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Attention : 1 mot a souvent plusieurs significations !

Voici la suite des exemples :

SENSE

To have a sense of responsibility (le sens de). It makes no sense! (Cela n’a pas de sens !). In no sense (en aucun cas).

RAISED

The bridge has been raised (a été levé = sens propre). She raised money to buy this car (s’est procuré). These measures will soon be raised (être levées = sens figuré).

ROOTS 

The roots of a tree (racines). The roots of a conflict. As an immigrant, he was cut off from his roots.

EASY

To be easy to talk with people (prompt). An easy life (vie facile). It’s easy to see!

WORKING

Working conditions (de travail). A good working knowledge (connaissance pratique). A working machine (en activité).

DREW

He drew me a cat (a dessiné). They drew a satisfying conclusion (to draw = tirer). [France drew against Canada at the hockey match (a fait match nul)].

MATCHES

Matches are useful to light a fire (allumettes). There are no matches between the two samples (correspondances). The matches didn’t take place (matchs).

GROWN

I have grown tomatoes in my garden (ai fait poussé). A grown woman (adulte). His reputation as an actor has grown considerably (s’est développée). I’ve grown to like living here (je me suis habitué/e à…).

FORM

To fill up a form (formulaire). No form of life is possible on Mercury (forme de vie). A semi-circle form (forme de demi-cercle).

EDGE

To be on the leading edge of technology (à la pointe de…). The sharp edge of a knife (bord tranchant). At the water’s edge (au bord de l’eau). On the edge of town (aux abords de la ville).

PUT

He put aside some money (mettre de côté). Can you put it more simply please (exprimer). He put the price of fixing the car at 250$ (estimer le prix d’une réparation).

PUT ON

He put on the light (il a allumé). He put on his coat (a mis, a enfilé). She put on a lot of weight (a pris du poids).

SOFT

Soft wood (tendre). You are too soft with your child (indulgent). Soft drinks (boisson sans alcool). A soft fabric (tissu doux).

HEART

The heart of the city (coeur, centre). To have the heart to do sth. (avoir le coeur à…). My heart is beating hard (bat fort).

RING

Ring the bell (sonne)! A ring of light (rond). A smuggling ring (réseau de contrebande). He gave her a ring (bague).

LIVES 

He lives in Paris (il vit). He lives on a low pension (vivre de…). He died long ago but his reputation lives on (continue à vivre). She lives on a diet of vegetables (se nourrit de…).

PLAYED

He played the game. He played an important role in her life (a joué = sens figuré). The radio station played Mozard (a diffusé, a passé).

CHECK

I have to check your bag (contrôler). To keep a check on sb. or sth. (surveiller, vérifier). A check shirt (à carreaux).

CRASH

A car crash (accident). A crash diet (draconien). His business has crashed (faire faillite). My computer crashed (“a planté”).

HARD

It’s very hard to get a job (difficile). Hard water (calcaire). Hard evidence (concret).

PLOT

A plot against the president (complot). A film plot (intrigue). To plot results on a graph (reporter).

SET

The teacher set a lot of homework (donner des devoirs). This event set a precedent (créer un précédent = expression). To set sb’s mind at rest (tranquilliser).

DATE

I have a date with Peter (rendez-vous). The date of the meeting is tomorrow (date). The date is a fruit (datte).

STRIKE

To go on strike (faire la grève). Something strange can strike somebody (frapper = sens figuré). To strike one’s head on the floor (taper = sens propre).

CROSS

To cross a road (traverser). He was cross with his brother (faché contre). A cross between something and something else (croisement, mélange).

Comme la liste complète serait trop longue, je vous propose de relever par vous-même, lors de vos lectures, d’autres mots qui ont plusieurs significations, et de les noter sur un carnet. Vous verrez qu’il y en a une grande quantité. Pour cela, aidez-vous des dictionnaires en lignes (Reverso, Wordreference, Cambridge…).

A très bientôt

Cathy