Word Groups
Sort 16 words into 4 hidden groups.
Find four groups of four words that share something.
How to play Word Groups
Goal: Sort all 16 words into their four groups before you make four mistakes.
- 1Pick four words you think share something, then press Submit.
- 2A correct group locks in as a colored bar with its title. Yellow is easiest, purple is trickiest.
- 3"One away" means three of your four words belong together.
- 4Watch for red herrings: some words seem to fit more than one group.
- 5Four wrong guesses ends the round and reveals every group.
On a computer
Click words to select them, then Submit. Shuffle mixes the tiles
On a phone
Tap words to select them, then tap Submit
Play Word Groups free online. Find four groups of four words that share a hidden link, with 34 original puzzles from easy to tricky.
About Word Groups
Word Groups shows you 16 words. Your job is to sort them into four hidden groups of four that share something in common, like types of fruit, words that come before 'ball', or things that are red. Select four words and submit them. You can make four mistakes.
Category sorting puzzles are a newer favorite, and our free version is an original take on the format with hand written puzzles. Each puzzle has one easy group up to one tricky group, plus red herrings: words that seem to fit more than one group. When you are one word away, the game tells you.
It is a fun test of vocabulary and lateral thinking. Play the daily puzzle or work through the whole collection, on phone or desktop.
Every puzzle in our collection is written by hand, with groups that range from straightforward categories to clever wordplay. The game remembers which puzzles you have played, so Next puzzle always takes you to one you have not seen. Arcade Pantry is free to play with no sign up and no download. Your best results are saved only in your own browser.
Word Groups tips and strategy
- Look for words that could fit more than one group. Those are the red herrings.
- Solve the group you are most sure of first. Fewer words make the rest easier.
- Think about hidden connections: words that sound alike, words before or after another word, or words that hide smaller words.
- Use Shuffle to break up misleading word placements.
- If the game says One away, swap just one word and try again.
- Do not submit a guess just to test it. Each wrong guess uses one of your four mistakes.
Word Groups FAQ
How many mistakes can I make in Word Groups?
Four. The game ends after the fourth wrong guess and reveals every group.
What does One away mean?
Three of your four selected words belong to the same group. Swap one word to try again.
Is there a daily Word Groups puzzle?
Yes. The daily puzzle is the same for everyone that day, and you can also play the full collection.
Is this the same as Connections?
No. Word Groups is our own free puzzle with original word sets and is not affiliated with any newspaper.
How many puzzles are there?
There is a growing collection of original puzzles, plus a daily puzzle that is the same for everyone.