Contronyms

Contronyms are words with opposite meanings. The meaning of these words can be understood from the context. Ten words which are contronyms are the following:

bill

dust

left

off

out 

rent

sanction

screen

seed

transparent

The following sentences illustrate that these words have opposite meanings.

1) The smallest American bill is $1.

     I'll send you the bill.

2)  I need to dust the kitchen cupboards.

     The last step is to dust the cake with icing sugar.

3) There are few people left.

    Everyone has left the party.

4) Please turn off the light.

    The alarm went off.

5) The moon is out.

    The candle has gone out.

6) I want to rent an apartment.

    He agreed to rent him the apartment.

7) If he continues the violate the agreement, he will be sanctioned with a heavy fine.

    Everyone sanctioned his efforts to reduce crime.

8) You should screen your face from the sun.

     The movie theatre will screen the movie this evening.

9) I need to seed the tomatoes.

    The farmer plans to seed his field tomorrow morning.

10) Her lie was transparent.

      He has a transparent bottle.

Contronyms are words with opposite meanings. Though the meaning is usually clear from context, this is sometimes not the case with a single sentence In the sentence He was sanctioned, more context is needed to clarify if the person was punished or supported. Contronyms are also known as antagonyms and auto-antonyms.