Sports Words for the Imposter Game

Rackets, balls and finish lines: these 40 sports pairs are close cousins, so the imposter can hide in plain sight until someone slips.

40 pairs, ready to play. Free, no sign-up.

Play with the Sports pack

Sports word pairs

Civilians get the first word. In Undercover mode the imposter gets the second word; in Classic mode the imposter only sees the hint (if hints are on).

Civilian word	Imposter word	Hint
Football	Rugby	Team sport with a ball
Basketball	Netball	Shoot into a hoop
Tennis	Badminton	Racket sport
Table Tennis	Squash	Fast indoor racket sport
Cricket	Baseball	Bat and ball
Golf	Mini Golf	Hit a small ball into a hole
Swimming	Diving	In the pool
Surfing	Skateboarding	Riding a board
Skiing	Snowboarding	Down a snowy slope
Ice Skating	Roller Skating	Gliding on skates
Boxing	MMA	Combat sport
Karate	Taekwondo	Martial art
Wrestling	Judo	Grappling sport
Running	Hurdles	Track event
Marathon	Triathlon	Endurance race
Cycling	Spinning	On a bike
Formula 1	NASCAR	Motor racing
Horse Racing	Polo	Sport on horseback
Volleyball	Beach Volleyball	Over the net with hands
Hockey	Ice Hockey	Stick and puck or ball
Bowling	Curling	Slide it down the lane
Archery	Darts	Aim for the bullseye
Gymnastics	Cheerleading	Flips and routines
Yoga	Pilates	Stretching workout
Weightlifting	CrossFit	Lifting heavy things
Rowing	Kayaking	Paddle on water
Sailing	Windsurfing	Powered by wind
Rock Climbing	Hiking	Up the mountain
Fencing	Kendo	Sword sport
Chess	Checkers	Board game on squares
Poker	Blackjack	Card game in casinos
Snooker	Pool	Cue sport
Kabaddi	Kho Kho	Indian team sport
Handball	Water Polo	Throw ball into goal
Lacrosse	Field Hockey	Stick sport on grass
Esports	Arcade Games	Competitive gaming
Bungee Jumping	Skydiving	Extreme freefall
Parkour	Breakdancing	Urban moves
Sumo	Arm Wrestling	Strength contest
Olympics	World Cup	Global tournament

Who the sports pack suits

You do not need to be a superfan to enjoy this pack. It covers everyday sports, Olympic events and games like Chess and Poker, so most people can describe most words. It is a good fit for teams, PE classes, office socials and families who watch matches together.

Sample rounds and clues

Tennis vs Badminton. "Racket" and "net" fit both. "Shuttlecock" ends the round instantly, while "Wimbledon" quietly points at Tennis.
Skiing vs Snowboarding. "Mountain", "snow" and "lift" all work for both. Watch for anyone who mentions "poles" or "one board".
Cricket vs Baseball. Both are bat-and-ball games, so "pitch" is a lovely ambiguous clue. "Home run" is not.

Other close calls in this pack: Table Tennis vs Squash, Boxing vs MMA and Snooker vs Pool.

Making it easier or harder

In Undercover mode, the imposter might hold Rugby while everyone else describes Football, and they will only realise after a few clues. For a fairer game with newer players, choose Classic mode, where the imposter knows their role and may get a hint such as "Racket sport".

Real sports fans can make it tougher by selecting this pack with footballers and athletes or the cricket pack. You can also add custom words for your local club or the sport your group plays every weekend.

If the vote is tied or lands on an innocent player, the host can call another clue round, so encourage players to explain their suspicions before voting. In a sports crowd, that debate is often the best part of the night.

Keep exploring

Using it with a class? See the imposter game for the classroom. Need a refresher on voting and scoring? Read how to play.

More word packs

Ready? Start a round in two taps.

Play with the Sports pack