Double Definition Cryptic Clues

131 clues in this category

How Double Definition Clues Work

Double definition clues are among the most elegant and concise clue types in cryptic crosswords. They consist of two separate definitions placed side by side, both pointing to the same answer. There is no wordplay indicator — just two meanings for one word.

These clues are often the shortest in a crossword and can be surprisingly tricky despite their simplicity. The two definitions may come from very different contexts: one might be a noun and the other a verb, or one literal and one figurative. For example, "Spring flower" could clue ROSE — spring (past tense of "rise") and flower (a type of bloom).

To solve double definition clues, try to find a word that satisfies both halves of the clue simultaneously. Think about words with multiple meanings, especially those that cross different parts of speech or fields of knowledge. These clues reward a broad vocabulary and flexible thinking.

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All Double Definition Clues

Apr 2, 2026 Easy

"Fly insect (3)"

FLY

Double definition: FLY (verb) and FLY (insect)

Jan 11, 2026 Medium

"Bank rely (4)"

RELY

This doesn't work - RELY doesn't mean bank

Jan 10, 2026 Easy

"Club organization (4)"

CLUB

Double definition: CLUB (weapon) and CLUB (group/organization)

Jan 9, 2026 Easy

"Rose flower (4)"

ROSE

Double definition: ROSE (past tense of rise) and ROSE (flower)

Jan 8, 2026 Easy

"Bow bend (3)"

BOW

Double definition: BOW (weapon) and BOW (bend down)

Jan 7, 2026 Medium

"Tender soft (6)"

TENDER

Double definition: TENDER (offer) and TENDER (soft/gentle)

Jan 6, 2026 Medium

"Spell period (5)"

SPELL

Double definition: SPELL (magic) and SPELL (period of time)

Jan 5, 2026 Medium

"Court woo (5)"

COURT

Double definition: COURT (legal) and COURT (pursue romantically)

Jan 4, 2026 Easy

"Ruler measure (5)"

RULER

Double definition: RULER (leader) and RULER (measuring tool)

Jan 3, 2026 Medium

"Pitch throw (5)"

PITCH

Double definition: PITCH (tar) and PITCH (throw)

Jan 2, 2026 Easy

"Fair carnival (4)"

FAIR

Double definition: FAIR (just) and FAIR (carnival/festival)

Jan 1, 2026 Easy

"Light not heavy (5)"

LIGHT

Double definition: LIGHT (illumination) and LIGHT (not heavy)

Dec 31, 2025 Medium

"Trunk chest (5)"

TRUNK

Double definition: TRUNK (tree/elephant) and TRUNK (chest/box)

Dec 30, 2025 Easy

"Match game (5)"

MATCH

Double definition: MATCH (fire starter) and MATCH (competition)

Dec 29, 2025 Easy

"Ring circle (4)"

RING

Double definition: RING (jewelry) and RING (circular shape)

Dec 28, 2025 Easy

"Duck avoid (4)"

DUCK

Double definition: DUCK (bird) and DUCK (dodge)

Dec 27, 2025 Easy

"Wave gesture (4)"

WAVE

Double definition: WAVE (ocean) and WAVE (hand gesture)

Dec 26, 2025 Medium

"Bear carry (4)"

BEAR

Double definition: BEAR (animal) and BEAR (carry/endure)

Dec 25, 2025 Medium

"Seal close (4)"

SEAL

Double definition: SEAL (animal) and SEAL (close up)

Dec 24, 2025 Medium

"Kind type (4)"

KIND

Double definition: KIND (caring) and KIND (type/sort)

Dec 23, 2025 Hard

"Bank financial institution (4)"

BANK

Double definition: BANK (river) and BANK (financial)

Sep 23, 2025 Easy

"Patch repair (5)"

PATCH

Double definition: PATCH (piece of cloth) and PATCH (mend)

Sep 22, 2025 Easy

"Pass permit (4)"

PASS

Double definition: PASS (go by) and PASS (permit/document)

Sep 21, 2025 Easy

"Part piece (4)"

PART

Double definition: PART (separate) and PART (portion)

Sep 20, 2025 Easy

"Palm tree (4)"

PALM

Double definition: PALM (hand part) and PALM (tree)

Sep 19, 2025 Easy

"Page call (4)"

PAGE

Double definition: PAGE (book sheet) and PAGE (summon)

Sep 18, 2025 Easy

"Pack bundle (4)"

PACK

Double definition: PACK (group of animals) and PACK (bundle)

Sep 17, 2025 Easy

"Order command (5)"

ORDER

Double definition: ORDER (arrangement) and ORDER (command)

Sep 16, 2025 Easy

"Note observe (4)"

NOTE

Double definition: NOTE (musical) and NOTE (observe/notice)

Sep 15, 2025 Easy

"Nail fasten (4)"

NAIL

Double definition: NAIL (body part) and NAIL (fasten)

Sep 14, 2025 Easy

"Move change (4)"

MOVE

Double definition: MOVE (relocate) and MOVE (change position)

Sep 13, 2025 Easy

"Mold shape (4)"

MOLD

Double definition: MOLD (fungus) and MOLD (shape/form)

Sep 12, 2025 Easy

"Meet gather (4)"

MEET

Double definition: MEET (encounter) and MEET (sports competition)

Sep 11, 2025 Easy

"Mean average (4)"

MEAN

Double definition: MEAN (unkind) and MEAN (average)

Sep 10, 2025 Easy

"Mass bulk (4)"

MASS

Double definition: MASS (church service) and MASS (large amount)

Sep 9, 2025 Easy

"Mark sign (4)"

MARK

Double definition: MARK (target) and MARK (sign/symbol)

Sep 8, 2025 Easy

"Major significant (5)"

MAJOR

Double definition: MAJOR (military rank) and MAJOR (important)

Sep 7, 2025 Easy

"Loose slack (5)"

LOOSE

Double definition: LOOSE (not tight) and LOOSE (release)

Sep 6, 2025 Easy

"Long desire (4)"

LONG

Double definition: LONG (extended) and LONG (yearn/desire)

Sep 5, 2025 Easy

"Lock secure (4)"

LOCK

Double definition: LOCK (hair strand) and LOCK (secure)

Sep 4, 2025 Easy

"Link connect (4)"

LINK

Double definition: LINK (chain part) and LINK (connect)

Jul 10, 2025 Easy

"Line row (4)"

LINE

Double definition: LINE (mark) and LINE (row/queue)

Jul 9, 2025 Easy

"Light lamp (5)"

LIGHT

Double definition: LIGHT (not heavy) and LIGHT (illumination)

Jul 8, 2025 Easy

"Lie untruth (3)"

LIE

Double definition: LIE (recline) and LIE (falsehood)

Jul 7, 2025 Easy

"Level flat (5)"

LEVEL

Double definition: LEVEL (rank) and LEVEL (flat/even)

Jul 6, 2025 Easy

"Letter post (4)"

POST

Double definition: POST (mail/letter) and POST (upright pole)

Jun 30, 2025 Easy

"Leave depart (5)"

LEAVE

Double definition: LEAVE (permission) and LEAVE (depart)

Jun 29, 2025 Easy

"Lead guide (4)"

LEAD

Double definition: LEAD (metal) and LEAD (guide)

Jun 28, 2025 Easy

"Land property (4)"

LAND

Double definition: LAND (earth) and LAND (property/estate)

Jun 27, 2025 Easy

"Just fair (4)"

JUST

Double definition: JUST (only) and JUST (fair)

Jun 26, 2025 Medium

"Issue produce (5)"

ISSUE

Double definition: ISSUE (problem) and ISSUE (produce/emit)

May 26, 2025 Easy

"Host entertain (4)"

HOST

Double definition: HOST (large number) and HOST (entertain guests)

May 25, 2025 Easy

"Horn instrument (4)"

HORN

Double definition: HORN (animal part) and HORN (musical instrument)

May 24, 2025 Easy

"Hold grasp (4)"

HOLD

Double definition: HOLD (cargo area) and HOLD (grasp)

May 23, 2025 Medium

"Hike walk (4)"

HIKE

Double definition: HIKE (long walk) and HIKE (increase)

May 22, 2025 Easy

"Hide conceal (4)"

HIDE

Double definition: HIDE (animal skin) and HIDE (conceal)

May 21, 2025 Easy

"Head leader (4)"

HEAD

Double definition: HEAD (body part) and HEAD (leader/chief)

May 20, 2025 Easy

"Haul pull (4)"

HAUL

Double definition: HAUL (catch) and HAUL (pull/drag)

May 19, 2025 Easy

"Hand worker (4)"

HAND

Double definition: HAND (body part) and HAND (worker/crew member)

May 18, 2025 Easy

"Hail greet (4)"

HAIL

Double definition: HAIL (ice pellets) and HAIL (greet)

May 17, 2025 Easy

"Hack cut (4)"

HACK

Double definition: HACK (writer) and HACK (cut roughly)

May 16, 2025 Easy

"Guide direct (5)"

GUIDE

Double definition: GUIDE (person) and GUIDE (verb - direct)

May 15, 2025 Easy

"Guard protect (5)"

GUARD

Double definition: GUARD (person) and GUARD (verb - protect)

May 14, 2025 Easy

"Ground earth (6)"

GROUND

Double definition: GROUND (past tense of grind) and GROUND (earth/soil)

May 13, 2025 Easy

"Groom prepare (5)"

GROOM

Double definition: GROOM (bridegroom) and GROOM (prepare/tidy)

May 12, 2025 Easy

"Grave serious (5)"

GRAVE

Double definition: GRAVE (burial site) and GRAVE (serious)

May 11, 2025 Easy

"Frame border (5)"

FRAME

Double definition: FRAME (structure) and FRAME (picture border)

May 10, 2025 Easy

"Foot measure (4)"

FOOT

Double definition: FOOT (body part) and FOOT (unit of measurement)

May 9, 2025 Easy

"Fire dismiss (4)"

FIRE

Double definition: FIRE (flame) and FIRE (dismiss from job)

May 8, 2025 Easy

"Fine penalty (4)"

FINE

Double definition: FINE (good quality) and FINE (monetary penalty)

May 7, 2025 Easy

"File folder (4)"

FILE

Double definition: FILE (tool) and FILE (document folder)

Mar 7, 2025 Medium

"Fleet swift (5)"

FLEET

Double definition: FLEET (ships) and FLEET (fast)

Mar 6, 2025 Easy

"Firm company (4)"

FIRM

Double definition: FIRM (solid) and FIRM (business)

Mar 5, 2025 Easy

"Drill exercise (5)"

DRILL

Double definition: DRILL (tool) and DRILL (practice exercise)

Mar 4, 2025 Easy

"Draw tie (4)"

DRAW

Double definition: DRAW (sketch) and DRAW (tied game)

Mar 3, 2025 Easy

"Draft sketch (5)"

DRAFT

Double definition: DRAFT (air current) and DRAFT (preliminary version)

Mar 2, 2025 Easy

"Dash run (4)"

DASH

Double definition: DASH (punctuation) and DASH (run quickly)

Mar 1, 2025 Easy

"Crane bird (5)"

CRANE

Double definition: CRANE (machine) and CRANE (bird)

Feb 28, 2025 Medium

"Count number (5)"

COUNT

Double definition: COUNT (nobleman) and COUNT (enumerate)

Feb 27, 2025 Easy

"Coat layer (4)"

COAT

Double definition: COAT (jacket) and COAT (covering layer)

Feb 26, 2025 Easy

"Chip piece (4)"

CHIP

Double definition: CHIP (potato) and CHIP (fragment)

Feb 25, 2025 Easy

"Check verify (5)"

CHECK

Double definition: CHECK (pattern) and CHECK (verify)

Feb 24, 2025 Easy

"Change coins (6)"

CHANGE

Double definition: CHANGE (alter) and CHANGE (small money)

Feb 23, 2025 Easy

"Cast throw (4)"

CAST

Double definition: CAST (actors) and CAST (throw)

Feb 22, 2025 Easy

"Case instance (4)"

CASE

Double definition: CASE (container) and CASE (legal matter)

Feb 21, 2025 Easy

"Break pause (5)"

BREAK

Double definition: BREAK (fracture) and BREAK (rest period)

Feb 20, 2025 Easy

"Board plank (5)"

BOARD

Double definition: BOARD (committee) and BOARD (wooden plank)

Feb 19, 2025 Easy

"Bill check (4)"

BILL

Double definition: BILL (bird's beak) and BILL (invoice)

Feb 18, 2025 Easy

"Band group (4)"

BAND

Double definition: BAND (stripe) and BAND (musical group)

Feb 17, 2025 Easy

"Ball dance (4)"

BALL

Double definition: BALL (sphere) and BALL (formal dance)

Feb 16, 2025 Easy

"Bark tree (4)"

BARK

Double definition: BARK (dog sound) and BARK (tree covering)

Nov 27, 2024 Medium

"Pound beat (5)"

POUND

Double definition: POUND (currency) and POUND (beat/hit)

Nov 26, 2024 Easy

"Spring season (6)"

SPRING

Double definition: SPRING (coil) and SPRING (season)

Nov 25, 2024 Easy

"Fall autumn (4)"

FALL

Double definition: FALL (drop) and FALL (autumn)

Nov 24, 2024 Easy

"March walk (5)"

MARCH

Double definition: MARCH (month) and MARCH (walk)

Nov 23, 2024 Easy

"May month (3)"

MAY

Double definition: MAY (might) and MAY (month)

Nov 22, 2024 Easy

"Will testament (4)"

WILL

Double definition: WILL (future tense) and WILL (legal document)

Nov 21, 2024 Easy

"Can able (3)"

CAN

Double definition: CAN (container) and CAN (able to)

Nov 20, 2024 Easy

"Pen write (3)"

PEN

Double definition: PEN (writing tool) and PEN (write/compose)

Nov 19, 2024 Easy

"Fan enthusiast (3)"

FAN

Double definition: FAN (device) and FAN (enthusiast)

Nov 18, 2024 Medium

"Bank slope (4)"

BANK

Double definition: BANK (financial) and BANK (river slope)

Nov 17, 2024 Easy

"Mint herb (4)"

MINT

Double definition: MINT (coin factory) and MINT (herb)

Nov 16, 2024 Medium

"Mine excavation (4)"

MINE

Double definition: MINE (possessive) and MINE (excavation)

Nov 15, 2024 Medium

"Plant factory (5)"

PLANT

Double definition: PLANT (vegetation) and PLANT (factory)

Nov 14, 2024 Easy

"Date appointment (4)"

DATE

Double definition: DATE (fruit) and DATE (appointment)

Nov 13, 2024 Easy

"Book reserve (4)"

BOOK

Double definition: BOOK (noun) and BOOK (reserve/schedule)

Nov 12, 2024 Easy

"Park garden (4)"

PARK

Double definition: PARK (verb) and PARK (green space)

Nov 11, 2024 Easy

"Train teach (5)"

TRAIN

Double definition: TRAIN (vehicle) and TRAIN (educate)

Nov 10, 2024 Easy

"Play drama (4)"

PLAY

Double definition: PLAY (verb) and PLAY (theatrical performance)

Nov 9, 2024 Easy

"Bat club (3)"

BAT

Double definition: BAT (animal) and BAT (club/stick)

Nov 8, 2024 Easy

"Fly insect (3)"

FLY

Double definition: FLY (verb) and FLY (insect)

Aug 19, 2024 Medium

"Bank rely (4)"

RELY

This doesn't work - RELY doesn't mean bank

Aug 18, 2024 Easy

"Club organization (4)"

CLUB

Double definition: CLUB (weapon) and CLUB (group/organization)

Aug 17, 2024 Easy

"Rose flower (4)"

ROSE

Double definition: ROSE (past tense of rise) and ROSE (flower)

Aug 16, 2024 Easy

"Bow bend (3)"

BOW

Double definition: BOW (weapon) and BOW (bend down)

Aug 15, 2024 Medium

"Tender soft (6)"

TENDER

Double definition: TENDER (offer) and TENDER (soft/gentle)

Aug 14, 2024 Medium

"Spell period (5)"

SPELL

Double definition: SPELL (magic) and SPELL (period of time)

Aug 13, 2024 Medium

"Court woo (5)"

COURT

Double definition: COURT (legal) and COURT (pursue romantically)

Aug 12, 2024 Easy

"Ruler measure (5)"

RULER

Double definition: RULER (leader) and RULER (measuring tool)

Aug 11, 2024 Medium

"Pitch throw (5)"

PITCH

Double definition: PITCH (tar) and PITCH (throw)

Aug 10, 2024 Easy

"Fair carnival (4)"

FAIR

Double definition: FAIR (just) and FAIR (carnival/festival)

Aug 9, 2024 Easy

"Light not heavy (5)"

LIGHT

Double definition: LIGHT (illumination) and LIGHT (not heavy)

Aug 8, 2024 Medium

"Trunk chest (5)"

TRUNK

Double definition: TRUNK (tree/elephant) and TRUNK (chest/box)

Aug 7, 2024 Easy

"Match game (5)"

MATCH

Double definition: MATCH (fire starter) and MATCH (competition)

Aug 6, 2024 Easy

"Ring circle (4)"

RING

Double definition: RING (jewelry) and RING (circular shape)

Aug 5, 2024 Easy

"Duck avoid (4)"

DUCK

Double definition: DUCK (bird) and DUCK (dodge)

Aug 4, 2024 Easy

"Wave gesture (4)"

WAVE

Double definition: WAVE (ocean) and WAVE (hand gesture)

Aug 3, 2024 Medium

"Bear carry (4)"

BEAR

Double definition: BEAR (animal) and BEAR (carry/endure)

Aug 2, 2024 Medium

"Seal close (4)"

SEAL

Double definition: SEAL (animal) and SEAL (close up)

Aug 1, 2024 Medium

"Kind type (4)"

KIND

Double definition: KIND (caring) and KIND (type/sort)

Jul 31, 2024 Hard

"Bank financial institution (4)"

BANK

Double definition: BANK (river) and BANK (financial)

Other Clue Types

Anagram Charade Container Deletion Hidden Word Initial Letters Reversal Selection + Reversal + Charade

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