Undercover Word Pairs: 40 Sets and Example Clues

These are host materials, not a custom demo pack

The forty pairs below are for a manually hosted round. Keep this page away from the players: seeing both words removes the uncertainty. FettiPop’s Undercover demo deals automatically from its own small sample bank and currently does not accept a custom word list.

For manual play, use three to eight players plus a nonplaying host. The host privately assigns the first word to most players and the second word to exactly one player. Do not tell anyone whether they have the majority word. Use private word cards, or show each word on a handheld device and hide it before the next player looks.

How the clues work

A broad clue should fit either word. A revealing clue gives away a particular side. For Library / Bookstore, “books” lets both players sound plausible; “borrowing” points strongly toward Library. The aim is a useful hint, not a disguised way to say the answer.

Agree on short spoken clues, no secret-word roots, spelling, or translations. After one clue each, discuss and vote aloud. Reveal both words and the player with the different word. Keep everyone in the game; this version needs no elimination rounds.

40 pairs with example clues

Choose a fair pair for your group

Begin with familiar foods or places. Avoid using a pair when one word is unknown to a guest; learning vocabulary while bluffing is a different game. The clues in the table are examples for the host, so do not read them aloud before the players take their turns.

For an easier round, let players use two or three words in a clue and give a second clue before voting. For a trickier round, limit clues to one word. With three players, suspicion is concentrated quickly; a second clue round gives the conversation a little more room.

A complete practice round

A host privately gives three people Library and one person Bookstore. Around the circle, players say “quiet,” “shelves,” “weekend,” and “shopping.” Before voting, each person gets one short explanation. The group may suspect “shopping,” but it should still hear that player out: libraries can have book sales, and bookstores can be quiet.

After voting, reveal the assignment and ask which clue changed anyone’s mind. If your group wants a fresh start without a host, switch to the free pass-and-play demo. Disconnect the TV before dealing; only the current player should see a secret word.

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