ambiguous
Unclear because it could mean more than one thing.
ambiguous in a sentence
- The treasure map was ambiguous: did 'left at the old tree' mean the oak or the elm?
- The sign was ambiguous: did 'Dogs must be carried' mean everyone needed to bring a dog?
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to ambiguous?
- Aobvious
- Bclear
- Cvague
- Dplain
Show the answer
C: vague. The other three mean the opposite of ambiguous.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to ambiguous?
- Aclear
- Bconfusing
- Cvague
Show the answer
A: clear. The other three mean nearly the same as ambiguous.
Words that mean something similar
vague, confusing
Words that mean the opposite
clear, plain, obvious
More words about thinking & learning
- analyse: To study something closely, part by part.
- apparent: Easy to see or understand; clear.
- assume: To believe something is true without checking it.
- astute: Clever at understanding things and spotting what is really going on.
- attentive: Watching and listening carefully.
- authentic: Real and genuine, not fake.
- baffled: So confused that you cannot understand something at all.
- bewildered: Very confused and unsure what is happening.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test