What does ambiguous mean?
Word: Ambiguous
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Ambiguous means having more than one possible meaning, so that it is not clear what is meant.
Synonyms: unclear, vague, confusing
Antonyms: clear, plain
How do you spell ambiguous?
Syllables: am - big - u - ous
Tricky part: The second syllable is big, with an i after the b; students who hear a weak vowel there write ambeguous.
Watch out for: ambeguous, ambigous, anbiguous
Memory tip: Say it in a spelling voice, am-big-YOU-us: the you sound is written with a u.
Ambiguous in a sentence
Example 1: The question was ambiguous, so half the class answered it one way and half the other.
Example 2: Her ambiguous smile made it hard to tell whether she was pleased.
Example 3: We read the last line of her letter three different ways, because it was so ambiguous.
Fun Fact
Ambiguous starts with ambi, meaning both or around, the same start as ambidextrous, able to use both hands equally well.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
ambiguous
a) definite
b) obscure
c) puzzling
d) doubtful
Show answer
a) definite. A definite answer leaves no room for doubt, and that is exactly what an ambiguous one fails to do.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
ambiguious
a) o
b) i
c) u
d) g
Show answer
b) i. Ambiguity has an i after the u, but the adjective goes straight from u to ous.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
ugoasbimu
a) ambiguity
b) ambiguous
c) ambitious
d) amphibious
Show answer
b) ambiguous. Spot the g and the two u's: with no t, p or h among the letters, only ambiguous can be made.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. 'I saw her duck' is ambiguous because ____.
a) it has a spelling mistake in it
b) it asks a question with no answer
c) it is far too short to understand
d) it can mean two different things
Show answer
d) it can mean two different things
2. Which instruction is ambiguous?
a) Bring two pencils and a ruler.
b) Meet me at gate 2 at 4 p.m.
c) Read pages 10 to 12.
d) Meet me at the bank.
Show answer
d) Meet me at the bank.
