英语中有不少单词，其本身存在互相矛盾的两个意思，如果不弄清楚，有时会给我们的英语阅读带来一定困扰。特定情况下，联系上下文语境即可弄清它们的具体意思。
1. sanction“制裁”&“批准”
Economic sanctions will only be lifted when the aggressor nation withdraws its troops.
只有侵略国撤回其军队，经济制裁才会解除。
They tried to get official sanction for the scheme.
他们想使计划获得正式批准。
2. overlook“检查；监视”&“忽视；忽略”
I am overlooking her work.
我正在检查她的工作。
I think there is one key fact that you have overlooked.
我认为你忽略了一个重要的事实。
3. finished“完成的”&“失败的”
Are you finished with that drill?
你的那个练习做完了吗？
This financial crisis means that the government's economic policy is finished.
这次金融危机意味着政府的经济政策失败了。
4. dust“擦去……的灰尘”&“在……上撒粉末”
I was dusting the mantelpiece when I noticed a crack.
我在擦壁炉台的时候发现了一道裂纹。
Dust the top of the cake with icing sugar.
在蛋糕上撒些糖霜。
5. left“留下”&“离开”
He left the house by the back door.
他从房子的后门离开了。
His shoes left muddy marks on the floor.
他的鞋在地板上留下了泥印。
6. trim“添加，装饰”&“修剪，剪枝”
The children are trimming up a Christmas tree with ribbons, laces.
孩子们正在往圣诞树上挂彩带和蕾丝。
He trimmed dead branches off a tree.
他从树上剪掉枯枝。
7. cleave“劈开；分开”&“粘住；紧贴”
With one blow of the knight's axe, he clove the rock in twain (= into two pieces).
武士大斧一挥，将石头劈成了两半。
The ancient ivy cleaved to the ruined castle walls.
古老的常春藤紧紧攀附在破败的城堡墙上。
注意：表“粘住；紧贴”时，cleave通常与to连用。
8. scan“细看，审视”&“粗略地看”
She anxiously scanned the faces of the men leaving the train.
她急切地盯着一张张下火车的人的脸。
I scanned through the booklet but couldn't find the address.
我很快地翻阅了一遍小册子，但没有找到那个地址。
9. fast“快速的”&“固定的”
Computers are getting faster all the time.
计算机一直在提速。
She made her end of the rope fast to a tree.
她把绳子的一头牢牢地绑在树上。
10. off“关掉”&“响起”
She turned off the TV.
她关掉了电视。
The alarm went off.
闹铃响了起来。
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