All 16 words, sorted alphabetically. Group them into four categories of four.
The four category names, easiest to hardest. No words revealed yet.
Theme name plus one word from each category.
BOOST, PALM, POCKET, and SWIPE are all informal verbs meaning to steal something.
BOW TIE (farfalle), ELBOW (elbow macaroni), SHELL (conchiglie), and WAGON WHEEL (rotelle) are all pasta shapes named after physical objects.
RIPLEY (Tom Ripley from The Talented Mr. Ripley), SAWYER (Tom Sawyer), SWIFT (not the real Taylor — Tom Swift, the fictional boy inventor), and THUMB (Tom Thumb) are all well-known fictional characters named Tom.
FINGERS (snap your fingers), FOOTBALL (snapping the ball at the line of scrimmage), GLOW STICK (snap to activate), and RUBBER BAND (snap when stretched too far) can all be snapped.