Words and clue examples

Password Game Words and One-Word Clues

Prepare a Password-style group game with 90 original word-and-clue pairs. Choose a category and suggested difficulty, shuffle a 10-word round, then copy the words or print clue cards with a separate host answer key. Choose words your own group knows.

Password Game Words and Clues: Ready Rounds to Copy, Shuffle or Print

Choose from ninety reviewed secret words with primary and alternative one-word clues. Keep the existing shuffle/copy picker, or prepare separate secret cards and a private host key.

Use the expanded 90-word library

The original four 15-word categories remain available in the picker, with 30 additional kitchen/outdoor words. Each word now has a second legal clue and a meaning note. Choose ten words your group knows; the primary clue is an option, not the only way to reach the answer.

Keep the existing shuffle/copy workflow for quick selection. Player clue cards are for prepared-clue paper play: they show only the hint. Classic secret-word cards show the answer only to clue-givers, who invent clues. The host key stays private in either format.

Pick a 10-word round

Choose a set to start a round, then shuffle for another selection. The full 90-pair library stays below. Difficulty is relative to your group’s vocabulary; review the set notes before playing.

Word set

Start here for a mixed-age group. These are familiar objects and places. Ice → Frozen can also suggest snow; accept only the secret word you chose, or agree on alternatives before play.

Your 10-word round

Apple
Beach
Candle
Dog
Egg
Flower
Guitar
Hat
Ice
Jacket

10 everyday words ready to use.

Player cards show only a numbered one-word clue. Use them for a prepared-clue paper round, one card at a time; keep the separate host key private. Check print preview on Letter or A4. Your browser’s Print command defaults to the player clue cards.

For Classic play, clue-givers need the secret word and make up their own clues. Use the 24 secret-word cards for clue-givers instead.

Create a game with these words

Copy first, then sign in to create a game. For Classic, paste the list into the first Password field at Step 3; for Host Mode, add each prepared clue and answer. The link opens the builder without importing the list. Free draft/team limits and paid features apply; compare plans.

Password player clue cards

Prepared-clue round · Show one card at a time. Guess the secret word from the one-word clue. The host keeps the separate answer key.

Card 1OrchardGuess: __________________
Card 2SandGuess: __________________
Card 3FlameGuess: __________________
Card 4BarkGuess: __________________
Card 5ShellGuess: __________________
Card 6PetalGuess: __________________
Card 7StringsGuess: __________________
Card 8HeadGuess: __________________
Card 9FrozenGuess: __________________
Card 10CoatGuess: __________________

Private host answer key

Keep this sheet away from guessers. Numbers match the player clue cards. Accept the secret word, or agree on acceptable alternatives before play.

Card	Secret answer	Player clue
1	Apple	Orchard
2	Beach	Sand
3	Candle	Flame
4	Dog	Bark
5	Egg	Shell
6	Flower	Petal
7	Guitar	Strings
8	Hat	Head
9	Ice	Frozen
10	Jacket	Coat

Everyday words · easy

Start here for a mixed-age group. These are familiar objects and places. Ice → Frozen can also suggest snow; accept only the secret word you chose, or agree on alternatives before play.

Secret words and suggested one-word clues
Secret word	Example clue	Alternative clue	Meaning note
Apple	Orchard	Fruit	A fruit, not the device brand.
Beach	Sand	Shore	A sandy shore; an island is a different secret word.
Candle	Flame	Wax	The wax object, rather than its flame.
Dog	Bark	Canine	The animal; Bark can also mean tree covering.
Egg	Shell	Yolk	The whole egg, not only its shell or yolk.
Flower	Petal	Bloom	A bloom; avoid using a compound containing the answer.
Guitar	Strings	Music	The instrument, not any stringed instrument.
Hat	Head	Cap	Headwear; Cap is an allowed association, not an automatic accepted answer.
Ice	Frozen	Cold	Frozen water; snow is a related but different answer.
Jacket	Coat	Warm	Outer clothing; agree if close garment names count before play.
Key	Lock	Door	A lock-opening object here, not a keyboard key.
Moon	Night	Satellite	Earth’s natural satellite in this set.
Pillow	Sleep	Cushion	A sleeping cushion, not a blanket.
Rainbow	Colors	Spectrum	A band of colours, not a single colour.
Train	Tracks	Rail	Rail transport, not the verb for practice.

Party and family words · medium

Use shared experiences rather than private jokes. Holiday and Vacation can mean the same thing to some groups; swap Holiday if that would make a guess unclear. Karaoke → Microphone may also suggest singing.

Secret words and suggested one-word clues
Secret word	Example clue	Alternative clue	Meaning note
Airport	Flight	Plane	The place aircraft arrive, not the plane itself.
Birthday	Cake	Candles	The occasion, not just its cake.
Camping	Tent	Outdoors	Staying outdoors in a tent.
Costume	Disguise	Mask	A disguise or character outfit.
Dancing	Rhythm	Music	Movement to music; no gestures as extra clues.
Fireworks	Sparks	Celebration	A display of explosive lights; not fire itself.
Holiday	Vacation	Break	May mean vacation or a celebration; agree on the intended usage.
Karaoke	Microphone	Singing	Singing with a backing track; Microphone alone can suggest many events.
Museum	Exhibit	Art	A place of exhibits, not only art galleries.
Parade	March	Procession	An organized procession.
Picnic	Basket	Lunch	An outdoor meal, not the basket itself.
Popcorn	Cinema	Snack	The snack; Cinema is an association, not a definition.
Reunion	Together	Gathering	A gathering after time apart; no private shared history is needed.
Souvenir	Keepsake	Travel	An object kept from a visit, rather than the trip itself.
Wedding	Vows	Marriage	A marriage celebration; Vows may also suggest Promise.

Classroom vocabulary · mixed

Difficulty depends on what learners have already studied. Volume means capacity here, rather than loudness; Orbit means a path in space. Preview those meanings before hiding the word bank.

Secret words and suggested one-word clues
Secret word	Example clue	Alternative clue	Meaning note
Adaptation	Survival	Change	A change supporting survival in the biology sense.
Atom	Particle	Tiny	A very small unit of an element.
Democracy	Vote	Election	A system involving public participation and voting.
Ecosystem	Habitat	Nature	Organisms and their environment; Habitat is related but narrower.
Energy	Power	Electricity	A capacity to do work; use the taught science meaning.
Evaporation	Drying	Heat	Liquid changing to gas; Vapor is rejected because it appears inside the answer.
Evidence	Proof	Support	Information supporting a claim; not necessarily conclusive proof.
Fraction	Portion	Part	A numerical part of a whole.
Gravity	Pull	Fall	An attracting force; Pull is a simple classroom association.
Infer	Deduce	Conclude	Draw a conclusion from evidence.
Metaphor	Comparison	Image	A comparison that describes one thing as another.
Orbit	Revolve	Circle	A path around a body in space; not the act of rotation.
Photosynthesis	Sunlight	Plants	The plant process associated with sunlight.
Predator	Hunter	Carnivore	An animal that hunts other animals.
Volume	Capacity	Space	Capacity in the classroom set, not loudness.

Abstract words · challenge

Choose this set for confident speakers who know abstract vocabulary. Irony → Unexpected is an association, not a definition; discuss the connection after the round. Agree beforehand whether close synonyms count.

Secret words and suggested one-word clues
Secret word	Example clue	Alternative clue	Meaning note
Ambition	Aspiration	Goal	A strong aim or aspiration.
Balance	Equilibrium	Steady	Equilibrium here; not a bank-account amount.
Courage	Bravery	Bold	Bravery in the face of difficulty.
Curiosity	Wonder	Explore	A desire to find out.
Empathy	Understanding	Care	Understanding another person’s feelings.
Freedom	Liberty	Choice	Liberty rather than a free price.
Harmony	Accord	Peace	Agreement or musical compatibility; agree on the intended sense.
Irony	Unexpected	Contrast	A contrast between expectation and reality; Unexpected is only an association.
Justice	Fairness	Law	Fair treatment or a legal ideal.
Loyalty	Devotion	Faithful	Faithfulness to a person or cause.
Nostalgia	Memories	Past	A feeling about the past; shared memories are not required.
Patience	Waiting	Calm	The ability to wait without rushing.
Resilience	Recovery	Rebound	Recovery after difficulty.
Strategy	Plan	Tactics	A plan of action, not a single move.
Trust	Reliance	Belief	Reliance on someone or something.

Kitchen objects · mixed

Choose the kitchen-object meaning;preview unfamiliar utensils before play.

Secret words and suggested one-word clues
Secret word	Example clue	Alternative clue	Meaning note
Kettle	Boil	Steam	A vessel for boiling water.
Spatula	Flip	Utensil	A flat cooking tool for lifting or turning food.
Colander	Drain	Pasta	A draining bowl with holes.
Whisk	Beat	Batter	A looped tool for beating ingredients.
Saucepan	Stove	Cook	A handled cooking pot.
Grater	Shred	Cheese	A tool for shredding food.
Oven	Bake	Heat	An enclosed heated cooking space.
Fridge	Cold	Food	A refrigerated food-storage appliance.
Freezer	Ice	Cold	A colder storage appliance that freezes food.
Toaster	Bread	Brown	A bread-browning appliance.
Plate	Dish	Dinner	A flat dining dish.
Napkin	Wipe	Cloth	A small cloth or paper square used while eating.
Pantry	Storage	Food	A food-storage cupboard or room.
Sieve	Strain	Flour	A mesh tool for straining or sifting.
Ladle	Soup	Scoop	A deep spoon for serving soup.

Outdoor places · mixed

Use physical landscapes;the alternative hint is an association,not a unique definition.

Secret words and suggested one-word clues
Secret word	Example clue	Alternative clue	Meaning note
Waterfall	Cascade	River	Flowing water dropping over an edge.
Glacier	Ice	Frozen	A slowly moving mass of ice.
Valley	Hills	Low	Low land between hills.
Volcano	Lava	Erupt	A landform associated with erupting lava.
Desert	Sand	Dry	A dry landscape; not Dessert.
Forest	Trees	Woods	A large area of trees.
Coral	Reef	Ocean	The organism forming some reefs, not every ocean rock.
Tide	Shore	Moon	The regular change in sea level.
Creek	Stream	Water	A small stream.
Pond	Still	Water	A small body of still water.
Canyon	Gorge	Deep	A deep gorge.
Prairie	Grass	Plain	A broad grassland.
Island	Ocean	Shore	Land surrounded by water; Land itself is rejected as an answer substring.
Cave	Dark	Rock	A natural hollow in rock.
Summit	Peak	Climb	The top of a mountain.

Turn a word list into a playable round

Choose 10 words for a short round and keep a few spare words in case someone does not know an answer. Copy the selected secret words, open the game builder, and sign in. Name your game, choose Classic Password, then paste the newline-separated list into the first Password field at Step 3. This uses the builder’s existing paste support; nothing is imported automatically. For Host Mode, enter each clue with its answer instead.

For Classic Password, let the clue-giver invent their own one-word clue. For Host Mode, you can enter a prepared clue. Show the answer only to the person who needs it, never to the whole group before the guess.

Build a game with your words

How to choose a fair clue

A useful clue points toward the meaning without containing the answer. For “Candle,” try “Flame”; avoid “Candlelight,” which contains the answer. A clue such as “Thing” is legal under a one-word rule but is too broad to help.

Agree on house rules for proper names, opposites, and repeated clues before playing. These examples use a single word and avoid spelling, rhymes, and parts of the answer. There is no single correct clue: another association may work better for your group.

Best for

Word list planning
Clue inspiration
Category ideas
Difficulty balancing
Fast setup

Example words and clues

Volcano -> lava
Birthday -> cake
Handshake -> greeting
Pencil -> write
Coach -> team

Host setup

Plan 10 to 30 secret words, 30 to 60 seconds per turn, two or more teams, and a visible score. For classrooms, use vocabulary terms. For events, use themes and inside jokes.

How to run it well

Keep clues to one word, rotate clue-givers, avoid spelling or word parts, and mix easy, medium, and challenge words so the room gets momentum.

This site is an independent Password-style game maker and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the owners of the original game show brand.

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Are the words and word picker free to use?

Yes. You can browse the list, shuffle a round, and copy words on this page without an account. Creating and saving a PlayPassword game requires signing in; plan limits apply to game features.

How many words should I prepare?

Try 10 words for a short round and keep several spares. Add more rounds after you see how quickly your group guesses.

Can I print cards without showing players the answers?

Yes. Print player clue cards for a prepared-clue round: each card has a number and one-word clue, with no secret answer. Print the separate private host key to check guesses. Both sheets use your current 10-word selection. For Classic play, use secret-word cards shown only to clue-givers.

Are these official Password game cards?

No. These are original examples for an independent Password-style group game, not official cards or an affiliated edition.