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"fumble" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often grope (5 letters).
Definitions
(sports) dropping the ball
Word origin
From late Middle English, from Low German fummeln, fommeln, fammeln (German fummeln), or Dutch fommelen.
Used in a sentence
“Waiting for the interview, he fumbled with his tie.”
“He fumbled the key into the lock.”
“He fumbled for his keys.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer2 curated clues
01“Handle clumsily”6 letters
02“Drop the ball”6 letters
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