Connections Study Lists

Common Homophones

Words that sound the same (or very similar) but are spelled differently. Connections often builds a group around near-identical pronunciations.

• PANE — Sounds like PAIN
• MEAT — Sounds like MEET
• SEEN — Sounds like SCENE
• KNIGHT — Sounds like NIGHT
• FLOWER — Sounds like FLOUR
• STAIR — Sounds like STARE

Short Palindromes

Words that read the same forwards and backwards. These often form tidy Connections groups because they share a visual pattern.

• LEVEL
• RADAR
• CIVIC
• ROTOR
• REFER

Roman Numeral Words

Words made entirely from the letters used in Roman numerals (I, V, X, L, C, D, M). These show up in puzzles that want you to spot the overlapping alphabet.

• CIVIL
• DILL
• MILD
• MIX
• VIVID

Chemical Element Names

Straight-up element names often appear together as a science-leaning group, or mixed into trickier categories like colors or places.

• ARGON
• TIN
• SILVER
• NEON
• NICKEL

ANAGRAMS

Seen in 4 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR, ENLIST, LISTEN, SILENT, TINSEL.

IMITATION

Seen in 3 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: DUMMY, ERSATZ, FAUX, MOCK, PRETEND, SHAM, COPY, DUPE.

BEDDING

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: COMFORTER, SHAM, SHEET, THROW, BLANKET.

CLASSIC BOARD GAMES

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: BATTLESHIP, OPERATION, OTHELLO, TROUBLE, MASTERMIND, MOUSE TRAP, SORRY.

CONSTRUCT

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: FASHION, MODEL, MOLD, SHAPE, FORM, MAKE, PRODUCE.

FISH

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: MULLET, PIKE, SOLE, TANG, CHAR, POLLOCK.

FISHING GEAR

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: FLY, HOOK, LINE, NET, BAIT, ROD.

FLOWERS

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: ANEMONE, LOTUS, NARCISSUS, ROSE, LARKSPUR, MONKSHOOD, PHLOX.

GYMNASTICS APPARATUS

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: BEAM, HORSE, RINGS, VAULT.

HOMOPHONES

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: PAIR, PARE, PEAR, PÈRE, DO, DOE, DOH, DOUGH.

KINDS OF CHAIRS

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: ADIRONDACK, EAMES, WINDSOR, WINGBACK, BEANBAG, RECLINER, ROCKER, STOOL.

KINDS OF NUMBERS

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: ATOMIC, SERIAL, SOCIAL SECURITY, TELEPHONE, EVEN, IRRATIONAL, PERFECT, PRIME.

KINDS OF TRUCKS

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: FLATBED, PICKUP, SEMI, TANKER, DUMP, FIRE, FOOD, TOW.

MAKEUP

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: BRONZER, FOUNDATION, LINER, STAIN, BLUSH, HIGHLIGHTER, POWDER.

MLB PLAYER

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: PADRE, RED, ROYAL, TWIN, ANGEL, MET, RAY.

MUSIC THEORY CONCEPTS

Seen in 2 published puzzles in the last 365 days. Example tiles: INTERVAL, KEY, MODE, SCALE, PITCH, TONE.