Prepare for the NES English Language Arts (ELA) (301) Exam with our comprehensive study guide featuring concise flashcards, multiple choice questions, and detailed explanations. Master the ELA content and enhance your test readiness with our expert resources.

Multiple Choice

What term describes a word that has two meanings that are opposites, such as 'cleave' meaning cling and 'cleave' meaning split?

A word that carries two meanings that oppose each other is called an auto-antonym. Some people also use contronym or janus word, all describing the same idea: one spelling that has opposite senses. For cleave, one sense means to cling or adhere, while another sense means to split apart. Those opposing meanings exist within the same word, which is why it’s labeled an auto-antonym. The other options don’t fit because a synonym is a word with a similar meaning to another word, an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning of another word, and a homonym refers to words that sound the same or are spelled the same but don’t inherently have opposite meanings. So the best label for this kind of word is auto-antonym (also called contronym or janus word).

A word that carries two meanings that oppose each other is called an auto-antonym. Some people also use contronym or janus word, all describing the same idea: one spelling that has opposite senses. For cleave, one sense means to cling or adhere, while another sense means to split apart. Those opposing meanings exist within the same word, which is why it’s labeled an auto-antonym. The other options don’t fit because a synonym is a word with a similar meaning to another word, an antonym is a word with the opposite meaning of another word, and a homonym refers to words that sound the same or are spelled the same but don’t inherently have opposite meanings. So the best label for this kind of word is auto-antonym (also called contronym or janus word).