In this puzzle, solvers may find themselves stuck when trying to categorize the words into their respective groups. One common area of confusion arises with the terms "HOGWASH" and "HORSEFEATHERS," both of which are often associated with nonsense or falsehoods. Solvers might hesitate to classify these words alongside "BUNK" and "CROCK" because they may not immediately recognize the informal context that binds them together as synonyms for meaningless or absurd statements. Similarly, the group of items related to "TRACK AND FIELD EQUIPMENT" can cause uncertainty, particularly with words like "BATON" and "HAMMER," where solvers may struggle to recall the specific uses of each item, leading to potential misclassification.

To distinguish the real groups from plausible decoys, players should look for common themes or contexts that connect the words. For instance, the "PARTS OF A DEVIL COSTUME" category is defined by items commonly associated with Halloween or costume parties, making it easier to identify that "GOATEE," "HORNS," "PITCHFORK," and "TAIL" all fit this theme. In contrast, the words in the "TYPES OF KNOTS" category are all technical terms related to knot-tying, which helps to create a clear distinction from the other groups. Paying attention to the specific contexts and uses of each word can help solvers avoid falling into the trap of grouping based on superficial similarities.

One useful heuristic for players is to first identify any clear categories that present themselves immediately, such as the "TRACK AND FIELD EQUIPMENT" group, which is a well-defined and recognizable theme. Once these are established, solvers can then use the process of elimination for the remaining words. Another strategy is to consider the meanings of the words: grouping by synonyms or related concepts can often reveal the correct associations. This approach not only helps in this puzzle but can be applied to future puzzles where word association plays a critical role in categorization.