SAT Reading & WritingReading Comprehension10 Questions~13 min

SAT Multiple-meaning Words Questions — Practice with Answers

Practice SAT-style Multiple-meaning Words questions from the Reading Comprehension section of the SAT Reading & Writing module. Every question includes a detailed explanation — select an answer, check it immediately, and understand exactly why the correct answer is right.

10
Questions
13m
Est. Time
All
With Explanations
5E/3M/2H
Difficulty Mix
Take the Full Multiple-meaning Words Practice Test →

What These SAT Multiple-meaning Words Questions Cover

Topic Focus

Multiple-meaning Words — a key area of the Reading Comprehension section on the SAT.

Difficulty Range

5 Easy, 3 Medium, and 2 Hard questions — matching the real SAT distribution.

Instant Explanations

Every question includes a step-by-step explanation so you learn from every answer.

SAT Multiple-meaning Words Practice Questions

10 Questions
0 / 10 answered
1Easy
Passage
The court ruled that the new zoning law was unconstitutional, a decision that will likely bear significant consequences for property developers across the state.

As used in this sentence, what does "bear" most nearly mean?

2Easy
Passage
The foundation of the organization's success lies in its commitment to transparency and ethical fundraising practices.

As used in this sentence, "foundation" most nearly means:

3Easy
Passage
The author's latest novel struck a particularly raw nerve with critics who felt that the portrait of small-town life was unkind and reductive.

As used in this sentence, "struck" most nearly means:

4Easy
Passage
Despite being given every advantage in their educational upbringing, the three siblings took very different paths through life, suggesting that character may be something the environment can shape but never fully determine.

As used in this sentence, "determine" most nearly means:

5Easy
Passage
The journalist's latest piece was sharp, both in its analysis and in the critical tone it took toward the city's housing policy failures.

As used in this sentence, "sharp" most nearly means:

6Medium
Passage
The commission's report was careful to qualify its conclusions, noting that the data were suggestive rather than definitive, and that further study would be required before any policy recommendations could be issued.

As used in this passage, "qualify" most nearly means:

7Medium
Passage
The pianist's performance was notable for its economy: not a note was wasted, each gesture perfectly calibrated to the emotional requirements of the passage.

As used in this passage, "economy" most nearly means:

8Medium
Passage
In the legal brief, counsel argued that the defendant's actions were entirely consistent with established precedent, and that no reasonable interpretation of the statute could yield a different conclusion.

As used in this passage, "yield" most nearly means:

9Hard
Passage
The philosopher argued that the concept of 'justice' is essentially contested — not merely because people disagree about its application, but because the term itself is constituted by rival traditions of political thought, each of which inflects it with distinct and sometimes incompatible meanings. On this view, to claim that one has found the 'correct' definition of justice is to mistake the nature of the concept itself.

As used in this passage, "inflects" most nearly means:

10Hard
Passage
In the trial's closing argument, the defense attorney sought to rehabilitate her client's reputation, presenting testimony from colleagues that painted a picture of a man whose alleged crimes were entirely at odds with his character. The prosecution countered that the character testimony was immaterial to the question at hand: whether the defendant committed the act, not whether he was ordinarily a good person.

As used in this passage, "rehabilitate" most nearly means:

How to Master SAT Multiple-meaning Words

Understand the question type, not just the content

Every Multiple-meaning Words question on the SAT follows predictable patterns. Once you recognize the pattern, you can apply a systematic approach — even on questions you haven't seen before.

Always use process of elimination first

On the SAT, there are three definitively wrong answers and one correct one. Training yourself to find the wrong answers often leads you to the right one more reliably than looking for what 'sounds right'.

Review every explanation, even when correct

Understanding why an answer is right is as important as getting it right. Many Multiple-meaning Words questions have tricky wrong answers that students sometimes pick for the wrong reasons — even when they get it right.

Practice under time pressure once you understand the content

After you've learned the Multiple-meaning Words concepts, set a timer. Each SAT Reading & Writing question should take roughly 1.2–1.5 minutes. Build speed after accuracy — never before.

Take the Full Multiple-meaning Words Practice Test

Ready for a complete practice test? Get all Multiple-meaning Words questions in one timed session — with a full score breakdown at the end.

Full Practice TestFull SAT Question Bank →

Common Mistakes on SAT Multiple-meaning Words Questions

✗Not reading the full question

SAT Multiple-meaning Words questions are precisely worded. Missing a single word like "NOT" or "EXCEPT" can flip the entire question. Re-read every question after selecting your answer.

✗Answering from memory instead of the text

Every Reading & Writing question has an answer in the passage. Never rely on outside knowledge — always go back to the text.

✗Rushing past the explanation

Students who skip reviewing explanations after correct answers miss the second layer of learning. Understanding why each wrong answer is wrong is what separates 700-scorers from 800-scorers.

✗Giving up on hard questions too fast

Hard Multiple-meaning Words questions are hard by design — they're meant to take more time. A systematic approach (eliminate 2 wrong answers, then compare the remaining 2) works even when you're unsure.

More SAT Reading & Writing Practice

SAT Central Ideas and Main Purpose Questions
Reading Comprehension
SAT Supporting Details Questions
Reading Comprehension
SAT Textual Evidence Questions
Reading Comprehension
SAT Summarization Questions
Reading Comprehension
Central Ideas and Main Purpose Practice Test →Supporting Details Practice Test →Textual Evidence Practice Test →

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