Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Middle clue 1 — original clue text unavailable
CODE - 2
Middle clue 2 — original clue text unavailable
MODE - 3
Middle clue 3 — original clue text unavailable
MOLE - 4
Middle clue 4 — original clue text unavailable
HOLE - 5
Middle clue 5 — original clue text unavailable
HONE
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.
- COMETop endpoint
- CODECOME → CODE changes position 3 from M to D.
- MODECODE → MODE changes position 1 from C to M.
- MOLEMODE → MOLE changes position 3 from D to L.
- HOLEMOLE → HOLE changes position 1 from M to H.
- HONEHOLE → HONE changes position 3 from L to N.
- GONEHONE → GONE changes position 1 from H to G.
How the endpoints answer the clue
COME + GONE = COME AND GONE
COME is the top endpoint and means to arrive or move toward a place.
Clue meanings and letter changes
| Clue | Answer & meaning | Change from previous word |
|---|---|---|
| Top endpoint | COME COME is the top endpoint and means to arrive or move toward a place. | Start of ladder |
| Middle clue 1 | CODE CODE is a system for representing information, including messages intended to be kept secret. | COME → CODE changes position 3 from M to D. |
| Middle clue 2 | MODE MODE is the value that appears most often in a data set. | CODE → MODE changes position 1 from C to M. |
| Middle clue 3 | MOLE MOLE can mean a burrowing mammal or the chemistry unit used to count particles. | MODE → MOLE changes position 3 from D to L. |
| Middle clue 4 | HOLE HOLE is an opening or hollow space, including one dug in the ground. | MOLE → HOLE changes position 1 from M to H. |
| Middle clue 5 | HONE HONE means to sharpen a blade or improve a skill through practice. | HOLE → HONE changes position 3 from L to N. |
| Bottom endpoint | GONE GONE is the bottom endpoint and means no longer present, completing COME AND GONE. | HONE → GONE changes position 1 from H to G. |
How to work out the order
CODE → MODE → MOLE is the strongest opening run because each step changes one interior consonant. HOLE then creates the bridge into HONE and GONE, leaving COME as the only clean top endpoint.
- Anchor CODE, MODE, and MOLE as a three-rung chain by changing one letter position at a time.
- Attach HOLE below MOLE, then extend through HONE to GONE; each transition changes exactly one consonant.
- Place COME above CODE and read the two endpoints together as the familiar expression COME AND GONE.
One takeaway
When six rungs share the same vowel frame, compare consonant positions first. The ladder is not being mysterious; it has simply put on matching sweaters and hoped nobody checks the name tags.
More CrossClimb
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