) a piece of furniture (B) a chart of data (C) to set aside for later (D) to serve food
Answer: In legislative use, to table a motion is to postpone or set it aside. The furniture and chart meanings are nouns; here table is a verb. Answer: C
Q2: In 'She stays CURRENT on the latest regulations,' CURRENT most nearly means: (A) a flow of water (B) up to date (C) electricity (D) a strong opinion
Answer: Current can mean a flow (water or electricity) or 'belonging to the present, up to date.' 'Stays current on regulations' means up to date. Answer: B
Q3: In 'The beams must BEAR the weight of the entire roof,' BEAR most nearly means: (A) a large animal (B) to support (C) to give birth (D) to turn left
Answer: Bear can mean the animal, to carry or support, to endure, to produce, or to veer ('bear left'). With beams and weight it means to support. Answer: B
Q4: In 'The nurse will CHECK the patient's temperature,' CHECK most nearly means: (A) a written order for money (B) to examine (C) to stop suddenly (D) a pattern of squares
Answer: Check has many senses: a bank check, a square pattern, to halt, or to examine. Taking a temperature means to examine or test. Answer: B