Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Middle clue 1 — original clue text unavailable
TAPE - 2
Middle clue 2 — original clue text unavailable
TAPS - 3
Middle clue 3 — original clue text unavailable
TANS - 4
Middle clue 4 — original clue text unavailable
TONS - 5
Middle clue 5 — original clue text unavailable
TOWS
Top + bottom clue
Reveal the solution to see the two endpoint words.
The complete word ladder
Read from top to bottom. Highlighted letters show what changes from the previous word.
- CAPETop endpoint
- TAPECAPE → TAPE changes position 1 from C to T.
- TAPSTAPE → TAPS changes position 4 from E to S.
- TANSTAPS → TANS changes position 3 from P to N.
- TONSTANS → TONS changes position 2 from A to O.
- TOWSTONS → TOWS changes position 3 from N to W.
- TOWNTOWS → TOWN changes position 4 from S to N.
How the endpoints answer the clue
CAPE + TOWN = CAPE TOWN
CAPE is a sleeveless outer garment and the first word of the endpoint place name.
Clue meanings and letter changes
| Clue | Answer & meaning | Change from previous word |
|---|---|---|
| Top endpoint | CAPE CAPE is a sleeveless outer garment and the first word of the endpoint place name. | Start of ladder |
| Middle clue 1 | TAPE TAPE is an adhesive strip commonly used to fasten or repair things. | CAPE → TAPE changes position 1 from C to T. |
| Middle clue 2 | TAPS TAPS are light strikes or touches. | TAPE → TAPS changes position 4 from E to S. |
| Middle clue 3 | TANS TANS describes what skin does after substantial sun exposure. | TAPS → TANS changes position 3 from P to N. |
| Middle clue 4 | TONS TONS can mean units of weight or, informally, a very large amount. | TANS → TONS changes position 2 from A to O. |
| Middle clue 5 | TOWS TOWS describes pulling disabled vehicles behind another vehicle. | TONS → TOWS changes position 3 from N to W. |
| Bottom endpoint | TOWN TOWN is a populated place and completes CAPE TOWN. | TOWS → TOWN changes position 4 from S to N. |
How to work out the order
TAPE → TAPS is the strongest early pair. From there, the plural S ending makes TANS, TONS, and TOWS easier to test before TOWN closes the route.
- Start with TAPE and TAPS, a clear final-letter substitution.
- Build the plural chain TAPS → TANS → TONS → TOWS while checking one position at a time.
- Place CAPE above TAPE and TOWN below TOWS to reveal CAPE TOWN.
One takeaway
Plural endings can be structural gold. Once several candidates end in S, compare only their first three positions and the ladder becomes much less noisy.
More CrossClimb
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