Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
On the ___ (recovering from an injury)
MEND - 2
Make curved or angled, as a straight object
BEND - 3
Join together permanently
BOND - 4
Word-processing option that makes the letters thicker
BOLD - 5
Verb often seen in origami instructions
FOLD
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = Something you read at a restaurant, and what you choose from it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
The complete word ladder
Read from top to bottom. Highlighted letters show what changes from the previous word.
- MENUTop endpoint
- MENDMENU → MEND changes position 4 from U to D.
- BENDMEND → BEND changes position 1 from M to B.
- BONDBEND → BOND changes position 2 from E to O.
- BOLDBOND → BOLD changes position 3 from N to L.
- FOLDBOLD → FOLD changes position 1 from B to F.
- FOODFOLD → FOOD changes position 3 from L to O.
How the endpoints answer the clue
MENU + FOOD
The top + bottom rows = Something you read at a restaurant, and what you choose from it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.
Clue meanings and letter changes
| Clue | Answer & meaning | Change from previous word |
|---|---|---|
| Top endpoint | MENU MENU is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Something you read at a restaurant, and what you choose from it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| On the ___ (recovering from an injury) | MEND MEND is the answer to “On the ___ (recovering from an injury)”. | MENU → MEND changes position 4 from U to D. |
| Make curved or angled, as a straight object | BEND BEND is the answer to “Make curved or angled, as a straight object”. | MEND → BEND changes position 1 from M to B. |
| Join together permanently | BOND BOND is the answer to “Join together permanently”. | BEND → BOND changes position 2 from E to O. |
| Word-processing option that makes the letters thicker | BOLD BOLD is the answer to “Word-processing option that makes the letters thicker”. | BOND → BOLD changes position 3 from N to L. |
| Verb often seen in origami instructions | FOLD FOLD is the answer to “Verb often seen in origami instructions”. | BOLD → FOLD changes position 1 from B to F. |
| Bottom endpoint | FOOD FOOD is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Something you read at a restaurant, and what you choose from it. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | FOLD → FOOD changes position 3 from L to O. |
How to work out the order
MENU → MEND starts the chain with a change in position 4. From there, the changed positions run 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor MEND beside MENU because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through MEND → BEND → BOND → BOLD → FOLD, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place FOOD at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect MENU with FOOD.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 4, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #906 · 2026-10-23 · #905 · 2026-10-22