echo "word 1: \c" read word1 echo "word 2: \c" read word2 echo "word 3: \c" read word3 if [ "$word1" = "$word2" \ -a "$word2" = "$word3" ] then echo "Match: words 1, 2, & 3" elif [ "$word1" = "$word2" ] then echo "Match: words 1 & 2" elif [ "$word1" = "$word3" ] then echo "Match: words 1 & 3" elif [ "$word2" = "$word3" ] then echo "Match: words 2 & 3" else echo "No match" fi