diff --git a/plugins/wordbot.py b/plugins/wordbot.py
index 03c4f83..e539047 100644
--- a/plugins/wordbot.py
+++ b/plugins/wordbot.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import itertools
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 import random
+import re
 import sqlite3
 import time
 from typing import Set
@@ -234,8 +235,8 @@ class Wordbot(Plugin):
                 if not self.db.is_game_active(channel):
                     # Don't try to score words for inactive games
                     return
-                parts = {word.strip().lower() for word in line.split()}
-                matches = parts & self.db.unmatched_words(channel)
+                words_in_line = {re.findall("[a-z0-9-]+", line.lower())}
+                matches = words_in_line & self.db.unmatched_words(channel)
                 for word in matches:
                     self.send_to(
                         conn,