Same Word; Two Meanings Trivia Quiz

Answer: Grave

A crypt is an underground chamber which can be part of a mausoleum where bodies are buried. If you are a serious person, you can be sombre or lacking in humour. Both these meanings can also be described as grave.

Other meanings of grave are an accent, to show how a word should be pronounced, and something of great importance - 'this is a grave threat to our survival'.

Answer: Loud

Gaudy means to be ostentatious or tasteless. Something at a high or piercing volume is noisy. Loud is a word which can be used for both of these meanings.

It is not a compliment to be told that what you are wearing is loud - it is generally meant as an insult and that you are standing out in an offensive manner. As to the noise, it rather depends on what it is. Some music needs to be played loud to get the full effect.

Answer: Sound

A sound can describe the part of an ocean which lies between the mainland and an island, or an inlet close to land. It is also used to describe a state of health, as in 'of sound mind' or in connection with livestock - 'the horse is sound'.

Sound more often refers to something heard, such as 'I loved the sound of her voice'. It also means something firm or solid - 'the property stands on sound ground' and harshness, as in 'he received a sound beating for stealing'.

Answer: Prevail

To overcome means to gain control or win, while persuade means to convince someone to agree with you or what you want them to do. Prevail can be used to mean either of these situations.

If you prevail, you have won, either by force of argument or by being stronger physically. To prevail upon someone is to present arguments that mean they agree with you, as in 'the prevailing view' meaning the majority opinion.

Answer: Box

A container is something which can be used to store something. In this sense, box has the same meaning, often used to refer to a container made from cardboard. In the other meaning offered in the question, box refers to a small evergreen tree or bush, often used to create hedges.

Other meanings of box are a sport involving fighting, a private area of seating in a theatre or protective equipment worn in some sports. Colloquially, it can refer to a television, as in 'what's on the box tonight'. It can also mean a small square on a form where you place a mark, often a cross.

Answer: Pitcher

The sportsman would appear in a game of baseball, when it refers to the person who delivers the ball to the batter. A pitcher is a container with a handle and a lip for pouring out liquids.

A pitcher could also be used in golf to refer to a club which hits the ball into the air to get over obstacles. Other words for the jug like pitcher are ewer or flagon. There is also a plant called a pitcher, due to its shape and the way in which it captures insects.

Answer: Lean

If you are slim, you carry little in the way of fat and lean is a synonym in this sense of the word. You can also use lean in the same way as deviate or bend from the vertical.

Other antonyms for lean when describing a person's build are plump or chubby. Lean is rather more pejorative than slim and is more akin to skinny, meaning being too thin. It can be used to describe a shortage of something, as in 'lean pickings'. Lean can be used as a verb too - you can lean against a wall or lean something against a support if it is getting too heavy.

Answer: Solution

One use of the word 'solution' is as the answer to a problem or mathematical poser. A solution is also the word for a liquid made by mixing a solid into water, as in mixing salt into water to create saline.

In the first sense, solution is related to solving and resolution, where a problem is settled in a way which suits the majority.

Answer: Row

A disagreement can be a quarrel, as squabble or an argument. A line can refer to a queue of people or a mark made on paper. The word 'row', pronounced differently, can be used to describe both these situations.

A row is mostly used to refer to a heated disagreement, literally making a lot of noise or a row. Row can refer to propelling a boat using oars, to a line of knitting or a row of seats in a theatre.

Answer: Spring

The season in the question referred to the season of the year, rather than to add flavour to food, while the water part meant the type which bubbles up from underground.

The four seasons are, of course, summer, winter, autumn (or fall) and spring, the season of hope and new life. As mentioned, season can also mean to add flavourings such as salt and pepper to food. Additionally, it can mean a series of television shows using the same characters. A spring is a natural source of water, and can also refer to bent metal, which can expand or contract, and a sudden leap as in to 'spring into action'.