English Exercises > Other printables exercises

Downloadable worksheets: Ambiguity- double meaning Level: elementary Age: 9-100 Downloads: 14   Ambiguity of tolerance Level: advanced Age: 14-17 Downloads: 13   Clear Writing - Avoiding Ambiguity Level: advanced Age: 14-17 Downloads: 6   How to use commas for ambiguity Level: intermediate Age: 9-11 Downloads: 7   Figurative Language Level: intermediate Age: 14-16 Downloads: 10   Ambiguous sentences Level: intermediate Age: 12-100 Downloads: 5

Ambiguity � � �Read the comic strip.� The humor is based on ambiguity.� That means that the words can be interpreted in more than one way.� Communication fails because one person in the story doesn't interpret the ambiguous statement correctly.� That's the humor!� � � � �Explain the ambiguity.� The boy meant that�, but the girl thinks he means that. � � � � �The ambiguity in this comic strip is based on a word that has more than one meaning.� The woman means that�, but the man believes that�. � https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23uHwF2qiZA� � � � � � � � In this joke, the ambiguity is funny because the listener thought the police officer was asking if the kangaroo could�.� However, the police officer meant that both the kangaroo and the Empire State Building could�. He was really asking�. � https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd4DIxBMAUs�� � � � �The ambiguous word in this joke is�.� When this word is a verb, it means�, but when it is a noun it means�.� � � � � �The person who painted this thought the ambiguity was funny.� Most people expect to see the "thumbs up" icon on a post in�.� Instead, the painter drew the "thumbs up" on a��that is a�. � � � � � �The person who created this meme wants to trick people.� When he tells them that he walks 5 miles every day, most people will believe that�.� In truth, he only�. � � � � �Whoever posted this was not trying to be funny.� This person did not realize that the sign was ambiguous.� In fact, it is ambiguous in at least 2 ways.� First, it isn't clear whether people are just eating or if they are eating�.� Second, the readers can't be sure if they are supposed to clean up after their��or clean up after the��or clean up after the�! � � �Rewrite the sign so that everyone who reads it will interpret it in the same way.� You will need to write several sentences:�� � � � � �This man is being ambiguous about ambiguity!� Please help him by writing a clear definition of ambiguity here:�. � � � � �NOTE- Please don't be discouraged if the computer gives you a low score on this exercise.� You may have the right ideas, but choose different words than I did to express them.� Your teacher will review your work before assigning you a score.� � � � � � �