Cryptic Crosswords - Double Meaning Clues Quiz

Answer: hide

The word 'hide' can be used to refer to something which is put out of sight or figuratively as in 'the girl tried to hide her feelings of excitement when she met her favourite film star'. The game of 'hide and seek' refers to a person finding a place where they're not easily visible while others search for them.

A hide can also be a place of concealment for a photographer or anyone who wants to see wildlife without the animals being aware of their presence. The other meaning in the clue refers to an animal skin, particularly one which has been tanned, such as leather, to be used for clothing or furniture.

Answer: refuse

The word which answers both parts of this clue is 'refuse' although it is often pronounced differently to distinguish between the meanings. If you don't want to take a particular action, you can refuse to participate. In this meaning, the second syllable - 'fuse' - is emphasised.

When referring to junk or rubbish, emphasis is placed on the first syllable 'ref'. Refuse in this sense refers to any type of waste product, often put into a waste bin for collection by dustmen (in the UK) or garbage collectors (in the USA).

Answer: skirt

The definitions in the question refer, firstly, to the garment, usually worn by women, which covers the area from the waist downwards. Where the hem ends is a matter of choice - a mini skirt is, as you'd expect, short while a maxi skirt reaches the ankles. Used as a verb, skirt means to avoid a direct route either literally, as in using the ring road to avoid going through the centre of a city, or figuratively, used in expressions like 'skirting the issue' when someone refuses to discuss something directly.

Skirt can also refer to a cut of beef or can be used to describe part of a vehicle or other machine which protects something under it.

Answer: change

A synonym for alter is the word 'change' which can also refer to a collection of coins to differentiate them from notes, bills and paper money in general. Change can be used in many situations - you can have a change of heart, or change your mind, change direction or change your clothes, to mention a few. In every case it refers to an alteration.

Change when used about money is often used to describe coinage, as in 'I have a lot of small change weighing down my pocket', but can also refer to the amount you are given back when proffering a larger sum than needed when buying something.

Answer: pick

As a verb, pick means to select a particular option from a range of choices. A magician might ask you to pick a card or you can pick a flower or choose someone to join your team. The word can be combined with other words so you can pick up something you have dropped or collect your children from school, for example.

The noun can describe a large tool, with an iron head, used to break up stone or concrete - think of those pictures of convicts on a chain gang. Rather smaller are toothpicks, used to remove debris from between your teeth. A pick can also describe the small piece of plastic used to play a guitar.

Answer: entry

Entry can mean the act of joining something, such as a club, or taking part in a competition. In bookkeeping, it refers to the record made of income and/or expenditure for a business or for someone's personal accounts records.

You might also come across the word if you're not allowed to do something, such as a 'No Entry' sign for a closed road or a private area in an office or hospital. Entry level refers to the lowest level in the likes of a business or school. Another context in which the word is used is in connection with burglary. For example, you might read 'the thieves gained entry through an open window at the back of the house'.

Answer: desert

This is another word which is often pronounced differently depending on which meaning you wish to use. The stress is on the second syllable when describing the sense of leaving while the dry, often sandy, regions known as deserts will place the stress on the first part of the word.

If you desert somebody, you have abandoned them. If you desert from the army, especially during wartime, you are likely to be considered a coward and be court-martialled. As a noun, a desert is a desolate place with little vegetation. Famous deserts are the Sahara, in Africa, the Atacama, in South America, and the Gobi, in Asia.

Answer: state

As a verb, stating something is usually more emphatic than just saying something. In a court of law, the lawyer will state the facts of the case, for example. As a noun, a state can be whole country, such as the state of Belgium, or can refer to a part of it. The USA, for example, comprises a group of fifty states, each of which has its own history and characteristics.

State can also be used to describe the condition of something or someone as in 'your room is in a complete state' or 'water becomes ice in its solid state'.

Answer: sheds

This is another word which changes meaning according to whether it's used as a verb or a noun. As a verb, shed means to dispose of or lose. If you are overweight, you would be happy to shed a few pounds, or your employer might make people redundant and shed some of the workers. Some animals shed their fur - if you have pets I probably don't need to tell you this - and deciduous trees shed their leaves in the autumn to conserve energy.

As a noun, a shed is a place of (usually) storage. Your garden shed is likely to contain tools used for gardening or you might have a potting shed if you grow your own vegetables. Bigger sheds might be used for animals, such as a cowshed, or machinery can be housed in an engine shed.

Answer: cross

'Cross' is another useful word with quite a few meanings. The two in this clue describe how you feel when a bit more than irritated but not quite annoyed enough to be angry. The other is the cross, representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and an important emblem to Christians.

Other meanings are a mark made to choose a written option, looking like the letter x and the same symbol is used by teachers to mark an incorrect answer. The word can be used to describe a burden, as in the saying 'we all have our cross to bear'. Animals can be cross bred and you can cross a ball when playing football (soccer). As a verb, cross can mean moving from one side to another - you can cross the road or cross over a bridge. You might want to cross items off your shopping list too.