The schematic symbols give a good clue.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

• The resistor symbol represents a length of resistance wire. Current will flow through a wire when voltage is applied across it.
• The capacitor symbol represents two metal plates separated by an insulator (air or something else). If a voltage is applied across its terminals a current will flow until the device is charged to the applied voltage. Then no current will flow.
• The inductor symbol represents a coil of wire. When a voltage is applied across its terminals a current will rise from zero to a maximum value determined by the coil's resistance.

If you use a multimeter's ohm-meter on the capacitor you might see a flicker while it charges up and then get the open-circuit indication. If you now switch to DC volts you should be able to measure the capacitor voltage and this will tell you the test voltage applied by the resistance test.

The schematic symbols give a good clue.

^{simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab}

• The resistor symbol represents a length of resistance wire. Current will flow through a wire when voltage is applied across it.
• The inductor symbol represents a coil of wire. When a voltage is applied across its terminals a current will rise from zero to a maximum value determined by the coil's resistance.
• The capacitor symbol represents two metal plates separated by an insulator (air or something else). If a voltage is applied across its terminals a current will flow until the device is charged to the applied voltage. Then no current will flow.

If you use a multimeter's ohm-meter on the capacitor you might see a flicker while it charges up and then get the open-circuit indication. If you now switch to DC volts you should be able to measure the capacitor voltage and this will tell you the test voltage applied by the resistance test.