Good and things are not alone in having multitudinous meanings.  There are in the language numerous many-sided words.  These words should be studied carefully.  True, they are not always employed in ambiguous ways.  For example, right in the sense of correct is seldom likely to be mistaken for right in the sense of not-left, but a reader or hearer may frequently mistake it for right in the sense of just or of honorable.  In the use of such words, therefore, we cannot become too discriminating.

EXERCISE H

This exercise concerns itself with common words that have more than one meaning.  Make your procedure as follows.  First, look up the word itself.  Under it you will find a number of defining words.  Then look up each of these in turn, until you have the requisite number and kind of synonyms.  (The word is sure to have more synonyms than are called for.) You will have to use your dictionary tirelessly.

Bare. Find three synonyms for bare as applied to the body; three for it as applied to a room.

Bear. Give three other words that might be used instead of bear in the sentence “The pillar bears a heavy weight”; three in the sentence “He bore a heavy load on his back”; three in the sentence “He bore the punishment that was unjustly meted out to him”; three in the sentence “He bore a grudge against his neighbor”; two in the sentence “The field did not bear a crop last year.”

Bold. Give ten synonyms for bold as applied to a warrior; ten as applied to a young girl.  Observe that the synonyms in the first list are favorable in import and suggest the idea of bravery, whereas those in the second list are unfavorable and suggest the idea of brazenness.  How do you account for this fact?  Can you think of circumstances in which a young girl might be so placed that the favorable synonyms might be applied to her?

Bright. Give as many words as you can, at least twelve, that can be used instead of bright as applied to a light, a diamond, a wet pavement, or a live coal.  Give three words for bright as applied to a child of unusual intelligence; two as applied to an occasion that promises to turn out well; two as applied to a career that has been signally successful.

Clear. Give five synonyms for clear as applied to water:  ten as applied to a fact or a statement; three as applied to the sky or atmosphere; three as applied to the voice; two as applied to a passageway or a view; three as applied to one’s judgment or thinking.

Close. Give three words that could be substituted for close as applied to the atmosphere in a room; four as applied to a person who is uninclined to talk about a matter; three as applied to something not far off; four as applied to a friend; five as applied to a person who is reluctant to spend money; five as applied to a translation; five as applied to attention or endeavor.