As I do crosswords I keep track of clue answers that could fill the numbers of squares that the answer requires. Many times I find there could be two or more words that will both answer the clue and exactly fill the squares. I mark these sets of words on the bottom of each crossword I complete and later transfer them into a spreadsheet. If the set of words contains two words (like “melt” and “thaw) I enter two rows on the spreadsheet. One row will have “melt” in the first column and “thaw” in the second column. The next row will have “thaw” in the first column and “melt” in the second column. A set of three words will take three rows.
Over the years I have built up the list to 1456 rows. There are 1276 sets of entries. 42 rows have six columns per row (7 sets of six words). Many rows have only two columns filled (2 sets of two words).
Here is an example from the list:
WORD 1 WORD 2 WORD 3 WORD 4 WORD 5
Abase Abuse Shame
Abide Allow
Ablaze Aflame
Abode House
Abuse Shame Abase
Accosted Ambushed
Ace One Pro Win
Ache Pain Pang Sore Hurt
