Find the clue you need
Reveal one answer or the full solution.
- 1
Give a score from 1 to 10, say
RATE - 2
Tool in a Zen garden
RAKE - 3
Alcoholic drink made from rice
SAKE - 4
Transaction at a shop
SALE - 5
Lacking color
PALE
Top + bottom clue
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a type of tree cultivated for its sweet fruit. 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.
- DATETop endpoint
- RATEDATE → RATE changes position 1 from D to R.
- RAKERATE → RAKE changes position 3 from T to K.
- SAKERAKE → SAKE changes position 1 from R to S.
- SALESAKE → SALE changes position 3 from K to L.
- PALESALE → PALE changes position 1 from S to P.
- PALMPALE → PALM changes position 4 from E to M.
How the endpoints answer the clue
DATE + PALM
The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a type of tree cultivated for its sweet fruit. 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 | DATE DATE is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a type of tree cultivated for its sweet fruit. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | Start of ladder |
| Give a score from 1 to 10, say | RATE RATE is the answer to “Give a score from 1 to 10, say”. | DATE → RATE changes position 1 from D to R. |
| Tool in a Zen garden | RAKE RAKE is the answer to “Tool in a Zen garden”. | RATE → RAKE changes position 3 from T to K. |
| Alcoholic drink made from rice | SAKE SAKE is the answer to “Alcoholic drink made from rice”. | RAKE → SAKE changes position 1 from R to S. |
| Transaction at a shop | SALE SALE is the answer to “Transaction at a shop”. | SAKE → SALE changes position 3 from K to L. |
| Lacking color | PALE PALE is the answer to “Lacking color”. | SALE → PALE changes position 1 from S to P. |
| Bottom endpoint | PALM PALM is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = A two-word phrase for a type of tree cultivated for its sweet fruit. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint. | PALE → PALM changes position 4 from E to M. |
How to work out the order
DATE → RATE starts the chain with a change in position 1. From there, the changed positions run 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 4, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- Solve the middle clues, then anchor RATE beside DATE because they differ at exactly one position.
- Continue through RATE → RAKE → SAKE → SALE → PALE, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- Place PALM at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect DATE with PALM.
One takeaway
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 4. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
More CrossClimb
Nearby editions: #907 · 2026-10-24 · #906 · 2026-10-23